hAir sAlon MAnAgeMent softwAre

More than a simple program - a complete salon management system

Ikosoft develops and provides I.T. solutions, management tools and marketing analysis to businesses worldwide.

Merlin X2 is already helping over 10,000 hair salons worldwide to thrive and grow. Powerful, complete and easy to use, Merlin X2 is a depen-dable business tool which allows you to create a well-honed, personali-sed management strategy for your business.

Merlin's flexibility and evolutionary design mean you can shape it to the needs of your salon, no matter how big or small.

Know your clientsIncrease retention and attract more clients

Motivate and involve employeesSimplify your HR administration

Get a real feel for your salon's performance and take action where it's neededManage your finances. Assess, anticipate, act.

Wherever you are:

in the salon, in the office,or out of town.

CoMplete, CustoMiseD Client reCorDs

detailed client filesYour client database is the cornerstone of your business; keeping it up to date is essential. Merlin X2 lets you set mandatory information fields (valid address, postcode, contact number etc.) thereby ensuring a high-quality database.

Main functions

• Basic information: name, address, telephone etc.

• Commercial and technical history for each client

• Detailed tech and beauty files

• Till history

• Marketing campaigns

• Tell A Friend

• Advice notes

• Photo management

• Configurable alert messages

• Wait time analysis

Complete client history in one clickWhen clients arrive you can check them in straight away and give them the kind of welcome they expect based on their history in the salon.Knowing your clients' habits is the best way to respond to their needs - the quality of information of Merlin X2's client file lets you do this easily (mobile number, e-mail address, retail history, average spend, visit frequency, favou-rite beverage, tech files...).For your peace of mind, your client data is encrypted in such a way as to make information theft impossible, even by persons running the same software as you.

CoMplete, CustoMiseD Client reCorDs

the appointment book

• a highly visual appointment book • optimised performance and occupation times

Via the client reception module, Merlin X2 gives feedback on ave-rage waiting and occupation time of clients for each time slot.

At a glance you can pick out slack and peak hours.

If an employee is busy at a parti-cular time, Merlin will automatically suggest her next available time slot or the best available employee for that time.

The appointment book can be used as the main screen of Merlin or as a direct link from the main page.

Includes a complete client loyalty package which you can tailor to your needs :

• Loyalty card management.

• Reach all your clients in a couple of clicks

• Run filters with multiple criteria based on client data, service history and retail patterns

• Built-in text editor with configurable label printing

Merlin X2's direct marketing SMS sendingIkosoft has developed a simple system for sending text messages to salon clients.Merlin X2's client file contains a special field for mobile numbers. All you need is an internet connection and a subscription to Merlin's SMS service to begin automatically confirming appointments, sending reminders, running marketing promotions or launching special offers.

Main functions

• Creating appointments

• Splitting appointments between several employees

• Automatic reminders by text or mail

• Stat management (no-shows, cancellations, etc.)

• Client searching by name or telephone number…

In the till module you can also consult:• tickets• performance by employee• Service and product category turnover displayed as text or in graph form.

optional hardware:Till drawer, payment terminal, receipt/cheque printer, chip card reader, barcode reader.

An objeCtive overview of sAlon ACtivity

Quick, thorough till checkingMerlin X2 simplifies your daily routine, printing off reports including service figures for each category and employee: save time at the end of the day and be more available for your clients.

Main functions

• Consult a day or a period of your choice

• Graphical performance overview

• Manage cheques, cash, cards, bank transfers and more

• Run reports

• Expense management

• Till summary screen

• Password locked

easy billing

Simple, quick and intuitive, the billing function handles every aspect of the client and ticket.

Main functions

• Bills and appointments on hold

• Combo Bills

• Direct access to client and tech files

• Last retail purchase, client orders

• Pre-defined special rates, discounts

• Multiple payments (post-dated cheques, credits, quotes, refunds)

Client wait time is measured from the moment they arrive in the salon.

To speed up billing, several tickets can be opened simultaneously and employees can add services as they perform them.

On the billing screen you can see client balances, loyalty points, last retail purchase and discounts.

Change and tip management as well as split payments guarantee a complete billing procedure.

An objeCtive overview of sAlon ACtivity

Simple, reliable stock management

Main functions

• Inventory (input, differences)

• Orders (automatic or manual, deliveries, history

• Tracking (stock in/out, barcodes)

• Price changing

• Label printing

optional hardware:barcode reader.

An objeCtive overview of sAlon ACtivity

View your stock value at a date of your choosing.

• Product files• Supplier files• Margin management

Merlin X2 manages your stock so you don't get left short and can easily follow stock flow.

An objeCtive overview of sAlon ACtivity

Services and prices on demand

For employees, Merlin X2 is a friendly, methodical and educational tool which helps them attune to client behaviour and good retail practice.

• Descriptive service files

• Unlimited service categories

• Services by category and sub-category

• Performance and development time

• Pre-defined special rates

• Packages

• Grouped services

• Course management

• Special rates adjustable by day, time slot, client profile and employee

• Price adjustment with overview of impact on turnover

involve AnD MotivAteyour eMployees

employee files

Merlin X2 keeps detailed files on each employee:

• Basic information (name, address, tel. number etc.)

• Rosters

• Contract and grade information

• Passwords

rosters adapted to your needs

• Time clock

• Absences, holidays

• Visual, editable rosters

• Employee schedules can be adapted to fit occupation time and availability

Alongside client reception analysis for the salon, Merlin X2 gives the same analysis per employee. this gives you all you need in order to reorganise your team's rosters and optimise turnover.

Merlin X2 lets you adapt your schedule to the salon's workflow, accounting for slow moments and peak hours.

involve AnD MotivAte your eMployees

Salary and commission management

Precise objectives

Main functions

• Commission calculation

• Variables and formulas

• Target grids

• Automatic salary and bonus calculation

• Employee progress

• Printing

Set annual objectives to motivate your team. Set up challenges to stimulate performance on a day-by-day, per-employee basis.

Employees can see where they stand compared to colleagues, objectives and previous years.

Personalised objectives let each employee get involved in the salon's growth.

On top of this, Merlin X2 calculates bonuses automatically, letting you put into place a motivating salary structure encouraging personal responsibility.

regular business updates

Finance strategy and treasury planning

Merlin X2 keeps an eye on the key performance indicators of your salon, displayed as counters: e.g. the num-ber of colours per day per employee.

If one of the counters goes out of the 'green' zone Merlin will warn you as soon as it starts up, allowing you to react immediately.

Financial Planning lets you manage your salon's treasury based on predicted expenses and generated revenue.

this module lets you budget expenses and receipts in such a way as to be able to anticipate major treasury fluctuations. When printed, financial stra-tegy overviews can help you in the organisation of the paperwork necessary to secure a bank loan.

You can create hypothetical budgets in order to preview the impact of in-vestment on your cashflow. For example, if you wish to hire a new employee, Merlin X2 can calculate the cost and impact on total salary outlay. This in turn will allow you to calculate the impact of the potential hiring on your salon's progress over the next 5 years.

MAnAgeMentby AntiCipAtion

MAnAgeMent by AntiCipAtion

report-based analysis

Visual tools to measure salon activity

Available in summarised or detailed format, reports help fine-tune your management strategy. Merlin X2 gives you all the tools necessary to analyse and retrieve any information about yout company's structure.

• Turnover growth and till monitoring

• Overview of client flow (number of files, visit frequency, percentages...)

• Employee progress

• Services, retail

Growth curves compare perfor-mances with the same period from the previous year.

For an even more precise compa-rison, periods are adjusted so they begin and end on the same day of the week.

thanks to Merlin X2 you can evaluate your salon's financial health rapidly et see the impact of each action you take, most notably in the case of new services.

Merlin X2 lets you view your salon's figures in graphical form.

why Choose it?

Stay in touch wherever you are in the world

Real time visualisation of your salon activity without disturbing their work, remote control and hands-on access to data from anywhere in the world using a simple internet connection. SMS: wherever you are, set up your software to send you key salon figures to your mobile phone (turnover, num-ber of visits...), wherever you are, whenever you choose.

ikonet: join the communityIkonet is a free service available to all Merlin users with a current support plan. This anonymous benchmarking system gives managers access to the consolidated figures of their sector, letting them compare their own performance with that of other salons of the same type, for a chosen period (last week, last trimester…).This benchmarking allows you to take quick action and address those parts of your business which may be lagging behind the national average. Your own figures are at no stage divulged to anyone else, including Ikosoft. To activate Ikonet, simply click on the PANEL icon in your till.

Very simple to install and useMerlin X2's intuitive interface is designed to allow all your employees to get to grips with it rapidly. With the help of our hotline and the software's integrated wizard, Merlin's famous user-friendliness got even better in version X2.

Merlin is always at the cutting edge of technology and is updated regularly to incorporate the very best new tools available. Merlin X2 requires a mini-mum of: Windows XP SP2, Vista or 7, 3 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, a CD-ROM drive, a monitor capable of displaying at least 1024x768 pixels.

Passwords and securityAccess level and tracking for each employee -authentication system - can be locked remotely - automatic locking of computers when not in use.

SecurItY: your client file cannot be stolen or hacked.Code system for access to salon data - anti-theft encryption - secured connections.

SoFtWare PriCeS

Merlin X2 Pro .......................................................................................................................................................................................... €1372Includes training and support for 3 months

Merlin X2 light ......................................................................................................................................................................................... €640Includes training and support for 3 months.

traininG and SuPPort CoStS

Our technicians, who deal exclusively with members of the hairdressing and beaty community are at your disposal to answer any questions, whenever you need them. Suport included access to our technicians and trainers, software updates and reular tutorials distributed by e-mail.

Merlin X2 Customer Care Plan ............................................... contact your distributor

hardWare ConFiGurationS and PriCinGAt Ikosoft, we are constantly updating, upgrading and evaluating our hardware to bring the very best specifications to our clients.

Call our sales line for a quote on the following:

All machines come with a 3-year on-site warranty.

Desktop PC configuration Touchscreen PC configuration

Laptop configuration iMac configuration

All prices are in Euros, ex-VAT and subject to change and availability.

oPtional hardWare add-onS

uSB laser barcode scanner .......................................................................................................................................... €230 thermal receipt printer ............................................................................................................................................................ €390 till drawer ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ €240

Merlin X2 liGht and Merlin X2 Pro

Functions Merlin X2 Pro Merlin X2 lightMain screenAbsencesEarly Warning SystemAppointmentsEmployee Stats Employee ModuleBillingBilling screenPaymentTipstillTill screenTicket listExpensesTreasuryTill alerts by SMS Employee ModuleClientsClient filesTech filesMarketing Marketing ModuleLoyalty Loyalty ModuleStockProduct filesSuppliersRetail price changeOrders Stock ModuleInventaire Stock ModuleStock History Stock ModuleStock Movement Stock ModuleemployeesFilesObjectives Employee ModulePlanning Employee ModuleClock inWage calculation Employee Module

ServicesFilesPackagesSpecial RatesCoursestoolsAccess rightsBackupsLabels

Functions not present in Merlin X2 light can be added with the following modules• Marketing Module .......................................................................................................................................................................................€460• Loyalty Module .............................................................................................................................................................................................€160• Stock Module ................................................................................................................................................................................................€310• Employee Module ........................................................................................................................................................................................€260 ©

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Ask for a demo CD and see for yourselfhow easy to use Merlin X2 really is

Brighton Business Centre, 95 Ditchling Road, Brighton, BN1 4STSales: +44 121 288 0877 - Tech: +44 121 288 0422 - E-mail : info@ikosoft.com

www.ikosoft.com