Compare the operating models
A fictional carton always contains twelve identical bottles. A gift box contains ten bottles, inserts and its own customer-facing identity. The first changes the counting unit; the second changes what the shop sells.
| Business requirement | Same product, pack unit | Separate pack SKU |
|---|---|---|
| Twelve-bottle carton | One carton means twelve bottles | Duplicates an unchanged product |
| Ten-bottle gift box with inserts | Conversion does not express assembly | Gift SKU has its own contents |
| Warehouse handling | Breaking a carton changes unit presentation | Opening a gift pack changes assembled stock |
Work through the chosen model
Keep bottle SKU B1 with bottle and fixed-carton units. Give gift SKU G10 a component/assembly definition where it is prepacked. Record transaction quantity with its unit; staff should not infer units from a product description.
- Check whether contents change
- Define fixed units or assembled product
- Show selected unit on order and receipt
Unit conversion keeps a simple catalogue. Separate SKUs help distinct offers but need assembly, pricing and return treatment. A packaging barcode alone does not prove a different stock object is needed.
Two cartons of B1 represent twenty-four bottles of B1. Two G10 gifts represent two assembled gift items with twenty bottle components plus inserts; they are not two twelve-bottle cartons.
When the other model fits
Cartons may contain different bottle counts without a supplied conversion. Can one fixed carton unit still be used?
Show the worked answer
No. Capture the actual contents or another suitable measured model; do not silently assume twelve.