Partial Check-ins: Efficiently Handle Incomplete Returns

What are Partial Check-ins?

When someone returns only some of the assets from their booking, partial check-ins let you:

• Check in available assets immediately without waiting for missing items
• Keep bookings active until all assets are returned
• Maintain accurate inventory status with context-aware asset states
• Track which assets are still outstanding with real-time progress monitoring
• Handle complex multi-booking scenarios where assets exist in multiple bookings

Think of it like a library system - you can return some books while keeping others checked out under the same loan, with intelligent tracking of each item's status across all your active loans.

How Partial Check-ins Work

Three Ways to Perform Partial Check-ins

Quick Check-in (Dropdown)

• Checks in all remaining assets at once (traditional method)
• Intelligently skips assets already checked in from previous partial sessions
• Use this when all remaining assets are being returned together

Explicit Check-in (Scanner)

• Opens a dedicated scanner interface for selective asset check-in
• Features real-time progress tracking and booking context
• Perfect for partial returns with physical verification of each item
• Mobile-optimized with responsive progress display

Bulk Selection (Actions Menu)

• Select specific assets from the booking list using checkboxes
• Choose Actions > Check in to process only the selected items
• Ideal when you want to check in specific assets without scanning
• Supports both individual assets and entire kits

Using Explicit Check-in (Scanner Method)

1. Access the scanner: Click "Explicit check-in" from the check-in dropdown
2. Smart booking context: Scanner opens with booking details and progress bar at the top
3. Scan returned assets: Use your device's camera to scan QR codes or barcodes
4. Real-time validation: System validates each scan against booking contents and prevents conflicts
5. Progress tracking: Watch the progress bar update with percentage completion
6. Auto-completion: Booking automatically completes when last asset is scanned

Using Bulk Selection (Actions Method)

1. View the booking: Navigate to the booking detail page
2. Select assets: Check the boxes next to assets being returned
3. Access Actions menu: Click the Actions dropdown in the toolbar
4. Check in selected: Choose "Check in" from the Actions menu
5. Confirm action: The selected assets will be checked in and marked as available

Bulk Selection Benefits

• No scanning required - perfect for damaged QR codes or when scanning isn't practical
• Visual confirmation of exactly which assets you're processing
• Works with both individual assets and complete kits
• Instant processing without needing to navigate to scanner interface

Asset Status Intelligence

The system now features context-aware status management that handles complex scenarios:

Multi-booking Asset States

• Assets can exist in multiple bookings simultaneously
• Status displays are context-aware based on which booking you're viewing
• An asset might be "Available" in one booking context but "Checked Out" in another

Smart Status Labels

• "Already checked in": Shows for assets that have been returned in active bookings
• "Available": Asset returned and ready for new bookings
• "Checked out": Asset currently in use in this booking context

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Best Practices

Choosing the Right Method

Use Explicit Check-in (Scanner) when:

• You need physical verification of each item
• Processing returns incrementally as they arrive
• Working with mixed kit returns
• QR codes are easily scannable

Use Bulk Selection (Actions) when:

• QR codes are damaged or hard to scan
• You prefer working from a visual list
• Processing specific items from paperwork or notes
• Quick selection of multiple items at once

Use Quick Check-in when:

• All remaining assets are being returned together
• Fast processing is priority
• You've verified all items are present

Continue Learning

Ready to dive deeper? Check out these related articles:

• Alternative Barcode Types Supported by Shelf
• See when your assets are reserved in the future with Availability View
• Learn about batch actions in Shelf

Need help getting started? Contact our support team or schedule a demo to see the complete partial check-in system in action with your specific use case and multi-booking scenarios.

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