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The Merchant Companion 2 is designed specifically to help you
escape from chaotic management and create a smooth method of dealing
with the everyday complications of commerce.
(Click on the images below for complete screenshots)
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How does the MC2 work with Miva Merchant?
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Buy Now and try the MC2 Risk-Free for 30 Days!
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New Features in 1.1
The MC2 has improved!
Online Order Status tools have now been added to the MC2 for MC2 Online customers. Directly from the Merchant Companion,
automatically synchronize production events with our online servers, or synchronize orders manually. Synchronize transactions,
production events, shipments, and notes with our servers. You may use our provided scripts or use our
powerful Web Services to provide your customers with instant details on the status and history of their order.
Online Status Example.
Stamps.Com integration introduces the ability to print and purchase Stamps.com postage directly from
the MC2. The MC2 will communicate seemlessly with the Stamps.com software to streamline your shipping process.
QuickBooks integration now gives you the power to export order details to QuickBooks as pending invoices.
Direct communication between the MC2 and QuickBooks insures fast, safe data synchronization.
This is a valuable asset to companies who wish to use QuickBooks to handle certain tasks.
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Integration
A valid concern is whether or not
it will be reasonably simple to get acquainted with the software
or train your employees. What good is management software if so much
time is spent learning the software that the returns diminish to nearly
nothing.
Well, we've designed the MC2 with this well in mind.
To assure this, MC2 developers were required to process orders as major
components were implemented, and the MC2 was deployed on a live store
early in the Alpha stage.
Currently, orders can be created manually or taken over the phone,
in addition to direct download capability from Miva Merchant stores. Additional shopping cart support
will be added in the future at no additional cost.
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Setup and Installation
Another common concern is that an application
may be difficult to set up. Since the MC2 is a high performance solution,
some database setup is required. However, the process is quite simple and users
are typically up and running in less than 10 minutes with a high-speed database.
Once running, tayloring the application for your store is straightforward.
Creating
users and permissions, company email accounts, email templates, and other application
preferences is conducted through an easy-to-use interface. These configuration steps
can be avoided if preferred, but help you harness the capability of the MC2.
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Downloading Orders
Orders are typically downloaded automatically for
Miva store owners, but can also be created manually. Orders are downloaded
from your Miva server on a per-batch basis. The MC2 allows you to create new
batches for your orders in a flash. Using a secure Miva script, the MC2 communicates directly with your
server via a secure 128-bit SSL connection.
 With a couple of clicks,
your orders are downloaded and imported directly into the MC2 database.
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Processing Orders
The process of fulfilling orders can be completed
in a variety of ways. For this reason, we created a process we call the
"Order Processing Pipeline." Processing orders is very store-specific, however, a natural flow is vital
in making the software easy to use and a quick integration to your store. The MC2 provides a very natural method
of organizing order fulfillment withough limiting you to a specific approach.
Essentially, the MC2 functionality is separated
into several deparments. The Sales department downloads orders, and is
capable of modifying all order details. Sales staff may also deploy emails or templated emails
directly to your customers if there are any problems with their order. Once the order is ready for the next step,
most often directly after download, accounting tasks can be created individually or
for a group of orders.
Accounting tasks are added to a queue which is processed
by users with access to Accounting functionality.
These users will process
each accounting task in such a way that seamlessly integrated with your current
store. CSV exporting of order charge information can be exported for software
such as PC Transact. Authorize.Net gateways may also be used in conjunction with the MC2 to process
real-time credit card transactions. If your staff uses card terminals to key credit card information
directly, the Accounting tools provide a way of storing additional transaction information
such as AVS results and/or bank information. Once a charge or refund is successful,
a Production task is created.
Production staff are typically co-located in
your warehouse, and fulfill orders as they appear in the Production Queue. 
These staff
members include information about the items used to fulfill the order, and pass the
task on to the Shipping crew, along with a packing slip, if desired. Shipping associates pack and ship the order, which
may include exporting shipping information to
 or  .
The MC2 will soon feature direct label printing for UPS and FedEx.
Various departments manage independent tasks, but are capable of communicating
effectively via the note and reminder systems. Notes are associated with individual
orders and can be viewed by all processors. Reminders can be assigned to individual users
and departments, and allow order association to help organize internal tasks.
But don't forget: The MC2 is not specific to larger stores.
Simply give your users as much or as little access as you wish. Process orders quickly and efficiently with a staff or one, or a hundred!
Processing orders is swift, and you'll be amazed how much can be done in so few clicks.
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Correspondence
Maintaining good communication with your customers
is paramount to success, as we know all too well. So, naturally, this must be well
integrated into the MC2's functionality. The MC2 allows you to communicate with
your customers on various levels.
First of which, email templates allow you to
send outgoing emails to your customers using pre-configured templates, which contain
keywords to prepare messages for individual orders and recipients. A complete integrated
email client provides your support staff with an easy interface for sending and receiving
emails and associating incoming emails with orders. Emails can be commited to the MC2
database in order to maintain an accurate history. Another level of communication is
accomplished through auto-notifications.
Auto-notifications
allow emails to be sent automatically to your customers based on particular events,
at which point the selected template is prepared and sent to your customer. This is particularly
useful for notifying your customers automatically of charges, refunds, shipments, or other
important events.
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Returns and RMAs
Integrated RMA tools allow you to setup and monitor return merchandise. Create RMA cases in complete detail,
specifying exactly which items are due for return, which are used for replacement, and if applicable, which items are involved in a cross-shipment.
Accounting tasks are generated automatically when applicable and from then on RMAs may be managed just like standard orders.
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Invoices & Packing Slips
The MC2 provides the ability to create entirely custom invoices
and packing slips. Using HTML, create any appearance you'd like. Some additional custom
keywords and tags are necessary to allow for proper invoice/packing slip generation. The MC2
documentation covers invoice/slip creation in complete detail and several templates are
included with the application.
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Management
Internal communication is just as important as any other, and
can often be quite difficult.
The MC2 reminder system allows system users to create reminders
which can be assigned directly to other users, to departments, or as general announcements.
Reminders may also be associated directly with orders to create a solid mechanism for
maintaining cohesion between reminders and related issues.
Configurable user permissions give administrators the ability
to provide fine levels of access for individual users. More close-knit businesses may wish
to give employees complete access, while business with dozens of staff members may require
more specific controls. The MC2 leaves the level of control up to you.
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Reporting
Integrated reporting tools allow you to analyze your business from
a variety of angles. Report on product success or failure, overall performance over time,
or employee activity. Reports will continue to be added to the MC2 in the future.
Reports can be exported to common formats, such as Microsoft Word .doc
format or Adobe .pdf.
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