Units of Measure

A unit of measure describes how a product is counted or handled, such as an each, case, carton, or pallet.

Units of Measure (UoM) let one product carry inventory in packaging units such as inner packs, cases, and pallets. For inventory calculations, ShipOS converts these quantities to individual base units called eaches. Each packaging level records how many eaches one container holds.

For example, a case packaging level with a multiplier of 24 represents 24 eaches. Ten cases therefore represent 240 eaches of inventory.

Create a UoM product

1. Go to ShipOS → Products (opens the Cybership dashboard in a new tab).
2. Create a product or edit an existing product.
3. Set Product Type to UoM.
4. Save the product.
5. Open UoM Profiles & Barcodes on the product.
6. Click Open Builder.

The UoM Builder shows the product's eaches, packaging levels, dimensions, hierarchy, and barcodes in one place.

Add a packaging level

1. In the UoM Builder, click Add Packaging Level.
2. Select a Packaging Type, or choose Other (custom) and enter a label.
3. Enter the Multiplier (eaches per UoM unit).
4. Choose what the packaging level Breaks into.
5. Add dimensions and weight when they differ from the base product.
6. Save the packaging level.

The multiplier must be a whole number greater than one. It is fixed after the packaging level is created. If the pack size is wrong, create a replacement packaging level instead of changing the multiplier.

Build a packaging hierarchy

The Breaks into field describes how a container opens:

ShipOS only offers smaller packaging levels that form a valid hierarchy. A packaging level can always break directly into eaches.

Assign barcodes

Eaches and every packaging level can have their own barcodes. This lets the same product scan differently as an individual item, inner pack, case, or pallet.

From the UoM Builder:

1. Select Eaches or a packaging level.
2. Add or edit its barcode.
3. Save the barcode assignment.

A packaging level can have alternate barcodes when suppliers or packaging runs use more than one code.

Store and move packaged inventory

UoM stock records retain the selected packaging level, location, lot code, and expiration date. Quantity displays show both the container count and its equivalent number of eaches where space allows.

UoM context is carried through supported inventory and fulfillment workflows, including:

• Stock creation and transfers
• Cycle counts
• Putaway
• Picking and packing
• Manual fulfillment
• Bulk Ship
• Work orders

Break Bulk

Use Break Bulk when a workflow needs a smaller unit than the packaged stock currently available.

1. Select the packaged stock row.
2. Click Break Bulk.
3. Enter how many containers to open.
4. Review the packaging hierarchy and choose how many containers to keep at each smaller packaging level. Anything not kept continues down the hierarchy to eaches.
5. Confirm.

The final output can contain a mix of smaller packaging units and eaches. Converted inventory keeps its warehouse, location, lot code, and expiration date. When matching stock already exists at an output level, ShipOS consolidates the resulting quantity with that stock.

Picking never breaks containers implicitly. If the required unit is unavailable, break the stock first and then continue the workflow.

Delete a packaging level

Deleting a packaging level queues permanent cleanup rather than removing it immediately.

When cleanup runs:

• Stock using the packaging level is converted to eaches and consolidated with matching eaches stock when possible.
• Saved references to the packaging level are cleared.
• Packaging levels that broke into it are changed to break directly into eaches.
• The deletion is blocked while an active picking session uses the packaging level.

Related guides

• Products
• Product Stock
• Manual Fulfillment
• Bulk Ship