A 

marketing information system (MKIS) is a management information

system (MIS) designed to support marketing decision making. Jobber (2007)
defines it as a "system in which marketing data is formally gathered, stored,
analysed and distributed to managers in accordance with their informational needs
on a regular basis.

Order-to-pay cycle

Buyers may wish to be able to pay quickly in order to take advantage of any

early payment discounts available. This process is known as the order-to-pay
cycle. For suppliers, the quicker the invoice can be processed the faster they can
be paid for providing their product or service.

Sales Information system

The Sales Information System is a flexible tool which allows you to collect,

consolidate, and utilize data from Sales and Distribution processing.

A database is a collection of information that is organized so that it can be easily

accessed, managed and updated. Computer databases typically contain
aggregations of data records or files, containing information about sales
transactions or interactions with specific customers.

A data warehouse, also known as an enterprise data warehouse, is a system used

for reporting and data analysis, and is considered a core component of business
intelligence. DWs are central repositories of integrated data from one or more
disparate sources.

For example, in the business world, a data warehouse might incorporate customer

information from a company's point-of-sale systems (the cash registers), its
website, its mailing lists and its comment cards.

Data mining is a process used by companies to turn raw data into useful

information. By using software to look for patterns in large batches of data,
businesses can learn more about their customers to develop more effective
marketing strategies, increase sales and decrease costs.
A Marketing intelligence system is a set of procedures and sources that managers
use to obtain everyday info about developments in the marketing environment.
The marketing intelligence system supplies happenings data. - Marketing
intelligence collecting must be ethical and legal.

Customer Advisory Board or CAB) is a form of market research whereby

a group of existing customers is convened on a regular basis to advise company
management on industry trends, business priorities, and strategic direction.

Nielsen Holdings PLC is an American information, data and measurement firm.

Nielsen operates in over 100 countries and employs approximately 44,000 people
worldwide. 

Burke (marketing research & innovative firm) offers a robust suite of research

solutions. We support crucial business decisions in every phase of marketing,
strategy, branding, and innovation.
A fad, also known as a craze, refers to a fashion that becomes popular in a culture
(or subcultures) relatively quickly, remains popular, often for a rather brief period,
then loses popularity dramatically.

A trend is the overall direction of a market. 

Megaetrend: A major movement, pattern or trend emerging in the

macroenvironment; an emerging force likely to have a significant impact on the
kinds of products consumers will wish to buy in the foreseeable future. Megatrends
evident today include a growing interest in health, leisure, lifestyle and
environmental issues.

Demographics is the study of a population based on factors such as age, race, and
sex.

Household patterns reflect the number of people in households: In poorer

countries there tend to be more than one household member who contributes to
the household's income.

The economic environment refers to all the economic factors that affect

commercial and consumer behavior. The economic environment consists of all
the external factors in the immediate marketplace and the broader economy. These
factors can influence a business, i.e., how it operates and how successful it might
become.

A set of beliefs, customs, practices and behavior that exists within a population.
International companies often include an examination of the socio-cultural
environment prior to entering their target markets.

The natural environment is another important factor of the macro-environment.

This includes the natural resources that a company uses as inputs that affects their
marketing activities. The concern in this area is the increased pollution, shortages
of raw materials and increased governmental intervention.

The Green Gauge Report divides Americans into five separate segments:

 True Blue Greens: Environmental leaders and activists most likely to walk the
green talk. 30% of the population.
 Green Back Greens: Do not have time to be completely green and not likely
to give up comfort and convenience for the environment, but willing to buy green
products. 10% of the population.
 Sprouts: Environmental “fence sitters” who buy green only if it meets their
needs. 26% of the population.
 Grousers: Generally uninvolved and disinterested in green issues; believe
individual behavior cannot improve environment. 15% of the population.
 Apathetics: Not concerned enough about the environment to take action and
believe environmental indifference is the mainstream. 18% of the population.

Green marketing is the marketing of environmentally friendly products and

services. It is becoming more popular as more people become concerned with
environmental issues and decide that they want to spend their money in a way that
is kinder to the planet.

Green marketing myopia occurs when brands focus more on a

product's green features than on the benefits or the ''what's in it for me?'' mentality
of consumers. Consumers, even environmentally-conscious ones, want product
features that promise some type of direct benefit to them.