Merchanter uses OData reporting data to open up the ability to create custom reports and analytics.  Understanding how that data is made available helps create effective custom tools to improve knowledge about the business.

Merchanter Data Tables

There are hundreds or data tables that go to make up a Merchanter system, each holding a specific type of record and all interconnected to manage the information about customers, orders, stock, etc. as it is processed through the business.  Users do not have direct access to these tables.

OData Reporting Tables

Merchanter has a utility designed to take data from all the hundreds of data tables and convert it into a set of simple OData reporting tables.  

So for example the Sales Header OData table will get the sales orders from the sales order table, the Sales Rep associated with each order from the Rep Table, the Selling Depot from the Depots table and so on.  This results in a single sales header table that can be used to create a report about sales values for a Rep, Depot, Customer, etc.

OData Queries

Each OData reporting table can have many thousands of records, each with dozens of fields.  Building an OData Query in Merchanter lets you filter the records and fields that you want from the table to work with a more focused reporting data set.  For example filtering fields in the Sales Headers, you may want to filter to Order Dates that are on or after the start of year.  Then you can select the fields you want to report on, both context fields (Order Number, Customer, Depot, Rep, etc.) and value fields (Sales Value, Gross Margin Value, Volume, Weight, etc.).  

By using a Query you build your reports from a smaller data set, which makes it easier to show the exact information you require and faster to refresh to the latest data each time you want to use the report.

You can build OData Queries in Merchanter from Reporting > Advanced Analysis > OData Query Builder.  There is more information here on How to build an advanced OData Query 

Analytics Tools

There are a number of Analytics Software Tools that can import data from Merchanter using an OData Query.  We have preferences for using Excel and Power BI, both from Microsoft, but any tool that can run an OData Query can be used.

The OData Query is a url (web link) that accesses the data you are asking for online from your Merchanter system.  The ability to run an OData Query is login protected, using your Merchanter Username and Password.

Output Reports & Analysis

With the Analytics Tools you can build reports, dashboards and other analytics to use about the business.  Once a report or analytic is built it can simply be opened and refreshed whenever the information needs to be reviewed.  These output reports can be further filtered, searched and re-analysed within the data set that the OData Query is importing into it.