Max for Brands
Merchandiser Knowledge Center

MAX is now a downloadable Android app. Install the official MAX for Brands – Merchandiser app from Google Play rather than opening a browser link.

What to do

1. Open the Google Play listing for MAX for Brands – Merchandiser by ConnectGroup.
2. Tap Install and allow the installation to finish.
3. Open the app from your device after installation.
4. Use the official Play Store listing below whenever the app needs to be installed on a new or replacement device.

Official Google Play link: Open MAX for Brands – Merchandiser in Google Play.

Open the official Google Play listing

play storeinstallandroiddownloadapp

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The app opens to the MAX for Brands – Merchandiser sign-in screen. Current rollout guidance is to use your ID number rather than your cell number.

What to do

1. Open the installed MAX for Brands – Merchandiser app.
2. Enter your ID number in the sign-in field. If your profile uses a passport, enter the passport number.
3. Tap Continue.
4. If your ID or passport number is not recognised, contact your agency or MAX support so the active back-office profile can be checked.

Important: The current app screen may display “Cellphone or ID / Passport number”, but merchandisers should follow the updated instruction to use their ID or passport number.

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On supported Samsung devices, MAX provides a four-step phone setup helper. The first step prevents battery optimisation from restricting the app in the background.

What to do

1. On Battery optimisation, tap Take Me There.
2. Open Apps → MAX for Brands – Merchandiser → Battery.
3. Set battery usage to Unrestricted.
4. Return to MAX and tap Next.

Background restrictions can contribute to missed or interrupted check-ins, so this setup should be completed on the device being used for work.

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The second setup step allows MAX to start and remain available when the device manages background apps.

What to do

1. Tap Take Me There from the Auto-launch step.
2. Open Device care → Apps that wake up.
3. Find MAX for Brands – Merchandiser and turn it On.
4. Return to the setup helper and tap Next.

Samsung menus can vary by device or software version. Use the wording shown by the MAX phone setup helper on the device.

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Pinning or locking MAX in the Recents view helps prevent the device from closing it while a workday or visit is active.

What to do

1. Tap Take Me There to open the Recents view.
2. Long-press the MAX for Brands – Merchandiser app card.
3. Tap Lock or the equivalent pin/lock option shown by the device.
4. Return to MAX and tap Next.

Do not swipe MAX away from Recents during an active workday unless support asks you to restart the app.

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The final phone setup step keeps location available for attendance and geofence checks. Android may also display a separate location permission prompt.

What to do

1. From Location always, tap Take Me There.
2. Open Location → MAX for Brands – Merchandiser and set location access to Allow all the time where available.
3. Keep Precise location enabled.
4. If Android displays a location prompt in MAX, choose Precise and grant the requested permission.
5. Return to the phone setup helper and tap I’m Done.

You can rerun the phone setup walkthrough later from Profile → Phone setup helper.

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The Today tab shows whether the workday has started and lists the stores scheduled for the day.

What to do

1. Open the Today tab.
2. Review Today’s stops and confirm the expected stores and times are shown.
3. Tap Start Work Day before beginning store activity.
4. Confirm the status changes to Workday in progress.
5. Keep the workday active until all required visits for the day are complete.

If a scheduled stop is missing, wrong, or duplicated, do not create your own substitute visit. Contact the agency/admin team so the assignment can be checked.

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A store check-in is confirmed only when MAX can obtain your location and recognises that you are inside the store’s configured geofence.

What to do

1. From Today, select the correct scheduled store.
2. Wait while MAX gets your location.
3. Confirm the screen shows Inside geofence and the distance is acceptable.
4. Tap Confirm Check In.
5. If the geofence does not turn green, check location permissions, precise location, connectivity, and the phone setup helper before retrying.

The screenshot shows a successful check-in state at 0 m away. Actual distance may vary depending on the configured store geofence and GPS accuracy.

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After check-in, the Today screen confirms the active store and provides access to live stock insights, documents, open tasks, and Check Out.

What to do

1. Confirm the blue Checked in card shows the correct store.
2. Use View Live Stock Insights when stock information is required.
3. Open Docs when documents have been made available for the visit.
4. Complete any open tasks shown for the store.
5. Tap Check Out only when all required work at the store is complete.

The green Synced badge indicates the app is currently synced. A failed/retry state should be resolved before repeating submissions or creating duplicate actions.

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Manage Stock can present a list of available stores. Select the store whose stock information you need to review.

What to do

1. Open Live Stock Insights / Manage Stock.
2. Use Search stores if the list is long.
3. Select the correct store from the list.
4. Check the store name at the top of the next screen before interpreting any stock values.

Stock information is store-specific. Always verify the store before using the values shown in MAX.

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The Manage Stock screen summarises SKU and stock conditions and provides entry points for category and supplier filtering.

What to do

1. Use Categories and Suppliers to narrow the view when needed.
2. Review the SKU overview, including Active SKUs, Ranged SKUs, and De-ranged SKUs.
3. Review stock conditions such as Total Stock, Out of Stock, Wastage, Low Stock, Over Stock, and Negative Stock.
4. Review sales indicators such as Rate of Sale and No Sales 30 Days.
5. Tap a tile with an arrow to open the underlying product list.

The values shown in screenshots are examples from the captured store and should not be treated as fixed targets or thresholds.

manage stockactive skusrangedde-rangedout of stockwastagelow stockover stocknegative stockrate of sale

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MAX allows stock results to be narrowed using category and supplier selectors with search and multi-select controls.

What to do

1. Tap Categories to open Select Categories.
2. Search or select the relevant category or categories, then tap Done.
3. Tap Suppliers to open Select Suppliers.
4. Search or select the relevant supplier or suppliers, then tap Done.
5. Review the refreshed overview and product lists using the selected filters.

Use Select all only when a broad view is genuinely required; targeted filters are easier to interpret and troubleshoot.

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Product lists include a category selector so you can move between stock conditions such as Out of Stock, Wastage, Low Stock, Negative Stock, and SKU range status.

What to do

1. Open a stock tile or product list.
2. Tap the Category selector at the top of the list.
3. Choose the required view, such as Out of Stock, Wastage, No Sales 30 Days, Total Stock, Low Stock, Over Stock, Negative Stock, Rate of Sale, De-ranged SKUs, or Ranged SKUs.
4. Use Search products to find a specific item.

The available category list in the screenshot is the current reference for the captured app version.

stock categoryout of stockwastageno sales 30 daysde-rangedrangedrate of sale

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Product cards show the product identity and the key stock and sales dates used to investigate stock conditions.

What to do

1. Confirm the product name, barcode, and article number.
2. Review Stock on Hand.
3. Review Last Sold, Last Ordered, and Last Receipted where values are available.
4. Use the category at the top of the screen to understand why the product is in the list, for example Low Stock or Negative Stock.
5. Capture the store, product, category, and displayed values when reporting a suspected data issue.

A negative or zero stock value is a displayed stock condition. Do not alter or infer source-system stock solely from the screenshot; report discrepancies through the approved process.

product detailsbarcodearticlestock on handlast soldlast orderedlast receiptedlow stocknegative stock

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Ranging now captures more than a Yes/No ranged status. The rep can also record Stock Count, Facings, Price and Expiry Date for each product.

How to use it

1. Open the Products screen for the store and use Search products when you need to find a specific item.
2. For each product, select Yes or No for the ranged status.
3. Capture the requested Stock Count, Facings and Price values where applicable.
4. Use the Expiry Date field to record the product expiry date when required.
5. The screen also provides Load Last Answers, which can be used when prior captured answers are appropriate for the current ranging visit.
6. Continue through the product list and make sure the information is saved/submitted through the normal ranging workflow.

What changed: Ranging data now includes Ranged, Stock Count, Facings, Price and Expiry Date. These values also flow through to the updated ranging report.

rangingstock countfacingspriceexpiry dateload last answers

The rep app now includes a barcode scanner on the Products screen so a merchandiser can identify a product by scanning its barcode instead of searching manually.

How to use it

1. Open the store’s Products screen.
2. Tap the blue barcode scanner button shown on the lower-right side of the screen.
3. Scan the barcode on the physical product to identify the matching product record automatically.
4. Once the correct product is identified, capture the normal ranging fields: Ranged, Stock Count, Facings, Price and Expiry Date.
5. If the barcode does not identify a product, use manual product search as a temporary fallback and report the barcode so the product setup can be checked.

Important: Barcode identification depends on the product having the correct EAN barcode number saved in MAX. If the EAN is missing or incorrect, the scanner cannot match that physical barcode to the product record.

barcode scannerEANproduct searchrangingscan product

The ranging report has been expanded so the captured product information can be reviewed beyond the basic ranged status.

How to use it

1. Open the relevant ranging report for the store or visit.
2. Review the Ranged result for each product.
3. Use the Stock Count, Facings and Price columns to review what the rep captured in store.
4. Review the Expiry Date field as part of the expanded ranging data.
5. A dash indicates that no value is displayed for that field in the report view shown.

Updated report fields: Ranged · Stock Count · Facings · Price · Expiry Date.

ranging reportrangedstock countfacingspriceexpiry date

The task screen contains the instruction, any reference photo from the brand manager, and the proof of execution already linked to the task.

What to do

1. Open the relevant task from the Tasks tab or store workflow.
2. Read the Instructions before taking action.
3. Review the From Brand Manager reference image when one is supplied.
4. Check that you are checked in to the correct store.
5. Tap Start Task when ready to complete the action.

The captured screen shows a warning that the user is not checked in. Store-related task actions should be completed from the correct active visit.

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The Proof of execution flow requires at least one photo and supports up to five photos in the captured app version.

What to do

1. On step 1, Photos, confirm the requirement shown on screen.
2. Tap Take Photo to open the device camera.
3. Capture a clear photo that proves the task was completed.
4. Confirm the photo appears in the proof screen before continuing.
5. Add additional photos only when they help demonstrate the completed work, up to the limit shown by the app.
6. Tap Next.

If the camera does not open, check the app’s camera permission and whether another app is using the camera.

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The final Proof of execution step lets the merchandiser verify the attached proof before sending it.

What to do

1. Review the proof summary and confirm the expected photos are ready to upload.
2. Use Back if anything needs to be corrected.
3. Tap Submit once when the proof is complete.
4. Wait for the action to finish and check the task status before attempting another submission.

Avoid repeated taps on Submit. If sync fails, first check whether the proof already reached the back office before resubmitting.

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The Timesheet Week view compares worked and scheduled time and shows the status of each day in the selected week.

What to do

1. Open Timesheet and select Week.
2. Use the arrows to move between weeks.
3. Review Worked, Scheduled, Overtime, and Short Time.
4. Review each day for states such as Absent, Day off, In progress, Upcoming, and recorded worked time.
5. Expand a day where available when more detail is required.

Timesheet information is for review. Attendance corrections should follow the agency/admin process when the underlying schedule or recorded time is wrong.

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The Month view gives a wider attendance picture across the selected month while retaining the same worked, scheduled, overtime, short-time, and daily status information.

What to do

1. Open Timesheet and select Month.
2. Use the arrows to move between months.
3. Review monthly Worked and Scheduled totals.
4. Check Overtime and Short Time.
5. Scroll through the daily records and note any unexpected Absent, worked, or day-off status before reporting a query.

When reporting a timesheet issue, include the date, scheduled time, actual work time, store, and any screenshots that support the correction request.

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The Leave tab shows existing requests and their status and provides the Log Leave form for a new request.

What to do

1. Open Leave to review your existing leave requests and their current status.
2. Tap Log Leave to create a new request.
3. Select the First day of leave and Back-to-work day.
4. Select the reason: Annual leave, Sick leave, Family responsibility, Unpaid leave, or Other as shown in the app.
5. Add an optional note when your manager needs context.
6. Tap Submit Leave Request and wait for the approval status to update.

Submitting a leave request does not mean it has been approved. Check the status shown in My Leave.

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Profile shows the signed-in merchandiser, the current app version, the Phone setup helper, and the Sign Out action.

What to do

1. Open Profile from the bottom navigation.
2. Use Phone setup helper to rerun the device permissions and background-app walkthrough.
3. Check App version when support asks which version is installed.
4. Use Sign Out only when you intentionally need to end the current app session.

After reinstalling the app or moving to a replacement phone, rerun Phone setup helper before relying on geofence and background attendance behaviour.

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Store check-out and workday closeout are separate actions. Complete both in the correct order so the visit and attendance record can close correctly.

What to do

1. Finish all required store work and tasks.
2. From the checked-in store dashboard, tap Check Out.
3. Return to Today and confirm that no store visit is still active.
4. After the final visit of the day, use End Work Day.
5. Review Timesheet if you need to confirm the recorded workday information.

Do not end the workday while a store visit is still active. If a check-out or End Work Day action hangs, check sync before repeating the action.

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The Today screen displays the app’s sync state. A green Synced badge is normal; a failed/retry badge means at least one action still needs to sync.

What to do

1. Check the sync badge at the top-right of Today.
2. When it shows Synced, the app has no visible failed item in the captured state.
3. If it shows a failed/retry state, confirm mobile data or Wi-Fi is working.
4. Use the retry action shown by the app and allow it to complete.
5. Before repeating a check-in, check-out, task submission, or other action, confirm whether the original action already exists to avoid duplicates.

If failed sync continues after connectivity and phone setup checks, capture the screen and escalate with the exact time, store, and action that failed.

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Admin users can now set a store location directly from Manage Customers when the Location column shows No Pin.

How to use it

1. Go to Customers → Manage Customers.
2. Find the store and check the Location column. A store without coordinates is shown as No Pin.
3. Click No Pin for the store.
4. In the location modal, either find the store location using Google Maps or use the geo-coordinates from the rep’s latest check-in at that store.
5. Review the proposed location carefully before saving it. A successfully configured store is shown as Pinned.

Why this matters: The store pin is used by the merchandiser check-in/geofence workflow. A missing or incorrect pin can prevent an otherwise valid store check-in.

adminmanage customersno pinpinnedgoogle mapsgeofencecoordinates

The Fill Pins action allows admins to bulk set stores with missing pins by using the latest usable rep check-in coordinates.

How to use it

1. From Customers → Manage Customers, click Fill Pins in the top-right area.
2. Review the summary showing stores without pins, stores with a usable check-in and stores with no usable check-in.
3. Review each proposed pin and the From check-in information before selecting it.
4. Pay special attention to rows flagged Unusual. These check-ins may be far away from the rest and should be reviewed before inclusion.
5. Select only the stores you are comfortable updating, then click Set pins.
6. Existing store pins are not overwritten by this bulk action.

Safety check: Do not bulk-apply an unusual or obviously incorrect check-in location just because coordinates are available. Review the store and rep check-in first.

fill pinsbulk pinsrep check-incoordinatesunusualadmingeofence

Products now include a Barcode (EAN) field. The EAN is needed for the merchandiser barcode scanner to automatically identify the correct product during ranging.

How to use it

1. Go to Products → Manage Products and open the product you need to edit.
2. Under Product Info, locate the Barcode (EAN) field.
3. Enter the EAN barcode number that matches the barcode printed on the physical product.
4. Save/update the product record using the normal product-management workflow.
5. Once the correct EAN is stored, the merchandiser app can use the ranging barcode scanner to identify that product automatically.

Important: A missing or incorrect EAN breaks the scanner match. If a rep scans a product and nothing is identified, verify the product’s Barcode (EAN) value before treating it as an app defect.

EANbarcodeproduct setupmanage productsscanneradmin