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Score Your First Deal

Getting your first deal scored takes less than two minutes. MarginArc gives you three ways to do it -- pick the one that fits how you already work.

Option 1: Upload a Quote PDF​

This is the fastest way to get a comprehensive score.

  1. From your dashboard, click New Deal (or drag a file anywhere onto the page).
  2. Drop your distributor quote PDF into the upload area, or click to browse your files.
  3. MarginArc reads the quote and extracts the key details -- line items, pricing, part numbers, and distributor information.
  4. Within a few seconds, you'll see your full deal score with the arch gauge, margin positions, and action items.

What formats work? Standard PDF quotes from major distributors like Ingram Micro, TD SYNNEX, D&H, ScanSource, and others. Scanned images within PDFs work too, though clean digital PDFs give the best results.

What gets extracted? Product lines, unit pricing, extended pricing, quantities, part numbers, distributor name, and any noted discounts or special pricing.

tip

For the best results, upload the complete quote -- not just a summary page. The more pricing detail MarginArc can see, the more accurate your margin positions will be.

Option 2: Forward a Quote by Email​

If you get quotes in your inbox, this is the easiest method. No need to download and re-upload.

  1. Forward the email (with the quote attached or in the body) to quotes@score.marginarc.com.
  2. In the body of your forwarded email, add any context that helps: the customer name, your partner tier, whether you have deal registration, or who the incumbent is.
  3. MarginArc processes the email and sends your scored results back to your inbox within a few minutes.
  4. Click the link in the reply email to see the full interactive results on your dashboard.
info

The first time you forward a quote, make sure you send from the email address associated with your MarginArc account. This is how we match the score to your dashboard.

Option 3: Manual Entry​

Best for quick what-if scenarios or when you don't have a formal quote yet.

  1. Click New Deal and choose Manual Entry.
  2. Fill in what you know. The fields that matter most:
    • OEM / Vendor -- which manufacturer (e.g., Cisco, HPE, Dell, Fortinet)
    • Product category -- networking, security, servers, storage, etc.
    • Deal size -- approximate total value
    • Your cost -- what the distributor quoted you
    • Customer sell price -- what you plan to quote the customer
  3. Optionally add context: deal registration status, partner tier, competitor information, incumbent vendor.
  4. Click Score Deal to see your results.

The more fields you fill in, the higher your Deal IQ score, and the more detailed your analysis will be.

What to Expect in Your Results​

After scoring, you'll see:

  • The Arch Gauge -- a visual dial showing where your margin sits on the spectrum from conservative to aggressive
  • Three Margin Positions -- conservative, recommended, and aggressive pricing with win probability for each
  • Action Items -- ranked by priority, these are specific steps you can take to improve your margin or win rate
  • Risk Factors -- things that could hurt the deal, like competitor pricing or missing deal registration
  • Deal IQ -- a score from 0 to 100 showing how much context MarginArc had to work with

For a full walkthrough of reading your results, see Understanding Your Results.

How to Improve Your Score​

Your first score might come back with a Deal IQ of 40 or 50. That's normal -- it just means MarginArc could do more with additional context. Here's what helps:

  • Add deal registration status. This significantly affects your margin position since registered deals typically protect 5-15 points of margin.
  • Specify your partner tier. A Platinum partner gets different pricing than a Silver partner. MarginArc factors this into every recommendation.
  • Name the competitor. If you know who you're up against, MarginArc adjusts win probability and competitive positioning.
  • Include the incumbent vendor. Displacement deals score differently than renewals or greenfield opportunities.
  • Provide the customer name and vertical. Certain industries and customer sizes have predictable buying patterns.

Each piece of context you add makes the analysis sharper. You can always rescore a deal after adding more information.

Next Steps​