Packaging your beer depletes volume from your tanks (based on the package size) and also depletes inventory from your packaging materials, based on a bill of materials. There are two steps in the packaging process:
- Add packaging type
- Create products and variants with a unique bill of materials
Add/Edit Package Types
The purpose of this section is to indicate how much volume should be depleted based on each container size or format you use. At this stage, there's no need yet to associate a specific product type with a container size. Before starting, you'll need to ensure that every container size and format you use to package your products is accounted for in the system. A number of pre-populated kegs, bottles, and can containers have been preloaded for you (which you may edit or delete if you wish), but you may also add any other sizes you use.
- Click the gear in the top right corner and select Package Types:
Under each tab, ensure the various container sizes you use are listed.
To add a new package type, toggle the correct tab (keg, bottle, or can) and click New. Fill in each of the boxes accordingly and click save:
- Name - How you would like to refer to that container (ex 1/6 Barrel Keg)
- Capacity - How much volume should be depleted from the tank, when the container is used for packaging
- Unit of Measure - What unit of measure you would like to use for depletion from the tank
To edit or delete a package type, click the three dots on the right hand side of the corresponding line:
Tip: Keep clutter down by deleting any options you don’t typically use. You can always add packaging back if you begin to use it down the road!
For cans and bottles, if you typically package and sell by the case, you can set up your package type as a case and draw down volume accordingly. You will not be able to deplete final goods inventory in partial cases if you set it up this way, but it may be more efficient for packaging. In this example, I have created a 12 ounce case and a 16 ounce case, so I can draw down 2.5 or 3 gallons at a time instead of drawing down volume by the can:
Create Products & Product Variants
In this section, you will want to list every product that you package, in any capacity. For each product, you will list all the sizes (also known as “variants” in Ollie), that you sell the product in. When packaging your final goods, the options you will be presented with will be the product variants you created for that product you are wanting to package.
- To add Products, go to the gear in the top right corner and select Products:
Option 1: Use the Product Variants Import tool:
- Click the Import button
- Download the template and fill in the CSV file according to the legend on the right
- The SKU is a unique way to refer to a specific size of each product. If you are also using Ollie Order, you will want to use only numbers so you can match SKUs in both programs
- The Unit Price is there as a point of reference only and is referring to the price you sell the product at
- Drag and drop the completed CSV file and click Import:
Note: When filling out the template, you will need one line for each size that you sell a product in (i.e. if you sell your Lager in 1/6 barrel kegs, 1/2 barrel kegs, and 12 ounce cases, you will have three separate lines for your lager).
If you set up cans or bottles as cases under the Package Type section, you will use "each" as the unit of measurement. For example, each 12 ounce case of lager is equal to 2.5 (“package volume”) gallons (“package volume unit of measure”)
- Once your products and variants have been imported, add the bill of materials to each product variant by clicking on a product, then edit under the three dots on the corresponding variant:
Under the Bill of Materials, click New to select the packaging material that should be drawn down from inventory every time you package that variant. Be sure to include what quantity of that material should be drawn down (in this example, 24 cans should be drawn down for each case of Ale Pacino that is packaged). Repeat this process until all the items have been listed, and then click Save.
If an item isn’t populating under the drop down list for Packaging Materials, be sure to go back and add that material by clicking on the gear in the upper right corner and then Packaging Material.
Note: Whenever you package final goods inventory, these items will be automatically depleted but you will be able to fine tune the materials used to reflect what actually occurred (in the event more or less materials are used at the time of packaging):
Option 2: Manually List Products and Product Variants:
- Click New:
- Add a Product name and Alcohol by Volume, then click Save. Repeat for each product you produce:
- Add all your product variants by clicking on a product and then New.
- Fill in each of the boxes:
- If an item isn’t populating under the drop down list for Packaging Materials, be sure to go back and add that material by clicking the gear in the upper right corner and going to the Packaging Material section:
- Package Type - From the drop-down, select a package type you sell this product in (Note: this list is populated by the options you added/edited under the Product Type section)
- Unit Price - The price you sell the product for
- Unit of Measure - In most cases, select "each" unless another option makes sense as a multiplier for your cans or bottles
- SKU - A unique way to refer to a specific size of each product. If you are using Ollie Order as well, you will want to use only numbers so you can match SKUs in both programs
- Bill of Materials - Click New to select a packaging material that should be drawn down from inventory every time you package that variant. Be sure to include what quantity of that material should be drawn down (in this example, 24 cans should be drawn down for each case of Ale Pacino that is packaged). Repeat this process until all the items have been listed and then click Save.
For more information on adding Products and Product Variants, visit the Help Centre article, Creating Products and Variants in Ollie Ops.