Using Different Units of Measure in Odoo
Introduction
In many industries such as pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, and construction material trading, we often face a common challenge: the same unit name but with different conversion factors for each product. How can we handle this challenge inside Odoo professionally without confusing users during sales order entries? This article will explain that in detail.
Understanding the Problem:
In Odoo, each product is linked to a Unit of Measure Category, and each category contains its own conversion factors.
- Unit names (like "Box" or "Roll") can be repeated across multiple categories.
- However, when choosing the unit on a sales order, Odoo uses the unit related to the product’s specific category only.
Example:
| Product | Category | Unit | Conversion Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panadol | Panadol Boxes | Box | 144 pills (12 strips × 12 pills) |
| Amoxicillin | Amoxicillin Boxes | Box | 100 pills (10 strips × 10 pills) |
In a sales order:
- Selecting Panadol and choosing "Box" will calculate 144 pills.
- Selecting Amoxicillin and choosing "Box" will calculate 100 pills.
Why Does This Happen?
- Odoo does not link the unit directly to the product; instead, it links it to the Unit of Measure Category.
- All products in the same category share the same units.
- If each product has a different conversion factor, they should not be placed in the same category.
The Ideal Solution: Build a Professional Unit of Measure Structure
1) Create a separate Unit of Measure Category for each unique packaging type
- For each product or group of products with the same conversion logic, create a separate category.
- Inside that category, define the unit (e.g., "Box") with its appropriate conversion factor.
2) Don’t worry about repeating unit names!
- "Box" will appear in the sales order, and Odoo will calculate based on the product’s category.
- Even if the name is the same, the system will use the correct conversion.
3) Never mix products with different conversion factors under the same category
- Keep each category consistent with one conversion logic.
Practical Scenarios:
Scenario 1: Pharmacy
| Product | Category | Unit | Conversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panadol | Panadol Boxes | Box | 144 pills |
| Medicine X | Medicine X Boxes | Box | 120 pills |
Scenario 2: Construction materials
| Product | Category | Unit | Conversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8mm Steel Rebar | 8mm Steel Rolls | Roll | 50 meters |
| 12mm Steel Rebar | 12mm Steel Rolls | Roll | 40 meters |
Conclusion
Odoo provides great flexibility in handling units of measure, but the key is organization. Don’t worry if unit names repeat; focus on creating clear categories and linking each product to the correct category