Inn Cahoots Admin Documentation
Complete guide to managing events, catalog, payments, and operations on the Inn Cahoots platform.
Welcome
This documentation covers all aspects of the Inn Cahoots admin platform. Use the table of contents to navigate to specific sections, or scroll through the complete guide below.
Getting Started
Platform Overview
Inn Cahoots is a “Shopify-for-Events” platform that automates event management workflows. The system supports two event creation methods: automatic creation from HubSpot bookings, and customer-initiated creation through the cart checkout flow. Event planners can view details, purchase add-ons, submit change requests, and manage their events through secure, token-based event pages.
Key Concepts
- Events: Core entities representing booked venue reservations
- Add-ons: Upgrade services that planners can purchase
- Selections: Individual add-on purchases with payment tracking
- Tokens: Unique, secure URLs for event access
- Change Requests: Planner-initiated modification requests with staff review workflow
- Cart & Checkout: Multi-item shopping cart with Stripe payment integration
Quick Start
Start by exploring the Dashboard Overview to understand the platform layout, then review Event Management to learn how events are created and monitored.
Event Management
Event Lifecycle
Events can be created in two ways: automatically when HubSpot marks a booking as “Booked”, or when a customer completes checkout through the cart system. Each event receives a unique token and public URL for planner access.
Event Creation
Events created via HubSpot integration or customer cart checkout
Token Generation
Unique, non-guessable token is generated for secure access
Public URL
Shareable link created for planner access to event page
Add-on Purchases
Planners can browse catalog and purchase add-ons with instant payment
Change Requests
Planners can submit modification requests for staff review
Monitoring
Staff can monitor event activity, payments, and change requests
Link Management
Control access to event pages by enabling or disabling public links. Disabled links show an error page to planners.
Security Features
Event links are non-indexable, use no-referrer headers, and have 128-bit entropy tokens to prevent unauthorized access.
Planner-Facing Event Page Features
Event pages provide planners with comprehensive tools to manage their events, view purchase history, and request modifications.
Bookings Summary
The “Your Bookings” section appears below the add-on catalog and displays:
- Purchase History: All successfully paid or pending add-on purchases
- Payment Details: Purchase date, time, amount, and payment status for each item
- Total Summary: Cumulative total of all paid amounts
- Status Indicators: Visual badges showing Paid or Pending status
Change Request Form
Planners can submit modification requests directly from their event page:
- Request Types: Modify quantity, change hours, remove item, or other custom requests
- Item Selection: Optionally select specific booked items to modify
- Description: Detailed explanation of the requested change
- Success Notification: Toast notification confirms successful submission
- Status Tracking: View all change requests and their current status on the event page
Additional Features
- AI FAQ: Interactive FAQ system powered by AI to answer common questions
- Shared Notes: Collaborative notes section for planner and staff communication
- Event Details: Complete event information including venue, date, time, and planner contact
- Add-on Catalog: Browse and purchase additional services with instant Stripe payment
Catalog Management
Catalog System
The catalog system organizes add-ons into categories and manages pricing, availability, and configuration.
Pricing Models
Flat Rate
Fixed-price packages (e.g., $2,200 cocktail program)
Unit Hour
Hourly services with multipliers (e.g., $65/hour × 4 hours × 2 bartenders)
Unit Pricing
Per-person or per-item pricing (e.g., $45/person catering)
Event-Specific Overrides
Use overrides to modify pricing, availability, or quantities for specific events when needed.
Payment Processing
Stripe Integration
The platform uses Stripe Checkout for secure, instant payment processing with automatic webhook reconciliation.
Selection
Planner chooses add-on and quantity
Stripe Checkout
Redirected to secure Stripe payment page
Payment Processing
Stripe handles payment authorization
Webhook Notification
Stripe sends status update to platform
Reconciliation
Platform updates selection status within 60 seconds
Payment Statuses
Paid
Payment successfully processed
Pending
Payment in progress or webhook delayed
Failed
Payment could not be processed
Purchase History & Bookings Summary
On each event page, planners can view a summary of their purchased add-ons in the “Your Bookings” section. This component appears below the add-on catalog and displays:
- Purchased Items: All add-ons that have been successfully paid for or are pending payment
- Purchase Details: Each item shows the purchase date, time, amount, and payment status
- Total Paid: Summary total of all successfully paid amounts
- Visual Indicators: Status badges distinguish between paid and pending items
This feature helps planners track their purchases and provides transparency into what has been successfully booked for their event.
Planner Experience
The Bookings Summary only appears when there are paid or pending add-ons. Planners can use this section to reference their purchase history and verify payment status.
Staff Tools & Dashboard
Dashboard Overview
The staff dashboard provides comprehensive tools for monitoring events, managing selections, and coordinating operations.
Dashboard KPIs & Metrics
The dashboard header displays key performance indicators at the top of the page, providing instant visibility into platform performance.
Total Revenue
Sum of all successful payments for the selected time period
New Selections
Total number of add-on purchases made in the selected time period
Success Rate
Percentage of successful payments (includes pending count indicator)
Time Range Filtering
Filter dashboard metrics by time period using the range selector in the top-left of the dashboard header:
- Today: Metrics from the start of today through now
- 7d: Metrics from the past 7 days (including today)
- 30d: Metrics from the past 30 days (including today)
Status Badges
The dashboard header displays status badges in the top-right that provide quick visibility into system status:
Live Sync
Displays real-time synchronization latency in milliseconds, or "Live" when synced
Change Requests
Shows count of pending change requests requiring staff review
Overrides
Count of active event-specific pricing or availability overrides
Key Features
- Real-time Monitoring: Live updates every 5 seconds
- Event Management: Enable/disable event links
- Selection Tracking: Monitor add-on purchases and payments
- Bulk Operations: Manage multiple selections efficiently
- Search & Filtering: Find specific data quickly
- Calendar View: Visual calendar interface for event scheduling and navigation
- Change Request Management: Review and respond to planner modification requests
Daily Operations
Check the dashboard multiple times daily during active periods to monitor payment reconciliation and respond to change requests promptly.
Exports & Reporting
Export System
Generate comprehensive CSV reports for finance reconciliation, operational reporting, and business analysis.
Export Fields
Event, Add-on, Model, Hours, Units, Unit Price, Amount, Status, Stripe PI, Created atReconciliation Process
Generate Export
Select date range and download CSV
Stripe Dashboard
Access Stripe payment records
Cross-Reference
Match Payment Intent IDs
Verify Amounts
Confirm payment amounts match
Resolve Differences
Address any discrepancies found
File Naming
Exports use consistent naming: inncahoots_exports_YYYY-MM-DD_YYYY-MM-DD.csv
Change Request Management
Change Request System
Handle planner modification requests through a structured workflow with approval, rejection, and implementation tracking.
Request Types
Modify Quantity
Change add-on quantities or hours
Change Hours
Modify time allocations for services
Remove Item
Remove previously purchased add-ons
Other Requests
Custom modification requests
Complete Workflow
Request Submission
Planner submits change request via event page form with description and request type
Email Notification
Staff receives email notification about new change request
Staff Review
Staff reviews request in dashboard, assesses operational and financial impact
Decision Making
Staff approves or rejects with optional notes explaining the decision
Customer Notification
Planner automatically receives email notification with decision and staff notes
Implementation
Approved changes are manually implemented by staff (status remains 'approved' until completed)
Request Statuses
Pending
Awaiting staff review and decision
Approved
Change request accepted, awaiting implementation
Rejected
Change request denied with staff notes explaining reason
Completed
Approved changes have been fully implemented
Email Notifications
The system automatically sends email notifications at key points in the change request workflow:
- Submission: Staff receives email when planner submits a new change request
- Approval: Planner receives email confirmation when request is approved, including staff notes
- Rejection: Planner receives email notification when request is rejected, with explanation in staff notes
Response Time
Respond to change requests within 24 hours to maintain good customer service. The dashboard shows pending change request counts in the status badges.
Calendar View
Master Event Calendar
The Calendar View provides a comprehensive visual overview of all events across the platform, allowing staff to see event schedules at a glance and navigate directly to event details.
View Options
Month View
Traditional calendar grid showing all events in monthly format
Week View
Detailed weekly schedule with event times and details
Day View
Single day focus with hourly breakdown of events
List View
Agenda-style list of upcoming events with full details
Calendar Features
- Event Indicators: Events display with color coding by venue and visual indicators for pending change requests
- Quick Navigation: Click any event to navigate directly to the event dashboard (BEO view)
- Filtering: Filter events by venue, planner, status, or date range
- Search: Search events by name, planner, or venue
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Switch views quickly using keyboard shortcuts (M for month, W for week, D for day, L for list)
- Event Preview: Hover or click events to see preview modal with key details
Visual Indicators
Events on the calendar include visual indicators to help staff quickly identify important information:
- Venue Colors: Each venue has a distinct color for easy identification
- Change Request Badges: Events with pending change requests display a badge with the count
- Past Events: Past events are visually distinguished from upcoming events
Navigation Tip
Use the calendar view to quickly identify busy periods, see event distribution across venues, and navigate directly to events that need attention.
Cart & Checkout
Cart System & Checkout Flow
The cart system allows customers to select multiple add-ons, choose venues, and complete checkout with Stripe payment processing. The system automatically creates events and selections when payment is confirmed.
Cart Features
- Multi-Item Selection: Add multiple add-ons to cart with different quantities, hours, or units
- Venue Selection: Choose which venues each add-on applies to
- Event Details: Enter event name, planner name, and event date before checkout
- Real-time Totals: Cart automatically calculates totals based on pricing models
- Local Storage: Cart state persists in browser for convenience
Checkout Process
Cart Review
Customer reviews cart items, venues, and event details in checkout modal
Cart Session Creation
System creates cart session in database to store checkout data temporarily
Stripe Checkout
Customer redirected to Stripe Checkout for secure payment processing
Payment Processing
Stripe handles payment authorization and processing
Webhook Notification
Stripe webhook notifies system when payment is confirmed
Event Creation
System automatically creates event, venues, selections, and payment records
Confirmation & Redirect
Customer receives confirmation email and is redirected to their new event page
Data Flow
When a checkout is completed successfully, the system automatically:
- Creates a new event record with the provided event details
- Associates selected venues with the event
- Creates selection records for each add-on purchased
- Records payment information linked to Stripe Payment Intent
- Generates unique event token for customer access
- Sends confirmation email to customer with event token and receipt
Automatic Event Creation
The cart checkout system automatically creates events when payment is confirmed. Customers don't need to create events manually - the system handles everything from cart to event page.
Analytics & Activity Logs
Analytics Dashboard
Monitor platform performance, user behavior, and operational metrics through comprehensive analytics and activity logs.
Key Performance Indicators
Revenue Metrics
- • Total Revenue
- • Average Order Value
- • Revenue Growth
- • Revenue by Add-on
Conversion Metrics
- • Selection Rate
- • Payment Success Rate
- • Conversion Funnel
- • Abandonment Rate
Activity Logs
Comprehensive audit trails track all user actions, system events, payment activities, and administrative changes.
Audit Trail
All actions are logged with timestamps, user information, and detailed context for compliance and troubleshooting.
AI FAQ System (Beta)
AI-Powered FAQ
Provide intelligent, document-based question answering for event planners using AI technology and venue-specific knowledge base.
Document Management
Upload and organize venue documents including policies, procedures, technical specifications, and vendor information.
AI Processing
Document Upload
Admin uploads venue documents
Content Extraction
AI extracts text from documents
Indexing
Documents processed for search
Question Processing
AI analyzes planner questions
Answer Generation
AI generates answers with citations
Beta Feature
The AI FAQ system is currently in beta. Monitor answer quality and provide feedback to improve performance.
Troubleshooting Guide
Common Issues & Solutions
Comprehensive troubleshooting guide covering common issues, solutions, and support escalation procedures.
Issue Categories
Authentication & Access
Login issues, session problems, access denied
Event Management
Event not accessible, missing data, link issues
Payment Processing
Payment failures, status updates, refunds
System Performance
Slow loading, errors, data sync issues
Troubleshooting Process
Identify Problem
Clearly define what's not working
Check System Status
Verify system and service status
Review Logs
Check relevant system logs
Try Basic Solutions
Apply common fixes like clearing cache
Escalate if Needed
Contact support if issue persists
Emergency Support
For critical issues affecting live events, contact emergency support immediately at help@inncahoots.com