Fractional Inventory Management: Tracking Partial Units with Decimals
When you’re managing stock, it’s not always as simple as “1 unit in, 1 unit out.” Ingredients, materials, and supplies often come in amounts that don’t add up neatly to whole numbers. Think of 1.25 liters of syrup for a drink recipe, a brake disc measured at 345mm, or part of a storage chip lot used in assembly.
If your system only lets you enter whole numbers, you either round up, round down, or keep a separate record somewhere else. Over time, that creates confusion, extra work, and unnecessary reorders.
BoxHero solves this by letting you record quantities down to four decimal places. You can log exactly what was used, not just the nearest whole number. Let’s take a look at three examples—liquids, length-based items, and bulk components—and how decimal tracking can help (plus, how you can set it up in your own team)!
Case 1: Liquids
The challenge
A coffee shop uses flavored syrups to make drinks and house blends. For one recipe, the barista might use 1.25 liters of vanilla syrup. Without decimals, the system rounds it to “2 bottles used,” even if 0.75L is still left. The remaining syrup doesn’t appear in the records, so staff reorder too soon, and the fridge ends up crowded with extra bottles.
With decimals
By recording 1.25L exactly, the shop can see what’s actually left. That 0.75L still shows in stock, so there’s no unnecessary reorder. Inventory levels are easier to trust, waste goes down, and the team no longer needs to double-check the shelves before placing orders.
How to set it up
- Go to
Data Center>Attributesin the sidebar. - Add a new attribute, name it Unit, and set the type to Text.
- When adding or editing an item (e.g., Vanilla Syrup), enter the unit (e.g., L).
- Record usage in decimals during both receiving and issuing; for example, logging 1.25L when syrup is poured for a batch.
Case 2: Length-Based Items
The challenge
An auto parts distributor sells brake discs with a diameter of 345mm. Sometimes customers request partial sets or machining that removes a fraction of the disc’s material. Without decimal tracking, these differences aren’t recorded, and staff rely on rough notes. What’s left in stock? When is a reorder needed?
With decimals
By recording lengths and diameters in decimal values, the team can log actual usage and remaining stock more accurately. For example, if a disc is partially used in testing or machining, the remaining size can be entered directly into the system.
1) In the sidebar, go to
Barcode Labels > Print Items2) Design a custom label and print it out.
3) Attach the barcode to each disc (or other part you want to track).
4) Open the BoxHero app and tap the
Scan Barcode button.5) Scan with your phone or a connected scanner.
6) The app shows the current stock along with details you’ve entered, like diameter or bore size, so you can confirm exactly what’s on hand.
Case 3: Bulk Components
The challenge
An electronics team buys memory chips and storage modules in bulk for assembly. For one order, a build might require 0.125 of a storage module lot or a fraction of a battery shipment. If the system only allows whole units, every part used is rounded up to “1,” even when only part of the bulk pack was consumed.
With decimals
Each use can now be recorded precisely! For example, 0.125 of a memory module lot or 0.5 of a battery batch. BoxHero shows exactly what remains, so procurement teams avoid premature reorders and get a clear picture of usage across builds.
1) Go to
Reports > Inventory Reports in the sidebar.2) Add formulas for:
• Total Stock-Out Qty from Inventory & Movement
• Total Sales Amount from Sales & Profit
3) Set a time range and search for a component (e.g., storage chips).
4) Compare usage with finished product sales over time to spot patterns or imbalances.
Wrapping Up
Decimal tracking shows up in all kinds of places.
In a coffee shop, it’s the syrup measured for each batch. In an auto shop, it’s the changes in sizes or dimensions of a specific part. In electronics, it’s the portion of a storage chip lot used in assembly.
Different businesses, same problem: whole numbers don’t always tell the whole story. Being able to record partial units and decimal amounts keeps your inventory closer to reality and a clear view of what's left and what's gone.
With decimal quantities, BoxHero helps you keep your data accurate, cut down on waste, and understand the true cost and usage of your items.
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Oluniyi Akande
BoxHero
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