Tracking serialized inventory
For equipment, a product is not enough: you need to know which specific unit is with which customer. Serialized inventory tracks every individual item, from the catalog through to any eventual return.
Recording a unit
For a product or variant tracked by serial number, each unit in stock is recorded with its own identifiers:
- serial number,
- IMEI (mobile equipment),
- MAC address (network equipment),
- a QR code generated for quick scanning,
- a storage location.
Statuses and customer assignment
Each unit carries a status: rented, sold or returned. When a unit goes out to a customer, it is assigned to them — the assignment appears on the contact's or the company's record, and the history is kept even after a return.
Sale AND rental
Serialized inventory covers both use cases:
- in a sale, the unit moves to the sold status and its actual purchase cost stays tracked for margin calculation;
- in a rental, a rental period and a rate apply to the unit, which becomes available again (or moves to the returned status) once the rental is over.
tip
Useful for equipment rental companies and installers: at any moment you know which specific unit is with which customer, since when, and for how long.