For more information about the difference between model-based and category-based availability in the system and on the website, we recommend checking out this guide: view guide.
Availability by category:
By having this modality selected what is done is to integrate to the main model of each category. This model will feed the availability of its entire category. Only that model will be shown in the broker, not all the models of the category. The benefit of this mode is that it reduces the amount of mappings that the broker must perform, resulting in a faster integration and a more dynamic maintenance.
To represent the category in brokers, only one of these seven models that make up the “Compact” category would be mapped. To choose which one, the integrations team would go to the category to see which one was selected as the main one. In the example, it is the “Citroen C5” model with five units.
In this example, the “Compact” category has 237 units in total. Being the model “Citroen C5” the principal of its category, the mapping of it would feed the availability of all 237 units belonging to its category, despite having only five units on its own. The bookings will enter Rently to the category and then you will see at the time of delivery to which model you assign it. Also, if in the future you add units to the model that has zero units, you will automatically have the availability of that model to the category, without the need for mapping or having to send notices to the brokers.
Availability by model:
By having this modality selected what is done is to integrate all models that have five or more units. Models with less than five units are left out of the integrations, since brokers are generally not willing to do this work to access a few units. In the broker, each specific model is displayed and when the stock of that model runs out, it is no longer displayed. Models do not feed the availability of their entire category, only their own. Maintenance is usually more cumbersome since, if you usually make many changes of models in their fleet, we'll have to be modifying the mappings more often, influencing of course the visible availability while the changes are being made and then the notices to the brokers are sent.
To fully represent the “Premium” category in brokers, each model in the category would have to be mapped to the API one by one. However, two of the three models have less than five units, so they would fall outside the criteria of many brokers. Only the “Hilux” model would be added, showing only its ten units and not the twelve in the category. As the availability is by model, this model would not feed the availability of all the models in the category. If at any time the units of the other models change, you would have to let us know in order to be able to make the mapping in the API if it corresponds and the subsequent notice to the brokers.
Summary of both options:
Working by category has the advantage that the operator will be able to assign the model to be delivered to the customer at the very moment of delivery thus generating more operational flexibility. On the other hand, working by category in OTAS will always show availability as long as there is at least one model available within it, not needing to map your entire fleet.
Working by model has the advantage of showing the exact models to be provided to the customers and avoids any type of complaint from them, but always with the limitation that the OTA will be the one who finally decides which models to show and which not to show. Brokers tend to not map more than 15/20 models, even if we map your entire fleet it isn't guaranteed that brokers will do the same (keep also in mind the 5-unit minimum, also).