Industry vertical is a business term that refers to the specialized area of focus or expertise within a particular industry. It describes a set of related markets, products, services, and activities in which a company chooses to specialize in order to maintain a competitive advantage. For example, a company may decide to focus on developing software solutions for the retail industry, making it a part of the Retail Industry Vertical. This type of specialization allows companies to stay ahead of their competition and capitalize on opportunities that are specific to the particular industry vertical they specialize in.