Item allows to set different unit of measure for working with item on SFI (dispense unit of measure) and for purchasing the item from vendor (purchase unit of measure). Both units can be set in item detail. In case of different dispense and purchase units, conversion ratio must be specified to define how quantity will be converted between dispense and purchase units.
Following article describes where dispense units and purchase units are shown within AP and SFI.
Dispense unit of measure
Dispense units are main units when working with an item. They are used exclusively during all operations on SFI, regardless if item\’s purchase units are different. If so, information about purchase units and purchase package size is shown to an operator when working with item device assignment options and during restock from orders.
When working with device assignments from AP, assignment options are specified in dispense units in the same way like when working with assignments on SFI.
For service operations on durable items, dispense units are used for both internal service (service lists) or external service (service orders).
All transactions have quantity and price per unit shown in dispense units of measure.
Purchase units of measure
Purchase units are used exclusively for ordering new items from vendor. When creating a purchase order manually or by a script, ordered quantity will be always in purchase unit of measure (scripts covert item-device assignment info to purchase units with the conversion ratio). To change quantity on order (total, received, cancelled etc.) from AP or by order related API, quantity in purchase unit must be specified.
Once purchase order is synced to SFI, quantity on this order is recalculated to dispense unit, allowing SFI operators to restock/receive in dispense units.
In transactions related to purchase of new goods, purchase quantity and price per unit in purchase units is stored separately, as main transaction quantity and price per unit is shown in dispense units.
Reporting data source for order data, sending interfaces providing order related data and purchase related notifications show quantities in purchase units for purchase orders and in dispense units for service orders.
Conversion ratio is stored for each order separately, changing conversion ratio or units of measure on item definition will not affect existing orders.
It is not allowed to order, receive or cancel such quantity which will lead to decimal value after conversion to dispense unit.
Example:
If dispense is in barrels and purchase in liters with conversion ratio 1 barrel = 50 liters, order must always work only with multiples of 50 liters, as other value will not be possible to convert to whole barrel.