Updated: September 12, 2022 7:13am

Packages and Kits

About Packages and Kits
Packages and Kits offer two alternative methods (instead of styles) for grouping, discounting, and selling items together as a set. The items that make up a package or kit are referred to as components. The next few sections briefly explain the differences between packages and kits.
About Packages
A package brings two or more component items to a receipt or sales order. A package item is not a true inventory item and has no quantity.  Rather, it is a reference item used for the convenient grouping, listing, and discounting of multiple components at the time of sale.  Packages are ideal for grouping components at a discount but also giving the customer choices for one or more component items.  For example, a men's suit package might include jacket, slacks, shirt, belt and tie components, but the customer can choose desired styles/brands. The price of package component items can be proportionally adjusted based on the user-defined package price.  When a receipt listing a package is updated, the component items are deducted from inventory in the normal manner.  
Defining a package does not affect the individual component items in any way until a sale (or order) is made listing the package item. In the meantime, the component items remain available to sell individually at their regular prices. When a transaction listing a package is updated, the component item quantities are subtracted from inventory.
About Kits
A kit groups two or more individual items into a single inventory item. Unlike a package, a kit is a true inventory item that has its own on-hand quantity, price, and cost. A kit must be assembled before it can be sold. Selling individual items from a kit requires breaking the kit first.
When a kit is assembled, Prism creates adjustment memos and subtracts the items within the kit from inventory. The affected quantities are no longer available for individual sale unless the kit is broken. (This does not prevent offering additional non-kit quantities of those items for sale individually.)
When a transaction listing a kit item is updated, the specified quantity of the kit item is deducted from inventory.

  • Users can assemble more kits than are available in on-hand Inventory for the component items.
  • Users can break more kits than are currently assembled.

Creating Separate Departments, Vendors for Packages/Kits
You can set up special DCS Codes and/or Vendor Codes to use for package/kit items, such as PKG or KIT, and then enter that code in the DCS Code and/or Vendor Code fields when defining those package or kit items. This might be useful for sorting, filtering, or reporting on package or kit items if the component items come from multiple departments or vendors.
Best Practice: Create Packages, Kits at HQ rather than at Stores
Create Packages and Kits at the location where Inventory is known to be correct; this is typically the headquarters (HQ) location.
Restrictions on types of Items that can be Packages/Kits/Components
Kit Items (header) cannot be:

  • Full Control Serial
  • Full Control Lot
  • Partial Control Serial
  • Partial Control Lot
  • Decimal Quantity Items
  • Gift Item
  • Gift Certificate

Kit Component Items cannot be:

  • Full Control Serial
  • Full Control Lot
  • Partial Control Serial
  • Partial Control Lot
  • Set to Decimal Quantity
  • Gift Item
  • Gift Certificate

Package Items (header) cannot be:

  • Full Control Serial
  • Full Control Lot
  • Partial Control Serial
  • Partial Control Lot
  • Decimal Quantity Items
  • Gift Item
  • Gift Certificate

Package Component Items cannot be:

  • Full Control Serial
  • Full Control Lot
  • Partial Control Serial
  • Partial Control Lot
  • Set to Decimal Quantity
  • Gift Item
  • Gift Certificate

Restrictions on adding Kits/Packages to Kits/Packages

  • You cannot add a kit item to another kit.
  • You cannot add a package item to a kit.
  • You CAN add a kit item to a package.

Preferences for Packages and Kits
A total of five preferences provide control over the printing of package items, kits items and prices. These preferences are in Node Preferences > Transactions > General:
The following table has information about how each preference operates:

   
Count Package as a single sale item If selected, when printing a transaction with a package item, the package item is treated as a single sale item (Qty = 1) rather than multiple component items. If not selected, when printing a transaction with a package item, the quantity listed represents the quantity of the component items that comprise the package.
Print Package (component) Items If selected, when printing a receipt that has a package item, both the package header item and the component items are printed. If not selected, only the package header item is printed.
Print Package Item Prices If selected, when printing a receipt that has a package item, both the package header item price and the component item prices are printed. If not selected, only the package header item price is printed.
Print (broken) Kit Items If selected, when breaking a kit at POS, both the Kit header item and the individual component items are printed.
Print (broken) Kit Item Prices If selected, when breaking a kit at POS, both the Kit header item price and the Kit component item prices are printed.

Allow Adjusted Negative Quantity on Adjustment Memos
Prism allows a user to assemble or break more kits than there are component items in Inventory IF the following preference is enabled:
Node Selection->Merchandise->Adjustment->Allow adjusted negative qty
This preference is not enabled by default. When disabled, Prism prevents the user from assembling or breaking more kits than the Available Qty or Assembled Qty. If enabled, users can assemble or break more kits than the Available Qty or Assembled Qty.

Grid Formats Preferences
Users can navigate to Admin Console > Node Preferences > Grid Formats and add the "Kit Type" field to the grids in the following areas:

  • Inventory Lookup
  • Inventory Min/Max
  • Inventory Search
  • Markdown Inventory
  • PI Sheet Filters

The KIT_TYPE field in the rpsods database stores the current value in the item's Inventory Type field in the Prism Inventory UI. The possible values for KIT_TYPE/Inventory Type in the database are: 0=no entry, 1=kit, 2=package, 3=gift card stored value, 4=gift card prepaid, 5=gift certificate, 6=fee, 7=gift card central

Package and Kit Security Permissions
Retailers can control employee access to the following tasks related to packages and kits:

Permissions Description
Inventory - Assemble Kits Allow group members to assemble kits in Inventory.
Inventory - Break Kits Allow group members to break kits in Inventory.
Inventory - Manage Kits  Allow group members to add/remove component items to kits. (Note: This does not include the ability to assemble/break kits. Separate permissions control kit assembly/breakage.)
Inventory - Manage Packages  Allow group members to add/remove component items and/or component lists to a package.
POS - Allow Breaking Kits Allow group members to break kits at point of sale.

New Package Item
Add a new package item like any other inventory item.
Navigate to Store Operations > Merchandise > Inventory.
Click the New button on the bottom menu. A new blank item record is displayed.
Select a DCS Code, Vendor Code and enter a Description 1 value.
In the Inventory Type field, select Package Item. Package items have no on-hand quantity. Therefore, the Store OH Qty field is disabled in the item record.
Enter a Price and other item details. Because package items are not "true" inventory items, entering information in fields other than description, department, and price is not necessary, but may be helpful in sorting/filtering inventory records.
Save the item record. After saving the record, notice the Package Members button is enabled. The Package Members button is only enabled in non-edit mode. Proceed to configure the package item.
Sample Package item record with Package Members button enabled :
New package item record

Configure a Package (Component Items)
Configuring a package involves adding component items (or component lists) to the package and setting the Base Quantity for the package.
About Component Lists
A component list is a list of individual component items (instead of a single item) for the package. Component lists enable users to select the desired item from a selection at POS. When a component list has been added to a package, the Associate at POS is prompted to select the desired item from the list at POS. This allows users to "mix and match" component items. Prism includes three predefined component lists (A, B and C); users can add their own component lists as needed.
Difference between Packages and Kits in Legacy Retail Pro vs. Retail Pro Prism - Allowing Component Choices
Component items work differently in Prism than in legacy versions of Retail Pro. In legacy versions, users assigned a Component Name and Component Order to each component item. Items with the same Component Name would be listed as choices in the specified order when the package or kit item was listed on the receipt.
In the example below, the package has three component items and one component list. The component list consists of three component items. This shows you can include both component items and component lists in a package.
Component list showing multiple choices for one component

New Component List
Highlight or display the package item you want to configure and click Package Members
The Package Details modal is displayed. In this modal, users can look up and add the items that will be the component items for the package. Initially, the list will be blank.
Package without components
Click the Edit button (pencil icon) and enter a name (maximum 30 characters) and click Save.
Component list name
To add items to the list, scan the UPC barcode or click the Search icon to search Inventory. Users can add items using the method specified in Node Preferences > Transactions > General: Lookup by item (except Lot# and Serial#).
You can also lookup items using Advance Lookup functionality as well.
User can create Kit & Package item from Advanced Lookup from all document types with Advance lookup functionality except POS.
When all component items have been added with the desired quantity, click Close.

Editing Packages
You can edit:

  • Base Quantity
  • Component List Name
  • Component item quantity
  • Add/Remove components

Select Merchandise > Inventory from the home screen.     
Select the item to be edited and then click the Package Members or Kit Members button.
Base Quantity
The Base Quantity determines the default quantity at which each component item will be added. For example, if the Base Quantity field is set to 5, then adding a component item using standard methods (e.g., double-clicking on the item in Inventory Lookup), will list the component item at 5. The default Base Quantity is 1. The Base Quantity only determines the default quantity at which component items will be added, reflected in the Doc Qty field if using Inventory Lookup. Users can modify the Doc Qty field in Inventory Lookup to set a different quantity for the component item.
Sample Package Details modal with Base Quantity set to 5 and a component item added and set to the same quantity (5):
Component List Name
To edit the component list name, click the edit button (pencil icon). Type a new Component Name and click Save. Component Names can be a maximum of 30 characters.
Edit component name

Modify Quantity or Remove a Package Member
Double-click a package member in the list to display an interface where you can change the quantity or remove the package member.
The quantity of a component item is the quantity of that item that will be sold when selling the package item. The default quantity for a component item is the Base Quantity. The default Base Quantity is 1. In the example below, the Base Quantity is set to 5 and the component item quantity has been changed to 6.
package component quantity
To remove the component item from the package, click Remove Item.
Click Back to Component List to return to the component list.
Inactivate/Delete Package/Kit Items and Components
Package and kit items cannot be inactivated or deleted unless all component items have been removed from the package or kit using the Packages and Kits module. In addition, to delete a kit item, the entire quantity of assembled kits at all locations must first be disassembled and the kit item Company On-Hand quantity must equal zero.
Component items of a package or kit cannot be deleted unless the component item has been removed from the package or kit configuration using the Packages and Kits module. In addition, all assembled kits containing that item must first be disassembled at all locations.

Package Cost and Price
Package Cost
Because a package item is not a true inventory item, it typically is not assigned a cost, although you can enter a cost, if you wish.
Package Price
When a package item is listed on a transaction, the package price specified in inventory is listed on the transaction. Individual component prices are automatically discounted proportionally to their normal prices; Prism applies a multiplier so that when the discounted prices are summed, they equal the specified package price.
Package Quantity and Price Totals on Transactions
The package quantity and price on a transaction are for display purposes only and are not carried to the totals area of the document. The totals information is calculated from the component item quantities and discounted prices. The multiplier used to determine discount item prices is calculated with this formula:
Package Price /(Item 1 Price + Item 2 Price + … + Item x Price) = Proportional Multiplier
The multiplier is then applied to each individual component's normal price to arrive at a discounted price for each item. The sum of these discounted prices equals the defined package price.
For example, imagine that you have a package made up of two component items. Item 1 has a normal inventory price of $50 and Item 2 has a normal price of $100. You are going to offer the two items in a package, with the package priced at $75 total.  Applying the calculations looks like this:
Proportional Multiplier = 75 / (50 + 100) = .50

  Invn Price Multiplier Discount Price
Item 1 $50.00 .50 $25.00
Item 2 $100.00 .50 $50.00
      Predefined Package Price = $75.00

New Kit Item
Navigate to Store Operations > Merchandise > Inventory. Click New.
Select a DCS Code and Vendor Code and enter a Description 1 value.
In the Inventory Type field, select Kit Item. When the Inventory Type field is set to Kit Item the Store OH Qty field is disabled. The Store OH Qty is populated during the "Assemble Kit" process.
Enter a Price, Cost and other item details as needed.
Save the record. After saving the record, the Kit Members button is enabled. Proceed to configure the kit.
Configure Kit
Display the kit item in Inventory Item Details and click the Kit Members button.
Kit members button
In the Kit Details modal, list the component items for the kit. To add items to the list, scan the UPC barcode or click the Search icon to search Inventory. Users can add items using the method specified in Node Preferences > Transactions > General: Lookup by item (except Lot# and Serial#).
You can also lookup items using Advance Lookup functionality as well.
User can create Kit and Package items from Advanced Lookup from all document types with Advance lookup functionality except POS.
Kit details

The Assemble Kit dialog displays the number of kits that can be assembled for that location based on the quantity of component items currently on hand. In Prism, the on-hand quantity of the component items does not limit the number of kits that can be assembled. In other words, you can assemble more kits than you currently have component item quantities in Inventory (e.g., with the expectation that more component items will be received later) IF the "Allow Adjusted Negative Quantities" preference is enabled in Node Preferences > Merchandise > Adjustment.
Enter the number of kits to assemble and click Assemble Kits.
kit details
Next, enter the number of kits to assemble.
Click Assemble Kits.
 Assemble kit modal
When you click Assemble Kits, the kits are assembled for the selected location. The necessary quantity and cost adjustment memos are automatically created to adjust inventory.

Remove Kit Members
Remove Members (all members or a single member) only works when kits are not assembled or when all kits have been disassembled.

  • To remove all kit members, navigate to the Kit Details pane. Do not select any items. Click Remove All Members.
  • To remove a single kit member, in the Kit Details pane select the item you want to remove. Click Remove Item.

 
Adjustment to Cost and Quantities in Inventory from Kit Assembly
Prism creates adjustment memos to handle the adjustment to cost and quantities in inventory resulting from kit assembly (or disassembly). One adjustment memo deducts the appropriate quantity from each component item and adds one kit item; a second memo adjusts the kit cost based on the aggregated component costs. A prompt will be displayed to the user to select a reason for each adjustment type; if preferences are configured to require adjustment reasons, an entry for each adjustment reason is required.
If the cost of a kit item already exists in inventory at a different cost when new kits are assembled, then, by default, Prism averages (weights) the old cost and the new aggregated cost to arrive at the new cost. This cost is automatically populated to the Cost field in inventory for the kit item upon kit assembly.
The kit Price specified in inventory is automatically listed on a transaction when the kit is sold.

Kit Cost, Price, and Quantity
Kit Cost
To determine the cost of a kit, Prism aggregates the costs of each individual component item within the kit. For example, if a kit item has two component items that each have a cost of $5.00, the kit item cost will be $10.00.
Kit Price
Enter the desired Price for the kit item in Inventory Item Details. If you don't enter a Price for the kit item during item creation, the Associate will be prompted to enter a price when the item is listed on a transaction.

Kit Quantity
When the Inventory Type field is set to Kit Item, the Store OH Qty field is disabled. When assembling kits, the Store OH Qty field for the kit item will be populated based on the number of kits assembled. Note: Assembling a kit removes from Inventory the specified quantity for each component item.

Change Quantity of all kit members
In the Kit Details modal, type the desired quantity and click All Items. This updates the quantity of each kit member and the Base Quantity. The new Base Quantity will be applied to any new kit members added.

Change Quantity of a single kit member
To change the quantity of a single kit member, in the Kit Details pane select the item. Enter a new quantity for the item. Click Return to Kit Members.

Break a Kit
Breaking a kit enables the cashier to remove unwanted component items and sell only the desired component items from the kit. When a kit is broken, all the component items not purchased by the customer are returned to inventory. A kit can be broken at POS or in Inventory.
Note: Users can enter a Quantity that exceeds the number of Assembled Kits IF the "Allow Adjusted Negative Quantities" preference is enabled in Node Preferences > Merchandise > Adjustments.

Break a Kit at POS
Breaking a kit is usually done when a customer wants to buy one of the component items but the only quantity available is part of a kit. In this case, the user can break the kit. Breaking the kit returns the component items and quantities to inventory. The user can then sell the component item(s) as needed.
Note: Kit items are typically sold at a discount, with each component item assigned a Discount %. When breaking a kit, the Discount % is removed from component items.
List a kit item on a transaction.
Click Item Details. On the Item Details tab is a Break Kit button. Click Break Kit.
A prompt explains you are about to break the kit into its individual component items and asks for confirmation to break the kit. Click Yes. The kit item on the transaction now displays the text "This item is a broken kit." Remove individual component items until only the desired component items remain. Add additional items to the transaction if needed.

Break a Kit in Inventory
Display the kit item in Item View. Click the Kit Members button (must be in non-edit mode; save or cancel changes to enable Kit Members button).
In the Kit Details modal, click Break Kit.
In the Break Kit modal, the number of Assembled Kits is displayed.
In the Quantity field, enter the number of kits to break.
Click Break Kits.
Note: Users can enter a Quantity that exceeds the number of Assembled Kits.

Adjustment Memos Created
Inventory quantities and costs are automatically adjusted by memos when kits are broken.
A Quantity memo deducts the specified number of kit items and adds the appropriate quantity of component items back to inventory for each kit broken.
A Cost memo averages the component item costs with any existing quantity-costs already existing in inventory for each item.
Packages and Kits at POS
Listing Package/Kit Items on Transactions
Scan or type the item's UPC, ALU or Item Description in the Item Lookup field.

  • Kit Items: Only the Kit Item is listed (component items not listed).
  • Package Items: The package item is listed above the component items. The package item and its components are labeled as such.

Sample Package Item at POS

package item at POS

Component Item Selection
When configuring a package, you can designate multiple choices for each component. If multiple choices are available, a dialog is displayed for you to choose the desired item. Highlight the desired item and then touch or click the Select Item button.

Sold, Ordered, Returned Quantity
The Sold, Ordered, and Returned quantity totals for the transaction use the sum of component item quantities and ignore package items completely. Example: selling a suit package of one jacket, one pair of pants, and two shirts would have five line items (the package item itself and the four component items) but the Sold Quantity would display "4." Sales tax is calculated based upon the individual tax codes of the component items.

Returning Package/Kit Items

  • Package items: You can return individual components of package items. When performing the return, select the component item(s) being returned. The component item price is subtracted from the transaction total.
  • Kit items: You cannot return individual components of kit items. Instead, you must return the entire kit.  When performing the return, select the Select All button. This places a green checkmark next to the package/kit item and its components. Next, click the Return to Document button.

Removing Package Component Items not Allowed
A package component item cannot be individually removed. If a component item is highlighted when you click Remove Item, a prompt is displayed, asking if you want to remove the entire package or cancel the action. You can remove all items in the package or cancel the action.

Changing Component Item Type not Allowed
If you select a Package Item in the item list and then select the Item Type button and change the Item Type, all component items are automatically changed to the same item type. If you select a component item in the item list and then select the Item Type button, the user is informed that the entire package must be changed. Click Change entire package to change all components and the package item, or click Cancel to return to the transaction.

Fulfilling Orders that have Package Items
On an order, fulfilling a package item for sale will automatically select all component items. If instead you select a component item to fulfill, a prompt is displayed to confirm you want to fulfill the entire package.
When you select "Fulfill entire package," the Qty to Fill is automatically populated. Click OK to return to the document.

Sublocations Functionality with Packages and Kits
If using sublocation, the modal displayed when assembling or breaking a kit includes an additional drop-down menu for selecting the sublocation. When assembling or breaking a kit, the component items are pulled, returned to the appropriate sublocations.

Regional Functionality with Packages and Kits

Adding non-regional item to regional header
When Prompt to flag the item as regional
Yes = Item becomes regional and added to Package/Kit
No = Item is unaffected and not added to Package/Kit
Removing regional flag from component item which is assigned to a header flagged as regional
Proposal: Detect and prevent with error
Flagging a header item as regional, when it has component items which are not flagged as regional
Proposal: Prompt to flag all items as regional
Yes = Items becomes regional and header item is saved as regional
No = Items are unaffected and header item save is prevented

Deactivating Packages and Kits

  • Package and kit items can be deactivated without removing components items. When deactivating a package or kit, the OH Qty of the package and kit item is set equal to zero.
  • Inactive items cannot be added to a package/kit.
  • Users can manage members for a deactivated package or kit and deactivate the package or kit.
  • Kits will not be broken or assembled if any member is deactivated.
  • Packages cannot be sold if any member (component) is deactivated.

Search Documentation