It’s been a busy year for the Merlin team, as several new enhancements and hundreds of completed tasks were released for all our clients to access. 

Although, as a software development company, we are technology-led, Merlin is also a service company. We build genuine and supportive partnerships with our clients and work with them to improve our software and web apps to make their businesses better. We go beyond just providing support for the users of our software.  Our experience in the industry allows us to offer advice regarding operational best practices and product development.

We strive to improve our response times, and our customer support team work hard to resolve issues as quickly as possible. At the same time, our developers are creating innovative functionality and web apps that make processes more efficient and allow our clients to offer new products, services and programs to their owners and members.

Here is a small selection of the recent enhancements and improvements released this year. 

Language Localisation

Merlin Software is truly a global company, and we are proud of our language localisation functionality. It’s simply not available with any other vacation ownership property management software.

Language Localisation means that regardless of the language spoken and the alphabet used, Merlin can be accessed by anyone – not just those who speak English and use the Latin alphabet.

For some time now, we have been able to present Merlin WebApps in the language and alphabet of choice of the person accessing these Single Page Applications. We auto-detect their language and can deliver the translated static information to them. 

This does require our clients to have English translated into the various languages that apply to them. We provide them with all the static information on each page in excel, and they can easily add the translated versions. From there, it is a simple task to add this as XML files for each language, and these XML files are used to do the translations.

Then we extended this to the Merlin Classic pages, which works well, especially for the pages our client’s users most access. 

However, that was just the start. What good is it if the static words on the pages are all translated, but the data still comes out in English and uses the Latin Alphabet? So began Phase Two.

Merlin Software now allows our clients to translate the data for the most used information into the various languages and alphabets they require. 

Merlin allows you to enter foreign characters into the first and last names fields. It also allows you to search for names using these foreign characters/alphabet. 

This means Japanese users servicing Japanese members can work in their own language using their alphabet without using English words or Latin alphabet characters.

Merlin Localisation allows for the translation of static information and dynamic data and the use of every known alphabet. In addition, it enables finding names using the Latin alphabet version or any foreign alphabet. 

Is there more we can do?  In a word – Yes!  Through AI and machine learning technology, we plan to have static pages, AND dynamic data within Merlin Classic automatically translated into the chosen language and alphabet of the user. Going forwards, the more this functionality is used, the more translated data will be shown, with all translations automatically stored.

Enhancement to the Member WebApp

The Member WebApp is a fantastic tool that improves the online services you offer your members and owners. It is fully customisable, uses the latest technology, responsive, tablet-friendly, and easy for everyone to use. Your members can easily access their accounts to check reservations, make payments, and order services.

Recently released functionality includes a voting tab allowing members to log in and vote for committee or board members and at AGMs. Quickly created using Merlin’s Classic Software, the voting tab in the Member WebApp makes the voting process easy:

• Quick to set up
• Easy voting process
• No spoiled votes
• Complies with your voting rules
• Managed electronically 
• No postage costs
• Lower staffing costs

To find out more about the Merlin Member Web App, contact Mark Thomas at markt@quickmerlin.com.

Templates for statements

This new functionality makes creating and formatting statements easier and less labour-intensive. For example, with just one row of code, the software now dynamically resizes the document to include the exact number of rows each personalised statement requires based on the variable amount of data.

The result? Your statements look professional, project a great image to your clients, and the process is slick and efficient. It also makes printing statements a breeze!

Additional security

We take every aspect of online security very seriously. For example, Merlin already complies with all the required credit card security, but we now have protection for bank account numbers too. 

Our new functionality provides excellent security for bank account numbers with digit masking, protecting your client’s details and limiting access rights.

Reinstate a cancelled booking

Everyone makes mistakes or changes their mind. So now, a reservation can be quickly reinstated if it is cancelled. Previously, this was a manual task. However, the new functionality allows all the booking information and notes to be reinstated (checking that the availability is still there, of course).

Your team just needs to retake the financial information (for security reasons), and the booking will be live again.

Check out January’s email for more information on our recent enhancements and tasks. If you are impressed with what you’ve read here and want to know more, then contact Mark Thomas for a demo (email link) or complete the online demo request form.

To learn more about Merlin Software, arrange an online demo of our software and range of web apps with Mark Thomas today at markt@quickmerlin.com or complete the online demo request form.

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