How to Create/Use Departments in BakeSmart
Why Use Departments?
Departments help your bakery:
- Track which team or station is responsible for production
- Organize product sales by workflow instead of just customer category
- Generate reports that reflect real-world production roles
- Improve staff planning by understanding performance by area
Departments ensure your reporting matches how your business actually operates—making it easier to analyze performance and production needs.
Examples of Common Departments
| Department | Products Tracked |
|---|---|
| AM Bakery | Pies, cookies, bars, brownies, quick breads |
| PM Production | Laminated pastries, muffins, scones, danishes |
| Decorators | Decorated cookies, cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, specialty desserts |
| Retail / Café | Coffee, espresso, deli items (soups, salads, sandwiches) |
| Storefront Sales | Merchandise, packaged goods, RTE (Ready-to-Eat), RTD (Ready-to-Drink), add-ons |
💡 Using clear and consistent Department names helps everyone—from bakers to bookkeepers—understand who’s responsible for each product and how to interpret the numbers.
How to Set Up Departments
Departments are created from the Settings menu. Only users with permission (Admins, Owners, and Managers) can add or remove Departments.
At a Glance: How to Add a Department
- Go to Settings > Products > Departments
- Click Add Department
- In the New Department Detail Menu, enter a clear, descriptive name
- Click Save
Repeat for additional production or reporting areas
💡 This same screen also includes the Delete Department button for removing outdated entries.
Applying Departments to Products
After creating your Departments, assign them to products during:
- Product entry in the Products tab on the Dashboard
- The bulk import process via the Master Product Spreadsheet
- Each product can belong to only one Department, ensuring clean and focused reporting.
💡 Double-check assignments during setup. Product sales and production tracking in BakeSmart are influenced by Department settings. Mislabeling could result in confusing reports or misaligned labor data.
Deleting a Department
If you need to remove a Department that is no longer relevant:
- Go to Settings > Products > Departments
- Click on the Department name to open its detail screen
- Click Delete Department
- Confirm deletion
💡 Important: Deleting a Department removes its assignment from all related products. The products remain in your catalog but will no longer be associated with any Department. Make sure to reassign them to keep reporting accurate.
Tips for Using Departments
Stay Consistent – Use names that reflect your team’s actual production areas
Think Like Your Workflow – Set up Departments that mirror your bakery’s stations and processes
Communicate With Staff – Make sure team leads and managers understand the purpose of each Department
Review Regularly – Evaluate your Department list at least once per year to reflect any team changes
Video Walkthrough
🎥 Watch the Video on Setting Up and Using Departments
This tutorial walks through the creation, assignment, and deletion of Departments in BakeSmart, with helpful tips for setup and reporting accuracy.
Related Articles
How to Use Seasons in BakeSmart
Bulk Import with the Master Product Spreadsheet
Exploring the Products Tab on the Dashboard
Assigning Products to Categories and Departments
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