Supply Chain & Logistics Glossary
Supply chain and logistics professionals speak their own language. Here’s your guide to cracking the code.
What Is B2B (Business-to-Business)?
Business-to-Business (B2B) refers to transactions or interactions between businesses (rather than between businesses and consumers).
What Is B2C (Business-to-Consumer)?
Business-to-Consumer (B2C) refers to transactions or interactions between businesses and individual consumers.
What Is a Backhaul?
A backhaul is the return trip of a transportation vehicle (such as a truck or ship) after delivering goods to their destination. Backhauls optimize transportation efficiency by utilizing the same vehicle for both outbound and return trips.
What Is a Bar Code?
A bar code is a visual representation of data (usually in the form of parallel lines) that a barcode reader can scan to identify products, track inventory or manage shipments.
What Is Batch Picking?
Batch picking is a method that groups multiple orders together, and items are picked simultaneously for efficiency, reducing travel time within a warehouse.
What Is a Belt Conveyor?
A belt conveyor is a continuous moving conveyor system consisting of a belt loop that transports goods within a facility.
What Is a Beneficial Cargo Owner?
A beneficial cargo owner is the party (usually the buyer or importer) who has ownership and control over the cargo during transportation, even if they don’t physically handle it.
What Is a Bill of Lading?
A bill of lading is a legal document issued by a carrier (such as a shipping company) that provides details about a shipment, including the type of goods, quantity and terms of transportation.
What Is Break-Bulk?
Break-bulk is the process of unloading, sorting and distributing individual items from a larger shipment (such as a container) upon arrival at a port or distribution center.
What Is a Bridge Crane?
A bridge crane is an overhead crane with a movable bridge that spans a designated area, used for lifting and moving heavy loads within a warehouse.
