Bundles, multi-packs and variety packs

Key takeaway: Map every bundle to its components so demand flows to the SKUs you actually buy.

Found under Settings → Bundles. Tell Forthcast which SKUs are made up of other SKUs so demand and stock add up correctly.

Why bundles need mapping

When you sell a bundle SKU, the units customers buy are the bundle parent — but the stock you actually consume is the components inside it. Without a bundle mapping, Forthcast would forecast the parent SKU on its own and miss the demand it places on each component. The result: overstock on the parent (you don't need to reorder a kit, you assemble it), and understock on the components.

Mapping a bundle

Open Settings → Bundles. Choose the bundle parent SKU, then add each component SKU and the quantity per unit. A 6-pack of the same product is a bundle with one component at quantity 6. A gift set with three different items is a bundle with three components at quantity 1 each.

Once mapped, every sale of the parent bundle is allocated to its components in your demand history. The reorder report stops recommending purchases of the parent and instead recommends the right amount of each component.

Mixed and variety packs

A variety pack — for example, a sampler with one of each flavour — is mapped the same way: list each flavour SKU as a component with quantity 1. Forthcast will spread demand across all of them so each flavour is reordered in proportion to how often the variety pack actually sells.

Auto-detection

Forthcast scans your catalogue for likely bundles and packs by looking at product titles and SKU patterns ("6-pack", "variety", "set of 3", and similar). Suggested bundles appear in Settings → Bundles with a confidence score. Review each one, edit the components or quantities if needed, and confirm — nothing is applied to your forecast until you accept the mapping.

SKU multipliers (case packs from suppliers)

Bundles describe how you sell. SKU multipliers describe how you buy. If your supplier ships a SKU only in cases of 12, set the case size on that SKU's lead-time settings — Forthcast rounds order quantities up to the nearest case so what's recommended is also what's orderable.