Why You Should Care About Units of Measure
Running a shop isn’t just about selling things — it’s about knowing exactly what you have, what it costs, and how it moves in and out of your store.
Let’s say you buy bottles of water by the carton but sell them one by one. Or maybe you sell snacks as single packs, family packs, and party bundles. If your system can’t handle that properly, your stock and sales figures can get messy real quick.
That’s why Ficos gives you full control over Units of Measure (UOM) — a simple way to track products in whatever form you buy or sell them. It keeps your inventory tidy, your pricing smart, and your reports easy to understand.
How It Works
Base Unit
This is the smallest unit you track a product in. For example, if you sell soft drinks by the bottle, your base unit might be “Piece” or “Bottle.”
Everything else — cartons, packs, sets — is just a bigger version of that base unit.
Example:
You buy 1 carton of 24 bottles. Ficos adds 24 pieces to your inventory.
Types of Units You Can Use
Ficos gives you two ways to define your selling and buying units:
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Global Units: Already built-in. Things like Carton (Ctn), Pack (Pk), Kilogram (Kg).
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Custom Units: You can make your own. Like 6-Pack, Promo Bundle, or Snack Tray — whatever makes sense for your store.
Each one has a name and a short code (like “6Pk” or “Bndl”) so it’s easy to spot.
Set Up Units for Each Product
You can tell Ficos how each product is sold:
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Conversion Factor: How many base units are in that bigger unit.
Example: A carton = 24 bottles → conversion factor = 24 -
Optional Pricing: Want to give a better price for buying a full pack? You can enter a special cost or selling price for that unit.
If you don’t set a custom price, Ficos will just do the math automatically.
How to Set Up Units in Ficos
Step 1: Use Built-In Units
When adding a product, just pick from the existing list:
“Piece,” “Carton,” “Pack,” etc. These are ready to go.
While Adding or Editing a Product
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When choosing a unit in the Units of Measure dropdown, scroll to the bottom.
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Click “+ Add New” or a similar option.
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Enter the unit name and code (just like above).
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Save it, and it’ll be added immediately to your store’s list.
💡 This method is great when you're setting up products quickly and don’t want to leave the screen.
Once created, your new unit can be used like any other — for pricing, inventory, and reporting.
Step 3: Link Units to Products
When adding or editing a product:
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Set your base unit price (what it costs and sells for per single item)
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Under Additional Selling Units, click Add Unit
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Pick a UOM (like “Carton”) and enter:
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How many base units are in it (e.g., 24)
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Optional selling price for the full carton
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Optional cost price if it’s different from buying items one-by-one
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How It Works in Your Shop
When You’re Buying Stock
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Choose the unit (e.g., Carton) in your purchase order
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Enter how many units you’re buying and the price per unit
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Ficos automatically updates your stock in base units
Example:
Buy 5 cartons of juice (24 per carton) → Stock increases by 120 pieces
When You’re Selling
At the point of sale, staff can choose:
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Sell by piece
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Sell a full pack
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Sell a custom bundle
Ficos handles the pricing automatically based on the unit you select.
Example:
Sell 1 “6-Pack” → Ficos deducts 6 pieces from your stock
When Customers Return Items
Returns are tracked by unit too:
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Staff chooses the unit being returned (e.g., 1 carton or 2 pieces)
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Refund is based on the original price of that unit
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If you restock it, Ficos adds the correct number of base units back
Example:
Return 1 carton of 24 bottles → Stock increases by 24 pieces
When You Adjust Inventory
Doing a stock count or manual adjustment?
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Choose the unit you’re counting (e.g., cartons)
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Enter the quantity or adjustment
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Ficos converts it and updates your main stock automatically
Reporting & Stock Tracking
All your reports (sales, stock levels, movement) are based on base units. This keeps everything consistent and makes it easier to spot trends.
But don’t worry — you can still see which units were used at checkout for more detailed analysis.
Why It’s Worth Using UOM in Ficos
Here’s what shopkeepers like you get from using this feature:
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✅ More Accurate Stock: Always know what’s on your shelves
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✅ Flexible Selling: Offer singles, packs, bundles — however your customers like it
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✅ Smarter Pricing: Offer discounts for buying more, or make bundles more attractive
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✅ Less Guesswork: Staff don’t need to do math when selling or buying
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✅ Better Reports: Know what’s working and what’s not — with clear data
Pro Tips for Managing Units
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Pick the right base unit: Start small — usually the item you sell individually.
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Name things clearly: Use short codes that your staff will recognize.
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Double check unit sizes: Enter the right number of items in each pack/carton.
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Use bundle pricing: Encourage customers to buy more with better value.
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Train your staff: Make sure they know how to choose the correct unit at the till or during stock intake.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be a tech wizard to take control of your inventory.
With Ficos’s Unit of Measure system, you can buy in bulk, sell in singles, create bundles — and still keep your stock and pricing accurate. It helps you stay organized, reduce errors, and make smarter business decisions.