How to track sales?

I'm using a dutch affiliate network to promote several travel companies. What's the proper way to redirect and track sales? Can I use my own software for this or do I need to ask the merchant?

 

I'm sure the affiliate network will be having some tracking system in place.

The eventual sale takes place at the merchant's end and I don't think too many merchants will be open to the idea of your software doing the tracking when there is already a system in place to do the very thing.

 

So when you're getting bigger and working with lots of merchants, there's not really an efficient way to do this? I mean, if you're working with, for example, 50 merchants, it must be very time consuming to do all the follow up right?

EDIT: I misunderstood, the tracking is done on the affilate network site, not on the merchant site. It makes more sense now.

 

I currently use Prosper202 for all my tracking needs.

 

the most simple tracking method is generating urls with sub-id for example, however for more detailed tracking you need aplications like prosper202

 

prosper202 is great! You can use cpvlab also

 

I've also heard good things about prosper202

 

yep prosper202 is the best to track