Depending on your inventory, the nature of your business, and the complexity of your Assemblies, Bundles, or Modifiers, the math can be overwhelming for anyone. In this article, we'll have a few examples and guidelines to help you navigate through the process!
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The Equation
The formula is the same regardless of which catalog experience you're using. Here's how to calculate decimals for partial quantities:
1. Determine the Total Amount that Makes up a Full Unit
For example, if you want to calculate the decimal for individual eggs in a standard carton of 12, you would use the number of eggs in a full carton as the total amount. In that case, the total amount is 12.
2. Divide the Number Needed to Determine the Decimal
We need three eggs for our recipe of the 12 that come in a carton, so the equation would look like this:
3 ÷ 12 = 0.25
And that's it, you're done!
It works the same if you need any number of eggs to complete the recipe.
It even works with amounts that are larger than a unit. For example, maybe a recipe calls for 18 eggs, but you still are receiving them by the standard 12-egg carton. That formula would look like this:
18 ÷ 12 = 1.5
Simple Avocado Example
Avocado Toast is not going anywhere anytime soon! Let's say, that for each slice of avocado toast we sell, we use 1/2 of an avocado. Well, the answer is right there, but let's plug it into our formula to make absolutely certain.
1. Determine the Total Amount
How many 1/2 avocados go into a full avocado?
Answer: 2
2. Divide the Number Needed
How many 1/2 avocados are needed for one serving of avocado toast?
Answer: 1
1 ÷ 2 = .5
0.5 will be our answer to how much of an avocado we'll need to deduct for each sale of avocado toast.
Complex Baking Example
We're baking up some muffins and our recipe calls for 1,200 grams (g) of flour. The problem is, we order it in a 5-pound (lb) bag.
1. Determine the Total Amount
How many grams go into a 5 lb bag of flour?
After some research, we learn that:
1 lb = 453.592 g (approximately)
So then 5 x 453.592 = 2267.96 g
Taking a step back, that means there are 2,267.96 grams in a single 5 lb bag.
Answer: 2,267.96 grams
2. Divide the number needed
How many grams are needed for the muffin recipe?
Answer: 1,200 grams
1,200 ÷ 2,267.96 = 0.529
0.529 will be our answer to how much of the 5 lb bag of flour we will use to complete the recipe.
Labeling Your Products for Easier Calculations
Labeling your units accurately is a huge timesaver in this process. It can help you figure out how much of each product you need to deduct faster, as well as help you spot any errors in your process.
Example of unclear labeling:
Product name: "All Purpose Flour"
Problem: You'd need to track down the product, check the bag size, then do the math
Example of clear labeling:
Product name: "All Purpose Flour - 5 lb bag"
Benefit: If a recipe calls for 1 pound, the math is immediately clear!
By clearly labeling your products, especially your ingredients in Thrive, you can save time and energy.
Example of unclear vs clear labelling:
Adding Conversion Notes
In addition, the Notes section of a product (or in an Assembly template directly) is a great place to put any relevant conversion number, like this:
Rounding decimals
Thrive allows you to round quantities up to three decimal places. This means that in certain cases, you'll need to round up or down to fit a number.
Read more about rounding implications here.
Trouble deciding what should be the Bundle or component?
Which product should you make the Bundle? And which product should the Bundle ultimately pull from? There are many factors to think about. Click below for a full guide to help you make the right choice: