Bundles and Packages are advanced features that enable checking out multiple assets with a single action.
Packages involve clamping together assets such that they are always checked out and checked in together. In contrast, Bundles are a grouping of assets and inventories that will likely be checked out for a certain activity.
1. When to use Packages
Use Packages when you always need to take the same action on a set of assets. For example, a GPS tracker bolted to the dashboard of a truck. If the GPS tracker is asset # 1 and the Truck is asset # 2, these two assets will always be checked out, checked in, and reserved together. If the GPS tracker gets permanently damaged, it can be removed from the truck and a new one can be installed. This is a perfect scenario where packages should be used.
Packages can also be used where assets are not literally bolted to one another but are still checked out/in together. For example, items required for an operations team meeting. Now if you plan to use these together at all times, these can be packaged together. Assets in a package can not be checked-in/out, individually. Here is a screengrab for a package used for an event.
Note: Learn More about Packages.
2. When to use Bundles
Bundles are for creating a loose association of asset types and can include inventory and asset stock alongside assets. For example, if you need an equipment to conduct a P.E lecture, you’re not concerned with a specific item # per se but that you be assigned the equipment. Bundles come in handy in such scenarios.
Let’s say you want to have a bundle for conducting a lecture where you require an interactive whiteboard, projector and a microphone. You can add these assets to the bundle. Now whenever you are conducting the same lecture again, you can checkout this bundle. You can also add inventory and asset stock in a bundle.
Note: Learn More about Bundles.
Here is a screen grab for a Photo Shoot bundle.
3. Difference between Packages and Bundles
The following table highlights the major differences between Packages and Bundles for your understanding:
| Packages | Bundles |
| Assets Only | Can have Assets, Asset stock and Inventory |
| You can take multiple actions on a package, for instance, check in/ check out, reserve, reassemble and add to cart. | You can only check out, quick checkout and reserve bundles. You do so by adding the bundle to a cart. You can also print labels for bundles |
| All assets are checked out, checked in and reserved together. You can also reassemble the package if you want to make any changes to the set of assets added initially | Bundles are flexible. You can change your bundle selection by altering the quantity or changing the pickup location. You can also remove an asset, asset stock or inventory item before the checkout |
| You can select assets directly from the list. Select any of the similar assets separately based on their identification numbers | While creating a bundle line, you can define item selection rules to select items based on a specific ‘Name’ or ‘Number’. The system will highlight the unavailable items in the bundle |
