Serialised 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 serialised 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 impact its components depends on the type: temporary or permanent.
Serialised containers also provide the ability to link products by asset number, allowing you to associate specific accessories with specific serialised stock items.
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Temporary containers
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 finalised, the container is emptied. It’s ready to be prepped and packed again in the warehouse.
Allocate
When you allocate a temporary container to an opportunity, any container components are automatically allocated. OnRent Events 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:
The container is a main item with container components as accessories.
The container is an accessory, where the container component is the main item.
When both the container and its components are accessories of a main item.
When the container isn’t on the opportunity already, OnRent Events 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. Matched components play a key role in proper allocation. Accessories that are matched components of the parent product are automatically aligned to the parent product's accessory lines. However, accessories that are not set as matched components end up in the 'Spares & Containers' group. For example, a power cable intended as part of a camera kit must be defined as a matched component of the camera body to ensure correct allocation.
This group isn’t printed on customer-facing paperwork or added to invoices. Items in 'Spares & Containers' are essentially spare parts or non-matched items. They cannot be independently deleted from the order without removing the parent product, ensuring inventory consistency and smooth operation flows.
Prep and book out
When you prep or book out a temporary container, the container’s components are automatically prepped and booked out, too.
Check-in
When checking in, scan the container and its components piece by piece. Scanning the container does not check its constituent components.
When you finalise check-in, the container is emptied. It’s ready to be pre-packed in the warehouse for the next opportunity.
Permanent containers
Permanent serialised 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.
Allocate
When you allocate a permanent container to an opportunity, any serialised components are automatically allocated.
Where a permanent container has matched components, container components are allocated to those lines on the detail view first. Matched components are predefined relationships that ensure accessories are automatically allocated to the correct lines associated with the main product. This prevents components from being misallocated to unrelated opportunity lines.
Otherwise, new lines are created on the detail view for the components. These lines are not created in 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.
Configuring Document Layouts
To make permanent containers appear as single rentable assets on customer-facing documents while hiding their components:
Configure your document layout to display only the container and exclude its accessories.
Go to System Setup > Document Layout > Upload Document to apply a custom layout.
This ensures a cleaner presentation for customers while maintaining internal visibility of individual items for stock tracking.
Remember to test any layout changes prior to using them in live operations to ensure accurate representation of serialised assets.
You may swap out a component for another asset or a sub-rental if you realise that it’s damaged.
Prep and book out
When you prep or book out a permanent container, the container’s components are automatically prepped and booked out, too.
Check-in
When you check in a permanent container, its components are automatically checked in. You do not check in each component individually.
Managing Accessories for Serialised Items
In addition to containers, OnRent Events allows you to associate serialised items as accessories to other serialised items for efficient stock control.
Associating Accessories
Navigate to the product page of the serialised item you wish to add accessories to.
Scroll down to the Accessories section.
Select Add a New Accessory to connect the desired serialised items.
Verify that the newly added accessories are marked as matched components of the main product to ensure accurate allocation during opportunities.
Regularly review accessory classifications to avoid potential misallocations.
This ensures their link for stock control and workflows while maintaining the flexibility to work with individual items as needed.