Thinking about fleet management the anny way
The central principle: the vehicle type is a resource, and each vehicle is a child resource. The booking option with flexible duration defines how long the car is out. Check-in and check-out record when it was handed out and taken back. Parking is a different use case. A bay stays in place. A vehicle is the object that leaves. That setup is Parking Booking.Decision helpers: when do I use what?
One type, or every vehicle visible?
Rule of thumb: As soon as the licence plate has to be on the booking, each vehicle is a child resource.
Step-by-step setup
1
Create the vehicle type
Open Catalog → Resources and click New. Category Car. Name the resource after the type (for example “Compact car”), not after a single licence plate.
2
Create each vehicle as a child resource
Under Availability, set Multiple with assignment and create one child resource per car (for example “B-AN 1204”). One booking occupies that child resource for the chosen period.Turn Customer may choose options on when the driver needs a specific car. Otherwise anny assigns the next free car.
3
Schedule and multi-day trips
Create the schedule for the days when cars are handed out and returned, for example Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 17:00.For a trip over the weekend, enable Allow cross-schedule bookings on the booking option. Without it, every booking ends when the schedule ends.
4
Booking option with flexible duration
Period Flexible duration, unit day. Set minimum and maximum, for example at least 1 day and at most 14 days. Store start and end times for the handover, for example pickup 8:00, return 17:00.Set a Follow-up time, for example 2 hours, so the next driver does not get the car in the minute it comes back. The time is blocked and not charged.
5
Limit access
Create a community, for example “Fleet”, and limit the resource and the booking option via Access to this community.
6
Check-in and check-out
On the resource, under Check-In, enable the QR code ticket. Check in at handover and check out on return. Set up a tablet at the key desk in Set Up a Check-In Terminal, mode Check-In & Check-Out.Ask for mileage and driver in a custom form on the booking option. Use the timing Later (at check-in) when the details are only known at handover.
Typical examples
Pool cars for field staff
Pool cars for field staff
Resource “Estate car” with eight child resources. Booking option “Business trip”, flexible duration 1 to 5 days, free, only the community “Field staff”. Automatic assignment. Follow-up time 1 hour. Check-in when the key goes out, check-out on return.
A van the team picks itself
A van the team picks itself
Resource “Van” with three child resources that differ in cargo space. Customer may choose options is on. Booking option “Day”, flexible duration, at least 1 day. The form asks for the job site.
FAQ
Can one booking give the same car to two people?
Can one booking give the same car to two people?
No. Each vehicle is a child resource. Once it is booked, it is gone for that period. A second vehicle of the same type stays bookable while it is free.
How is this different from parking?
How is this different from parking?
A parking bay stays in place and is assigned as a spot. The vehicle leaves the site. Check-in, check-out and a duration of several days are the normal case here, not the day lot. Set up bays under Parking Booking.
Is there an automatic late fee?
Is there an automatic late fee?
No. The booking ends at the booked time, and the follow-up time only blocks the pause after it. A late return does not create a fee. Send a reminder before the end and sort out the return at the key desk.