Loan

Introduction #

The Relution loan system was developed to support the administration of device loans. Administrators can define loan conditions, track loan periods, and monitor device status to ensure a transparent and secure loan process.

Terms of Use #

Before loaning devices to students, clear terms of use should be defined. These include general framework conditions, the regulation of the handover and return of loan devices, liability in case of damage or loss, as well as the initial setup and configuration of the devices in compliance with data protection and youth protection regulations.

This information can be stored in Relution under “Settings” -> “Loan System” and formatted with Markdown for better clarity. Multiple versions can be stored and selected for each individual loan. Documented usage terms are available during the loan process and can be selected per device. This ensures full transparency regarding the conditions under which a device was issued. In most cases, schools also sign a physical loan agreement with the borrower, which can be uploaded for documentation.

Device Loan #

To map the loan systemically in Relution, devices can be loaned in the inventory. The loan process can be started in the device details via the shortcut “Loan Device” in the info box or under the tab “Loan” and the button “Loan”.

In the following dialog, administrators define the loan period using the mandatory fields “Loaned from” and “Loaned until”. The device is assigned to a student or teacher. The name of the borrower is entered in the free text field “Loaned to”. A suggestion function allows selecting already entered names and existing Relution users.

Note: The person specified under “Loaned to” may differ from the Relution user account assigned to the device. A Relution user account is not required for basic device loans. If the device is to be issued with user-specific apps or content, a corresponding user must be created in Relution and linked to the device. Auto-deployments can then be used to distribute apps and configurations automatically.

Additional information and comments can be stored in the free text field “Remarks”. For example, the purpose or measure for which the device is being loaned can be specified. If the device is handed out with accessories such as a power supply unit, a case, or a stylus, this can also be documented here, and the complete return of the handed-out items can be checked upon return. Furthermore, stored terms of use can be selected, and a signature can be uploaded. It is also advisable to upload a copy of any physical loan agreement here.

Once a device is loaned, it is marked as such in the “Loan” overview. As long as it has not been returned, it is not available as a loan device and cannot be loaned out again. In the inventory overview, loaned devices can be recognized by the filled columns “Loaned to” and “Loaned until”.

Returning Devices #

To return a device, the return process is started on the device details page via the shortcut “Return Device” in the info box or under the “Loan” tab and the “Return” button.

Subsequently, the device no longer appears as an actively loaned device in the “Loan” overview, and the return date is displayed. The device is again available as a loan device and can now be loaned out again.

Overdue Loan Period #

If the loan period is exceeded and the device is not returned by the borrower in time, the date “Loaned until” will appear in red in the inventory overview for the corresponding device.

Rules for Overdue Loan Periods #

Relution allows administrators to define automated actions for overdue devices. For example, a loan device not returned on time can be set to the device status “non-compliant” with the compliance violation “Loan period exceeded”.

The action “Notify selected users or groups” can be used to automatically alert administrators. Additionally, devices can be remotely locked or reset to factory settings if needed. These rules help enforce loan conditions and protect against misuse.

Accessories #

Relution enables up to five “Custom Device Properties” to be configured under Settings -> Custom Device Properties, such as listing accessories associated with each device (e.g.charger, protective case, stylus).

Once custom device properties are activated, they will subsequently be displayed in the device details under “Information” at the bottom.

Once activated, these fields appear in the device details section and can be populated for every device. This makes it easy to track which accessories were issued and verify that everything is returned.

In the inventory overview, these properties can be displayed to give administrators a clear overview of the loaned equipment and its accessories.