Serialized containers let you link stock levels together. They’re generally used for pre-packed items in a case or assets that are rented as a complete unit, helping to speed up prepping in the warehouse.

When you work with a serialized container on an opportunity, actions you take on the container are automatically taken on the container’s components too. 

The way that actions taken on a container impacts its components depends on the type: temporary or permanent.

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Temporary containers act as a complete unit on the detail view until they’re booked out. When you allocate, prep, or book out the container, the same action is applied to all of the container’s components.

When checking-in, each component must be checked-in individually. Once checked-in and finalized, the container is emptied. It’s ready to be prepped and packed again in the warehouse.

When you allocate a temporary container to an opportunity, any container components are automatically allocated. Current looks through the opportunity items to find the most suitable set of existing items to allocate the container and its components to. 

A container and its components are allocated when:

When the container isn’t on the opportunity already, Current will allocate its components to existing opportunity items where possible and add the container to a new group called “Spares & Containers.” Components that aren’t allocated to existing opportunity items are added to this group, too.

This group isn’t printed on customer facing paperwork or added to invoices.

When you prep or book out a temporary container, the container’s components are automatically prepped and booked out, too.

When checking-in, scan the container and its components piece-by-piece. Scanning the container does not check-in its constituent components.

When you finalize check-in, the container is emptied. It’s ready to be pre-packed in the warehouse for the next opportunity.

Permanent serialized containers are generally used for assets that are permanently housed together, such as lamps fixed to a bar or items screwed into racks. 

When prepping the job, all of the items are fixed in the container, so all actions you take on the container — allocate, prep, book out, and check-in — are also taken on its components.

When you allocate a permanent container to an opportunity, any serialized components are automatically allocated.

Where a permanent container has matched components, container components are allocated to those lines on the detail view first.

Otherwise, new lines are created on the detail view for the components. These lines are not created on the order view.

Non-matched container components do not show on any customer-facing documentation and their price, weight, and replacement charge do not impact the opportunity’s charge total, overall weight, or replacement charge total.

You may swap out a component for another asset or a sub-rental if you realize that it’s damaged.

When you prep or book out a permanent container, the container’s components are automatically prepped and booked out, too.

When you check-in a permanent container, its components are automatically checked-in. You do not check-in each component individually.