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 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 for 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 in a bundle.
Note: Learn More about Bundles.
Here is a screen grab for a Photo Shoot bundle.
| Packages | Bundles |
| Assets Only | Can have both assets andinventories |
| You can take any action on theassets in a package. | You can only check out andreserve bundles. You do so byadding the bundle to cart. |
| All assets are checked out, checked in and reserved etc together. If an asset is no longer relevant to apackage,the package should beredefined. | Bundles are flexible. You canchange which asset you want from your specified group. You can also remove an asset or inventorybefore the checkout. |
| Exact assets are named,”Asset groups and subgroupsare named. | For actions, bundle pulls upavailable assets fromthese groups/subgroups as per thequantity specifiedin a bundle. Exact inventory itemsare named. |
