Module 4 · Core · 7 min read

Units of measure and pack sizes

You will be able to: Set a base unit and add larger pack units with the right factor; Calculate how many base units a sale or purchase moves; Explain why quantities in reports are always in the base unit.

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Many items are bought in one unit and sold in another: pieces, boxes, cartons. Zeyto keeps every item in one Base Unit, the smallest unit you stock, and converts larger packs to it with a Factor to Base. Stock, cost and reports always count in the base unit, so a carton of 12 boxes of 10 pieces simply counts as 120 pieces.

The Units tab of the item masters listing units of measure with the Allow decimals and Decimals settings.

Units master: whether a unit allows decimals, and how many.

Units master: whether a unit allows decimals, and how many.

Setting it up on the item

  1. Choose the Base Unit, for example PCS, before the first purchase or sale. Zeyto does not convert quantities that are already booked.
  2. Press Add Unit to add a row for another unit such as BOX. The first row is the base unit with factor 1.
  3. Use Contains to enter the pack the natural way: 10 PCS in a BOX. Zeyto multiplies through and fills Factor to Base for you. Typing the Factor to Base yourself works too.
  4. Choose the Sales Unit and Purchase Unit that new sales and purchase lines should start with. Ticking Sales or Purchase on a grid row does the same.
  5. Save.
Three levels10 PCS make 1 BOX and 12 BOX make 1 CARTON. Base Unit is PCS with factor 1. BOX contains 10 PCS, so its Factor to Base is 10. CARTON contains 12 BOX, so its Factor to Base is 12 x 10 = 120. Selling 3 CARTON takes 3 x 120 = 360 PCS out of stock. A price on a document is per the unit on that line, for example 1,500 per CARTON or 150 per BOX.
Buying by the cartonYou buy 5 CARTON at AED 1,200 per carton, a bill of 6,000 before VAT. Stock goes up by 5 x 120 = 600 PCS. The value is 6,000, so the average cost per piece is 6,000 / 600 = AED 10.00. Reports show 600 PCS, not 5 cartons.

Units that allow decimals

Under Inventory, Masters, Units tab, a unit has Allow decimals and Decimals from 0 to 4. A unit like KG should allow decimals; PCS should not. To use a unit on an item, add it to that item's units grid with its Factor to Base.

The Units card of an item showing Base Unit, Sales Unit, Purchase Unit and the factor to base.

On the item, the Units card sets the base, sales and purchase units.

On the item, the Units card sets the base, sales and purchase units.
Watch outIf the Sales Unit is not the Base Unit, the Min Sales Price is saved as the price of that unit, not multiplied by its factor. Check the price on a test sale, or set unit prices in Inventory, Price Lists.

Zeyto shows a plain sentence for each row, such as 1 CARTON = 120 PCS (= 12 BOX), and warns when a factor is not a whole multiple of the next smaller unit. That usually means a typing slip. It does not stop you saving.

TipFactor to Base always counts straight to the base unit and never to another pack. If you change a pack, every pack built on it is recalculated. When in doubt, count in the smallest piece you would ever hand to a customer.

Try it in the demo

  1. Open demo.zeyto.app/demo-app/ and sign in with the public demo user (admin, password demoAdmin123).
  2. Open Inventory, Masters and click the Units tab; note Allow decimals and Decimals.
  3. Open an item and look at the Units card: Base Unit, Sales Unit, Purchase Unit, Factor to Base and Contains.
  4. Press Add Unit on a form (do not save) and type a value in Contains to see Factor to Base fill in.
  5. Open Reports, Stock Balance and Valuation and confirm the quantity is shown in the base unit.
Open the live demo

Public demo company, sign in as admin / demoAdmin123. Data refreshes nightly.

Key takeaways
  • Every item has one base unit; larger packs are converted by Factor to Base.
  • Contains multiplies through smaller packs for you.
  • Pick the base unit before the first transaction.
  • Reports count in base units.

Check yourself

3 questions on this lesson. Not timed, not the exam, and you can try again. Score 60% or more, and read the lesson, to complete it.

1. What is the Base Unit of an item?

2. A BOX holds 12 PCS and the Base Unit is PCS. What is the BOX's Factor to Base?

3. 10 PCS = 1 BOX and 12 BOX = 1 CARTON. How many PCS leave stock when you sell 3 CARTON?

Previous: Items: the products you buy, sell and countNext: Warehouses, racks and opening stock

Practice questions for this module · Printable study sheet