Initial Setup
From installation to the first calculated price — the complete path in six stations.
Step 1: Install the apps
- Install the merchantCENTRAL hub (AD merchantCENTRAL) first and complete its Assisted Setup
- Then install AD merchantCENTRAL Price Engine
Hub first
If you open the Price Engine setup before the hub is configured, the card automatically redirects you to the hub setup — the order is enforced.
Step 2: Activate the license
The Price Engine is the module PRICEENGINE — the license is included in every supplier connector package. You see the state in the License FactBox on the Price Engine Setup page; a demo can be started there as well. In sandbox environments the engine runs without a license.
Step 3: Check the master switches
Open Assisted Setup → Set up the merchantCENTRAL Price Engine (or search for Price Engine Setup):
- Switch Enabled on
- Set Write Purchase Price Lists as needed (default: on)
- Align Stale Offer Days with the longest import interval of your supplier
All fields in detail: Price Engine Setup (reference)
Step 4: Create the price list rules
One line per sales channel in the Price Calculation Setup — the minimum:
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Price List Code | SHOP (the BC price list is created automatically with the first price) |
| Cost Source | Best Supplier Offer — or Item Unit Cost / Purchase Price List for running without a supplier connector |
| Margin % | e.g. 30 |
| Rounding Method | e.g. Round 99 |
| Safety limits | minimum price, max change %, minimum markup % |
The column Example Price (Cost 100.00) shows live which sales price 100 of cost would produce. All fields: Price Calculation Setup (reference)
Step 5: Simulate instead of guessing
Open the Price Simulation and start a dry run: the engine calculates the whole item universe but writes nothing — per item you see the current and the simulated price, the change in percent, and whether a safety limit would kick in. Details: Simulation & Approvals
Step 6: Automate
Run Create Job Queue Entries on the setup card. This sets up two scheduled entries:
| Entry | Interval | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Queue (QUEUE) |
hourly | safety net behind the import trigger |
Reconcile (RECONCILE) |
daily | closes purchase lines of offers that disappeared entirely |
In normal operation the engine calculates automatically after every supplier import; with the standalone cost sources, changed unit costs and purchase price lines enqueue the items themselves.
Checklist
- [ ] Hub installed and configured
- [ ] Price Engine installed, license or demo active
- [ ] Enabled switched on, purchase list switch checked
- [ ] One rule line per channel in the Price Calculation Setup
- [ ] Safety limits set
- [ ] Simulation run and reviewed
- [ ] Job queue entries created
- [ ] After the first run: open the Price Cockpit and check the Rejected view