Rental products can be rented out immediately or reserved for pick-up at a later date. StoreConnect ensures items are not double-booked by tracking each rental product as an individual asset at each outlet location.
For more information about how rental products are set up in StoreConnect, see Configuring rental products.
Rental types
Take now rentals: Start date is today. The customer takes the item immediately.
Reserved rentals: Start date is in the future. Rental is paid for up front and items are prepared ahead of pickup.
Process a rental product at POS
- Search for the rental product and add to the cart. Once added to cart, the item is placed on a 10-minute hold for the selected rental period - Other customers cannot book the same product for the same dates during this time.
- Enter the rental dates / rental period when prompted. StoreConnect checks whether at least one asset is available for the full period. If no assets are available, the rental booking cannot proceed. To check alternative availability, modify the rental dates.
- For take now rentals, enter or scan the serial number for the item. This is critical for tracking the asset hire.
- Add an existing customer account or create a new customer. This is required for the hiring agreement.
- Complete the checkout sale:
- If the item is being rented immediately, take payment and complete the transaction at the register.
- If the item is booked for a future date, no payment is required. The customer will pay in full on pickup.
A subscription is created for each rented item. The subscription tracks the rental dates and asset availability.
Rental fulfilment status of assets
Rental transactions move through the following stages:
- Picked & Packed (reserved rentals only)
- On Loan – when the customer has collected the item
- Returned – when the customer brings the item back
Pick up a reserved rental
- Search in the Rentals list for the rental product and move the rental status to the next status as you prepare it for pick-up.
- Enter the serial number of the product being picked up, if not already entered.
Rental returns
- Look up the rental item in the POS terminal. The items will have a status of On Loan.
- Check that the returned item has the correct serial number.
- Mark the item as Returned by clicking Process Return.
If a buffer period has been set, the returned items will not be available to re-hire until the buffer has passed.
POS best practice for rental products
- Always scan or enter the correct serial number
- Check fulfilment statuses regularly - use reports in Salesforce
- Use buffers for cleaning or servicing time
- Train staff on take now vs reserved rentals