Understanding Item Types: Standard, Kit and Assembly

AccuArk supports three package types that determine how an item interacts with stock, components, and the Point of Sale. Choosing the right type is one of the most important decisions when creating an item, because the package type locks after the first save when components are attached. This guide explains each type in detail.

The Three Package Types

Standard Item

A Standard item is the default and most common type. It represents a single, standalone product.

Key characteristics:

• Tracks its own physical stock at each location
• Has no components or sub-items (unless converted to a kit or assembly)
• Stock increases via purchase order receiving, positive adjustments, or returns
• Stock decreases via POS sales, negative adjustments, or transfers out
• One item = one stock record per location

When to use: Any tangible product that you buy, stock, and sell as a single unit — tools, electronics, clothing, packaged food, etc.

Virtual Kit / Bundle

A Virtual Kit is a bundle of component items that are sold together as a group, but each component tracks its own stock independently. The kit itself does NOT have its own stock quantity.

Key characteristics:

• Does NOT track its own stock — Track Stock is forced OFF and cannot be enabled
• Composed of component items (sub-items), each of which is a separate inventory item with its own stock
• When sold at the POS, each component's stock is deducted individually based on the recipe quantities
• Cost is auto-calculated as the sum of (component cost x component quantity) across all components
• Cannot be received on a purchase order (since it has no stock of its own)
• Cannot be stock-adjusted or cycle-counted directly

When to use: Meal combos (burger + fries + drink), gift baskets, starter kits, software bundles — any product that is sold as a group but where you want component-level stock visibility.

Example: A "Lunch Special" kit contains 1x Sandwich, 1x Side Salad, and 1x Drink. When a customer buys the Lunch Special, AccuArk deducts 1 Sandwich, 1 Side Salad, and 1 Drink from stock. The kit's cost is automatically calculated from the component costs.

Physical Assembly

A Physical Assembly is a pre-built product composed of components that are consumed during a build process. Unlike a kit, an assembly tracks its own stock as finished units.

Key characteristics:

• Tracks its own stock as finished, pre-built units
• Composed of component items (sub-items) defined on the Sub-Items tab
• Must be built before it can be sold — the Assembly Build form consumes components and creates finished units
• Components are deducted from stock during the build process, NOT at the time of sale
• When sold at the POS, only the assembly's own stock is deducted (components are already consumed)
• Has a Build Stock button on the Sub-Items tab that opens the build form
• Can be received on purchase orders (if you also buy pre-assembled units from a vendor)

When to use: Manufactured products, assembled furniture, prepared food items, custom-built electronics — anything you build from components before selling.

Example: A "Custom PC" assembly contains 1x Case, 1x Motherboard, 1x CPU, 1x RAM Kit, and 1x Power Supply. You build 10 PCs using the Build Stock form, which deducts 10 of each component and adds 10 Custom PCs to stock. When a customer buys a Custom PC, only the assembly stock is reduced.

Comparison Table

Converting an Item to a Kit or Assembly

To convert a standard item into a kit or assembly:

1. Open the item on the General tab
2. Check the Is Package checkbox — this enables the package type dropdown and the Sub-Items tab
3. Select either Virtual Kit or Physical Assembly from the package type dropdown
4. Save the item
5. Go to the Sub-Items tab to add components

Important: The Is Package checkbox and the package type dropdown lock after the first save when sub-items are attached. Once you have saved a kit or assembly with components, you cannot change it back to a standard item or switch between kit and assembly. Plan your item type carefully before adding components.

Requires Sub-Item Selection

The Requires Sub-Item Selection checkbox is available for Kits and Assemblies. When enabled, the POS forces the customer (or operator) to actively select which components are included in the sale. This is used when:

• A kit has optional components (e.g., "Choose your side" in a meal deal)
• An assembly has variant components (e.g., "Choose your color" in a build-to-order product)
• You want to confirm component selection rather than auto-including all sub-items

When this checkbox is unchecked, all mandatory components are automatically included when the kit or assembly is added to a POS transaction.

Service Items and Gas Pump Items

In addition to the three package types, AccuArk has two special item types that are set via the Item Type field (not the Package Type):

Service Items (Type = 1)

• No physical properties (weight, dimensions are hidden)
• Track Stock is automatically disabled and cannot be enabled
• Used for labor, consulting, warranties, delivery fees, or any non-tangible product
• Can still have a price and cost for margin tracking

Gas Pump Items (Type = 2)

• Specialized item type for fuel pump integration
• Behaves like a physical item with additional pump-specific features
• Shows physical property fields
• Supports stock tracking

Tips

• Choose the right type before adding components — You cannot change between kit and assembly after sub-items are saved
• Use kits when components need independent stock visibility — If you want to see how many burgers, fries, and drinks you have left individually, use a kit
• Use assemblies when you pre-build finished goods — If you manufacture, assemble, or cook items in advance, use an assembly
• Kit cost updates automatically — When a component's cost changes, the kit's calculated cost changes too, keeping your margins accurate
• Monitor assembly availability — Unlike kits (which are available whenever components are in stock), assemblies must be built before they can be sold. Check assembly stock levels regularly and use the reorder dashboard to stay ahead