EDI Compliance Checklist for New Suppliers
New to EDI compliance? Use this step-by-step checklist to make sure you have everything in place before your first retailer go-live — and avoid the most common approval delays.
If you're going through EDI onboarding for the first time, it's easy to feel like you're missing something — or not sure if you're actually ready to go live. This checklist covers everything you need to have in place before submitting for compliance testing.
Before you start
- Confirm which EDI documents your retailer requires (850, 855, 856, 810, 997, etc.)
- Get your retailer's EDI implementation guide and trading partner ID
- Identify how you'll connect: AS2 or VAN
- Decide: managed EDI service or internal setup
Document checklist
850 — Purchase Order: Can you receive and parse the order correctly? Are required fields mapped (PO number, items, quantities, ship-to address)?
856 — Advance Ship Notice: Are SSCC-18 barcodes generated? Is your packaging hierarchy correct (shipment → order → pack → item)? Will it transmit before delivery?
810 — Invoice: Does it match the PO exactly? Are quantities, unit prices, and item numbers aligned? Is the transmission timing within retailer requirements?
855 — PO Acknowledgment (if required): Can you send this within the retailer's required window? Does it reflect the correct order details?
997 — Functional Acknowledgment: Are you sending 997s promptly after receiving documents? Are you processing 997s from the retailer correctly?
Technical setup
- AS2 connection configured with valid certificates
- Correct ISA/GS header values (your sender ID, retailer's receiver ID)
- Document envelopes match retailer's expected format
- Inbound and outbound message routing tested
- Error handling and acknowledgment processing in place
Compliance testing readiness
- Retailer has confirmed you're ready for the testing phase
- Test trading partner IDs configured correctly
- All document types validated in a test environment before submission
- Known errors from internal testing are resolved
Before going live
- All required test cycles completed and passed
- Retailer has given written sign-off on compliance certification
- Internal team knows how to send ASNs and invoices in production
- Monitoring or alerts in place for failed transmissions
After go-live: Monitor transmissions daily for the first two weeks. Respond to any 997 rejections immediately. Keep retailer contact details handy in case issues arise.
Final thoughts
This checklist covers the essentials. Every retailer has slightly different requirements — but if you can check off every item here, you're in a strong position to get approved quickly and stay compliant long-term.
No onboarding fees. Pay only after you go live.
More EDI Resources
How to Become EDI Compliant for Walmart, Target, and Home Depot (Step-by-Step Guide)
Getting approved by Walmart, Target, or Home Depot requires EDI compliance. Here's a step-by-step guide to get compliant quickly — without the technical headaches.
EDI Pricing Explained: Why Suppliers Overpay (and How to Avoid It)
EDI pricing is confusing by design. Between per-document fees, VAN charges, and hidden add-ons, most suppliers have no clear idea what they're paying for. Here's how to avoid it.
AS2 vs VAN: What Suppliers Actually Need to Know
AS2 and VAN are both ways to send EDI documents. But which one do you actually need? This plain-English guide breaks down the real differences — and what actually matters for suppliers.
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