The Activation Trends report helps you identify approved merchant accounts that have not yet begun processing payments. This allows you to find and resolve bottlenecks in the activation process.
Understanding the Report Data
The report provides an overview of approved but inactive merchants and includes the following data points:
Total MIDS Approved: The total number of merchant accounts approved within the filtered year.
Not Active < 120 days: The number and percentage of approved accounts inactive for less than 120 days.
Not Active > 120 days: The number and percentage of approved accounts inactive for more than 120 days.
Active < 120 Days: Percentage of approvals activated within 120 days.
Active > 120 Days: Percentage of approvals activated after 120 days.
Approval Month/Year: The month and year the merchant account was approved.
Processor: The payment processor associated with the merchant account (currently, only Elavon data is available).
MID: The Merchant Identification Number assigned to the merchant.
DBA: The merchant's Doing Business As name.
Salesperson/Division: The name of the salesperson and their assigned division for the merchant account.
Merchant Status: The current status of the account (e.g., approved or closed).
FDD Date: The First Deposit Date, signifying when the account first became active by settling their first batch of transactions.
Volume to date: The total transaction volume processed by the active account to date.
Activation Status: Indicates whether the merchant account is active or inactive.
Visualizing the Data
The report uses an interactive graph and a detailed table to present the data:
Graph:
Y-Axis: Displays the approval count.
X-Axis: Shows the months within the selected year.
You can interact with the graph by hovering over data points for more information and clicking key items to filter the displayed data
Table:
The table provides a detailed breakdown of each approved merchant account, including all the data points mentioned earlier
Taking Action: Identifying and Resolving Issues
By analyzing the Activation Trends report, you can proactively identify merchants facing activation delays. If an account remains inactive beyond an acceptable timeframe, investigate potential issues causing the delay. By addressing these issues promptly, you can ensure that approved accounts become active and begin processing transactions as quickly as possible.
Activation Trends FAQ
Q1: What are Activation Trends?
A1: Activation Trends help you analyze the time it takes for approved merchant accounts to become active and begin processing payments. They provide insights into potential bottlenecks in the activation process.
Q2: Why is it important to monitor Activation Trends?
A2: Identifying and addressing delays in merchant activation is crucial for revenue generation. By promptly resolving issues that hinder activation, you can ensure merchants start processing payments and contributing to revenue streams as quickly as possible.
Q3: What is the significance of the 120-day timeframe in the report?
A3: The 120-day timeframe serves as a benchmark to distinguish between recent approvals and those that have been pending activation for a longer duration. It helps prioritize investigations and focus on resolving older activation delays.
Q4: How can I use the Activation Trends report to identify potential issues?
A4: The report highlights merchants approved but not yet active, categorized by time since approval. A high percentage of inactive merchants, especially those inactive for over 120 days, indicates potential bottlenecks requiring investigation.
Q5: What kind of information does the Activation Trends graph provide?
A5: The graph visually represents the monthly distribution of approved merchant accounts, categorized by their activation status. By analyzing the trends, you can identify periods with unusually high or low activation rates, prompting further investigation.
Q6: What data points are available in the Activation Trends table?
A6: The table provides comprehensive details about each merchant, including approval date, processor, merchant ID, business name, salesperson, division, account status, first deposit date, total volume processed, and activation status.
Q7: How can the filters in the report be helpful?
A7: Filters allow you to narrow your focus within the report. For example, you can filter by specific time periods, processors, salespeople, or divisions to pinpoint the source of activation delays more effectively.
Q8: What should I do if I identify a merchant account that has been approved but inactive for a significant period?
A8: You should investigate the reasons behind the delay. This could involve contacting the merchant directly, reviewing their application for completeness, or checking for any outstanding requirements. By addressing the root cause, you can facilitate a swift activation process.