Orbit Resource Number (ORN)

An Orbit Resource Number (ORN) is a unique identifier that Orbit assigns to resources such as tours, shipments, and loads. ORNs enable features like Cockpit Identify and scannable QR codes on printed labels.

Key Highlights

Unique identification: Every ORN uniquely identifies a resource across the entire Orbit system
Structured format: A consistent orn:<tenant-id>:<resource-path> pattern that covers Tours, Shipments, and Loads
Scannable labels: Embed ORNs as QR codes on shipping labels using the Document Engine
Cross-feature support: Used by Cockpit Identify, the load status scanner, and the Document Engine Format

Every ORN follows the same structure:


orn:<tenant-id>:<resource-path>

orn — A fixed prefix identifying the string as an Orbit Resource Number.
tenant-id — The ID of the tenant that owns the resource.
resource-path — The type and ID of the resource, using / as a separator.

Examples

Resource	Format	Example
Tour	`orn:<tenant-id>:tour/<tour-id>`	`orn:acmelogistics:tour/TUR-2024-001`
Shipment	`orn:<tenant-id>:shipment/<shipment-id>`	`orn:acmelogistics:shipment/SHP-2024-042`
Load	`orn:<tenant-id>:shipment/<shipment-id>/load/<load-id>`	`orn:acmelogistics:shipment/SHP-2024-042/load/LD-001`

Loads are identified as sub-resources of their parent shipment, so the ORN includes both the shipment ID and the load ID.

Where ORNs Are Used

Printed Labels

When you generate shipping labels through Orbit's Document Engine, you can embed an ORN as a QR code on each label. Scanning this QR code with a phone camera opens Cockpit Identify and displays the associated Tour, stops, and loads.

The Document Engine provides the generateLoadDeepLink template filter, which produces a scannable deep link URL for any load. See the Cockpit Identify documentation for details on the scanning workflow.

Cockpit Identify

The Identify function in Orbit Cockpit uses ORNs to resolve scanned barcodes. When a driver or warehouse worker scans a barcode containing an ORN, Cockpit looks up the corresponding Tour and displays its details. This works for tour, shipment, and load ORNs.

Load Status Scanner

The barcode scanner in the load status panel also recognises ORNs. When a barcode containing a load ORN is scanned during the departure flow, the system matches it to the corresponding load at the current stop.

Real Life Example:

Spaceport Shipping Co. in Berlin prints shipping labels for outbound deliveries using Orbit's Document Engine. Each label includes a QR code generated with the generateLoadDeepLink template filter. When a driver at the destination warehouse in London scans the QR code with their phone camera, Cockpit opens and shows that the Load belongs to Tour TUR-2024-112, with a delivery window of 14:00–16:00 at ACME Ltd, 45 King Street. The driver confirms the package is on the right vehicle without needing to check with a dispatcher. /hea

FAQ

Do I need to construct ORNs manually?

In most cases, no. ORNs are generated automatically by Orbit — for example, when using the generateLoadDeepLink filter in the Document Engine. If you are building a custom integration, you can construct ORNs from the resource IDs available in API responses and webhook payloads.

Can I use ORNs in the API?

ORNs are currently used for barcode scanning and label generation. They are not required for standard API calls, which continue to use resource IDs directly.

What barcode format should I use for ORNs?

We recommend encoding ORNs as QR codes. QR codes offer sufficient capacity for the full ORN string and are reliably read by the Cockpit scanner and standard phone cameras.