Glossary
Last updated: 9 October 2026
The terms used on vontaara.com and in the Vontaara app, explained in plain language. They describe how the Commerce Agent works with your catalogue, your customers and your team, from the first message to a paid order.
Commerce Agent
Vontaara's AI sales assistant for online sellers. It answers product questions from your catalogue, quotes delivery, takes orders and requests payment, and hands the chat to your team whenever you want to step in.
AI message
One AI-generated response sent to a customer. Incoming customer messages and replies from your team do not count toward your plan's allowance.
Catalogue
The products you sell, with prices and stock. The Commerce Agent and the online shop both answer from it.
Human takeover
Stepping into a conversation the AI is handling. You see the full chat and reply yourself; the agent can also hand over by your rules.
Online shop
A mobile-first shop built from your catalogue, at vontaara.com/shop/your-store, with the Commerce Agent built in. Included on the Essential and Growth plans at no extra cost.
Unified inbox
One place for customer chats, online shop leads and orders.
Delivery quote
A delivery fee worked out by area, so the customer sees the total before they order.
M-Pesa payment request
A payment prompt sent to the customer's phone from inside the chat. They enter their PIN to pay.
Agent rules
The tone, goals and hand-over rules you set for the Commerce Agent.
Free trial
The Free plan: 7 days and 100 AI messages, no card needed. It does not include the online shop.
Knowledge base
The information you give the Commerce Agent beyond products, such as delivery details, policies and answers to common questions, so its replies match how you do business. You can edit it at any time.
Intent
What the agent works out a customer wants from their message, for example whether a product is available. It uses the intent to decide what to check in your catalogue before it replies.
Order capture
The step where the quantity, delivery area and total are confirmed in the chat. Only then does the agent request payment, so the customer sees exactly what they are paying for.
Website lead
A conversation that starts in your online shop. It lands in the same unified inbox as your chats and is labelled as a Website lead, so nothing is missed.
Back-in-stock alert
A notice that lets a shopper hear when a sold-out item is available again, so a missed sale can still turn into an order.
Checkout payment methods
The ways your online shop can take payment: M-Pesa, till, paybill, send money and cash on delivery. You switch on whichever you use.
Channel
A messaging app connected to Vontaara where customers reach you. WhatsApp comes first, with more on the way.
Workspace
Your seller account at app.vontaara.com, where your team manages the catalogue, inbox, online shop and Commerce Agent settings.
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