Setting up inventory in Origin ensures that your physical items and equipment are properly tracked, available for bookings, and never overbooked. This article walks you through creating inventory categories, adding individual items, and linking inventory to listings or add-ons so your operations run smoothly.
Key Steps
To get started with inventory, you’ll first create categories (called Inventory Types) to organize your items, then add each physical item individually, including its seat or capacity. After your inventory items are set up, you can link them to specific listings or optional add-ons so that bookings automatically reserve the necessary items. Each inventory item also has its own calendar for blocking unavailable time, giving you full visibility into what is available when.
Step-by-Step Guide
Create Inventory Types:
Go to Inventory > Types and create categories for your equipment. Examples: Kayaks, Bikes, Shoes. These types help organize your items and make it easier to assign them to listings or add-ons.Add Inventory Items:
Within each type, create individual inventory items (e.g., Kayak #1, Kayak #2). Assign a seat count to each item based on how many guests it can accommodate (e.g., a 2-person raft = 2 seats). Optional: add identifiers like KAYAK1, KAYAK2 to keep items organized.Link Inventory to Listings:
Connect your inventory items to relevant listings or trips. When a guest books a listing that requires inventory, the system will automatically reserve an available item. Items cannot be double-booked, ensuring smooth operations.Inventory Calendars:
Each inventory item has a calendar where you can block unavailable dates for maintenance, repairs, or other uses. This ensures that items cannot be booked when unavailable.Connect Inventory to Add-Ons:
For optional extras (e.g., rental bike), attach inventory items as add-ons within Payments > Add-Ons. Linking limited items ensures you cannot overbook add-ons with restricted quantities.Review and Adjust:
Periodically check your inventory usage, update seat counts or availability, and add new items as needed to match your operations.
Best Practices
Always add each physical item individually for accurate tracking.
Assign seat counts to reflect actual capacity for each item.
Use identifiers for easy reference and reporting.
Regularly review calendars to prevent accidental overbooking.
Link inventory to listings and add-ons consistently to ensure accurate booking management.
By properly setting up inventory in Origin, you can prevent overbookings, optimize equipment usage, and deliver a smooth experience for your guests, whether you’re managing guided trips, rentals, or add-ons.