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Multiple Units of Measure

started a topic almost 9 years ago

As a wholesaler, we buy and sell based items on unit prices, but for shipping we can only buy and sell shippable quantities based on how many units go in a box, or case-pack. So if 10 pans fit in a box, we can only buy and sell in multiples of 10. But we don't negotiate buying or selling prices based on total price of the case, that is done on a unit basis. 


Having multiple units of measure, so we can keep track of items, dozens, cases, and pallets all for the same item would greatly aid our ability to sell in quantities that are shippable and keep inventory numbers correctly in check. 


23 people like this idea
  • Another example that I run into often with specialty food businesses (AKA food manufacturers) is buying ingredients in bulk units such as cases, gallons, barrels, etc. while needing the ingredients in production units, such as grams or lbs.  


    Currently, many of these businesses use an "auto-disassembly" to do a unit conversion from the purchase unit (e.g, gallons) to the production unit (e.g., grams), which works for purposes of production but definitely has some drawbacks.  The drawbacks include low inventory reporting needs to be done in the production unit (e.g., grams) which is often not very intuitive and does not allow for creating purchase orders in the purchase unit.  Another drawback with the disassembly solution for unit conversion is that DEAR does not currently automatically copy the batch number from the parent unit to the disassembled unit, thereby losing the batch number uniformity.  Best practice in food traceability is to keep the lot number (batch number) the same for ingredients at all times.  It is possible with the disassembly to copy the batch number from the parent to the child, but using the auto-disassembly, it means going to the disassembly, undo'ing it, and then copying the batch number and expiry date to the "result" product(s)


    So, when considering this new feature, please allow for 

    • user designed unit conversions for any given product from one unit to another. 
    • purchasing in one unit and use of the same product in production in a converted unit
    • marking unit(s) to be used for purchasing
    • marking unit(s) to be used for production
    • marking unit(s) to be used for sales
    • marking unit(s) to be used for low stock reporting (same as purchasing unit?)
    • allowing for stock counts (stock adjustments and stocktakes) in a variety of units, for example being able to count 5 cases of given product plus 5 loose bottles.
    • maintenance of the batch number and expiry date no matter which unit

    One possible design of this might be to have a Units tab for a product, with a table which defines the unit conversions.  This table would have a set of quantity and unit on one side with an equal sign and a quantity and unit on the other side.  For example, 1 kg = 1000 grams.  Another example 1 lbs = 453.592 grams.  I personally do not think you need to pre-define the conversions as leaving it to individuals to define will allow for flexibility and creativity.  The unit labels (lbs, kg, cases, gallons, each, etc.) would still be defined b the individual subscription.



    2 people like this
  • Multi UOM is a much needed feature. Here are some ideas on how it could be implemented.


    Each UOM should have a price tied to it.

    'Volume' discounts are tied to UOM or number of UOM.

    Price rules around UOM.

    Multi buy UOM and Multi sell UOM. For example you buy by the pallet and sell by the case.


    2 people like this
  • Definitely agree that this would be a great feature. If we could purchase, warehouse and sell SKUs by individual, case and/or pallet basis, would assist greatly. Barcode per unit of measure would be great too.




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  • Another example where this is needed is where bulk purchase orders are broken up for resale e.g.

    We may purchase a Roll of wire and sell it per metre. But currently DEAR cannot handle this situation.


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  • I've requested an update from DEAR again on this on a closed ticket. If I get a yes/no/maybe on specc'ing this functionality, and rough timescales, I'll let you all know - it is a basic part of an inventory system with a lot of requests here so I'd be surprised if they decline.



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  • This would be a huge time saver for us being a winery that sells in dozens, 6 packs, single bottles and a number of other configurations. Please, please, please put this on the agenda Dear.


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  • We need this feature as well! Many of our vendors sell in sub units so a master case will have 4-12 items in a case. These vendors will bill for the sub items while we need to invoice our customers for the master case. This causes major discrepancies in inventory!


    Is this being worked on?!?!?!?


    Does Dear Inventory read these feature requests?


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  • Regarding price - there must also be a link between units of measurement and prices. If you buy a case of 100 products, and accept this into stock, it MUST update the singles cost price based on the cost of the case.


  • Glad to see this feature is planned and I would like to second Stan's suggestions.
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  • Hi DEAR Support,

    Can we ask for update on Multiple Units of Measure please? 
    Thank you.

  • Awesome stuff thanks DEAR

  • We definitely need this - we buy in boxes and sell in singles.


    One way will be for different units of measure (currently DEAR has UOM but not usable for this functionality), so if you need to order 24 singles, it will order a 1 case of 24 singles.


    Another way is to link singles and parents, so keep everything in boxes as they arrive at stock in, then disassemble them at the point of sale if there are singles available in the parent boxes. 

    This way, when reordering it has the boxes on hand qty (currently DEAR has a similar functionality of what parent items can be made, but it places this figure in 'available', therefore the PO does not work for this, as it sees '0' in the 'on hand' figure)



  • Please can you also have a look at how UOM would link with bulk uploads to Shopify - currently DEAR works with families for this, but families have the same price, UOM would be a multiple of 1 product so different prices. It's more like a quantity variation, as opposed to a family.

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