Two pack sizes. One fair comparison.
A different pack price is not always a price increase. Check product, pack size and quantity before flagging a discrepancy.
One supplier quotes by the case. Another invoices by the bottle. A replacement comes in a different size. The figures can look inconsistent even when the underlying unit price is the same. Put the units on the same footing before deciding what changed.
Normalize quantities only after confirming that the product, specification and applicable terms are comparable.
Make sure it is the same purchase.
Start with the product reference and specification. Similar descriptions can hide a different grade, concentration, preparation or brand. A substitute may have been accepted by the kitchen even though the invoice line still resembles the original order.
Keep the supplier’s item reference next to your internal name. If a replacement was agreed, link the approval rather than silently treating the two items as identical. You want a reviewer to see why a comparison is valid, not just the result of a calculation.
Use a common unit you can explain.
For a liquid, litres may be a useful common unit. For a weighed ingredient, kilograms may be appropriate. For individually counted products, use a consistent count. The choice depends on what was purchased and how the agreement describes it.
Consider this illustrative example: a case of six one-litre bottles costs €60. A case of twelve half-litre bottles also costs €60. Both contain six litres, so both work out at €10 per litre. Comparing only the bottle price would make the second case appear cheaper, even though the price per litre is unchanged.
Swipe sideways to see the full table.
| Illustrative case | Total volume | Price per litre |
|---|---|---|
| 6 × 1 litre for €60 | 6 litres | €10 |
| 12 × 0.5 litre for €60 | 6 litres | €10 |
Keep the surrounding terms visible.
A unit conversion does not settle every question. Check whether the figures include the same charges, discounts and other price components. Avoid comparing a base product price with a figure that includes an extra delivery charge, or an earlier quote with a later approved revision.
Where an invoice bundles a charge that the agreement lists separately, preserve the original presentation and explain your comparison. Do not overwrite the source values with normalized ones. A colleague should be able to trace the result back to the record without reverse-engineering your spreadsheet.
Make an uncertain conversion visible.
If a pack size is missing, the useful next action is to confirm it. Guessing can create a convincing but false exception. Label the missing detail and identify who can resolve it: the buyer, receiving team or supplier.
A small review note can hold the original unit, the common unit, the conversion used and its source. Once confirmed, that note can help the next reviewer recognize the same product. Recheck it when packaging or specifications change.
Margevia’s preview uses simple, clearly labeled quantities. Real records will be messier. Keeping the conversion visible is one way to make that complexity reviewable rather than hiding it behind a single difference amount.
Try the idea with a sample invoice.
Explore the Margevia preview with fictional records and visible source evidence.
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