Par levels

A par level is the quantity of an item an outlet should hold. Set them and ordering becomes a matter of topping up to par rather than walking the store guessing.

Setting them

Under Settings → Par Levels, pick the outlet and type a par per ingredient — it saves as you go. They differ by outlet, so a busy branch and a quiet one do not have to carry the same.

1. Outlet — pars are per outlet. Pick it first.
2. Fill blanks with suggested — a starting point from the last three months of purchases, for every item without a par.
3. Copy from another outlet — start a new branch from one that already works.
4. On hand — today's stock. Red means below par.
5. Suggested — tap it to use it as the par.
6. Par level — type it and move on — it saves by itself.
7. Saved — every change is saved as you type.

How to choose a number

Par = average daily usage × days between deliveries × 1.3

The 1.3 is the safety margin for a busy weekend or a late van. Tighten it for expensive or fast-spoiling items and loosen it for dry goods. Look at a month of usage in the reports before you guess.

What they do for you

• The On hand column shows each item's stock beside its par, in red when it is below.
• Top up to par on a purchase request fills in what brings everything back to par. A standing order can do it by itself every week. See Raise a purchase request.

Review them twice a year

Pars set for last year's volumes are how outlets end up over-ordering through a quiet season. Menu changes and seasonal swings both move them.