A presentation is a fixed conversion into the item’s single base stock unit; inventory movements remain expressed in that base unit.

The short answer

This distinction changes the decision you can safely make.

Choose the unit in which stock is truly controlled. Add case or pack presentations only when their conversion is fixed. Keep the presentation description and factor on each confirmed document so a future catalog change does not rewrite history.

Worked example

Use exact units and keep each quantity in the right category.

An item is stocked in pieces. One case contains 12 pieces. Receiving 5 cases adds exactly 60 pieces. If the supplier later changes the case to 10 pieces, new documents use the new reviewed presentation while the confirmed receipt remains 60 pieces.

Decision table

Check the facts before choosing an action.

Common mistakes

Avoid shortcuts that create confusion later.

• Giving one item two stock units
• Using a variable conversion without review
• Dropping leading zeros from codes
• Treating a presentation barcode as a lot or serial identifier

How KnownStock handles it

The product keeps the explanation with the number.

KnownStock uses exact decimal conversions and catalog rules that prevent a barcode from pointing to more than one item or presentation. Confirmed documents retain the conversion used at the time.