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Enabling & Setting Up Extranet in Merciglobal Cloud ERP

What is an Extranet?

An Extranet is a secure extension of an organization's internal network (intranet) that enables selected external users—such as vendors, customers, or partners—to access specific data and services. It facilitates controlled collaboration through secure login credentials, such as usernames and passwords.

Real-World Use Cases

  • 🛒 E-commerce platforms sharing stock levels and order statuses with suppliers.
  • 🌍 Global corporations managing inter-company projects with external partners.
  • 🎓 Educational institutions providing e-learning platforms to students.

Extranet Implementation in Merciglobal Cloud ERP

Merciglobal Cloud ERP supports two methods for configuring an Extranet based on your security requirements and access control preferences.

Method 1: Structured & Flexible Extranet Setup

Implementation Steps

  1. Create User Accounts for external parties.
  2. Create User Groups, setting their type as EXTRANET.
  3. Assign Users to these Extranet Groups.
  4. Configure Group Roles & Permissions to control access levels.

  5. Developers can leverage the isUserExtranet() function to:

  6. Conditionally display data on screens.

  7. Enforce access restrictions within reports.

Notes

  • Offers fine-grained control for developers and admins.
  • Access is restricted based on custom roles and permissions.

Pros

  • 🎯 Maximum customization and control.
  • 🧩 Suited for complex extranet user scenarios.

Cons

  • ⚠️ Misconfiguration may risk exposing sensitive data.

Method 2: Strict & Non-Flexible Extranet Setup

Implementation Steps

  1. Create a user via the Account Group Master module.
  2. Grant access directly from the same module.
  3. Define module access (Desktop/Mobile)—users only view their data.
  4. Logins via mobile number and password.
  5. Ensure user status is set to Active.
  6. Passwords are managed through the Account Group Module.

Notes

  • Ideal for high-security environments.
  • Reduces administrative overhead.

Pros

  • 🔒 High security with minimal configuration errors.
  • ⚙️ Efficient for large-scale deployments.
  • 🚪 Standardized user access policies.

Cons

  • 🚫 Inflexible—new access cannot be added dynamically.
  • 🧱 Hard-coded roles restrict adaptability.

Summary

Merciglobal Cloud ERP equips you with the tools to securely extend your ERP ecosystem to external users. Depending on whether your focus is customization or security, you can select the method that best aligns with your business model.

Empower your external stakeholders while keeping your data secure with Merciglobal Cloud ERP’s advanced Extranet feature. 🔐🌐