Full source code
Python or MQL5 bot files, version-controlled in a private Git repository you own. Every function is documented so a third-party developer could maintain it without starting from scratch.
Strategy Automation
Does your strategy stop working the moment you step away?
Strategy automation removes the human bottleneck — your rules execute in milliseconds, every session, without hesitation.
What strategy automation actually means at Mercer & Hartwell
Strategy automation is the process of translating a trading ruleset — entry conditions, exit logic, position sizing formulas, and session filters — into executable code that a computer can run without human intervention. At Mercer & Hartwell, this starts with a structured onboarding call where we document every conditional in your approach, including the ones you might not have formally written down. We then build the bot in Python or MQL5 (MetaTrader 5), connect it to your chosen broker via API, and run a full backtest before any live switch-on. The typical timeline from first call to live deployment is three to five weeks, depending on strategy complexity. You receive the complete source code — we do not lock you into a proprietary platform. Market conditions change, and no automated system is immune to periods of underperformance; the strategy's edge still comes from your analysis, not ours.
What you receive at the end of the project
Deliverables are fixed at the scoping stage — no scope creep, no surprise invoices.
VPS deployment
The bot runs on a cloud VPS — pre-configured, scheduled, and connected. We handle initial server setup; you receive SSH access and full ownership from day one.
Backtest report
A PDF covering the strategy's historical performance across multiple market regimes, including equity curve, monthly returns, maximum drawdown, and Sharpe ratio. Used for your own reference — not a projection of future results.
30-day post-launch support
Thirty days of included support after go-live. We monitor the bot's first live sessions together and address any execution anomalies that arise in the first month of real-market operation.
“The handover document they produced was genuinely impressive — I could see every decision that had been coded into the bot and why. That transparency made it much easier to trust the system during the first live month, especially on the days it sat out of the market entirely.”
Mihaela Drăghici, quantitative analyst, Cluj-Napoca
Questions about strategy automation
Do I need to know how to code?
No. You bring the trading logic — entry and exit conditions, how you size positions, which sessions you trade. We handle all the programming. You only need to be able to describe your strategy clearly; even a well-annotated spreadsheet or a written set of rules is enough to start.
Which trading platforms and brokers are supported?
We currently build for MetaTrader 5 (MQL5), Interactive Brokers (via TWS API), and brokers with a REST or FIX API. If your broker is not on that list, send us their API documentation and we will confirm compatibility before you commit to a project.
Can you automate a strategy that uses discretionary elements?
Partially. Pure discretion — such as reading tape or reading news sentiment in real time — cannot be fully automated without additional data feeds and ML models. However, hybrid setups where the bot handles execution and you confirm signals are entirely feasible and are something we've built for several clients.
What happens if the bot stops working during a live session?
The bot includes a built-in kill-switch that closes all open positions if the connection to the broker is lost for more than 30 seconds. Monitoring alerts fire immediately to your Telegram and email. We also run redundant VPS health checks every 60 seconds during configured trading hours.
Let's map out your automation project
A 30-minute scoping call costs nothing. You'll leave with a clear picture of timeline, deliverables, and what we'd need from you.
Book a scoping call