Walmart EDI Compliance Guide
Meet Walmart's EDI compliance requirements without the complexity
Quick Answer
Walmart requires EDI 850 (Purchase Order), EDI 855 (PO Acknowledgment), EDI 860 (PO Change Request), EDI 856 (Ship Notice (ASN)), EDI 810 (Invoice), EDI 997 (Functional Acknowledgment), EDI 846 (Inventory Inquiry) from all suppliers. Non-compliance triggers chargebacks including late ASN: $500+ per shipment.
Walmart is the world's largest retailer, requiring strict EDI compliance from all suppliers. Their OTIF (On Time In Full) program penalizes late or incomplete shipments, and their EDI requirements include mandatory ASN (856), purchase order acknowledgment (855), and invoice (810) transactions.
Required EDI Transactions
Walmart requires suppliers to support the following EDI transaction types. Click any transaction to view our detailed guide with segment breakdowns and examples.
Walmart-Specific Transaction Requirements
- EDI 810 (Invoice): Invoices three-way match against the PO and ASN. Walmart's payment systems deduct automatically on mismatch.
- EDI 850 (Purchase Order): Walmart sends 850s through its Retail Link-connected EDI program. POs carry department and event data that your 856 and 810 must echo back exactly.
- EDI 855 (PO Acknowledgment): Walmart expects POs acknowledged within 24 hours. Late or missing 855s show up on supplier scorecards.
- EDI 856 (Ship Notice (ASN)): The ASN must transmit before the shipment arrives, with SSCC-18 serialized carton labels. Receiving scans against ASN data, so errors here become OTIF misses and per-carton chargebacks.
- EDI 860 (PO Change Request): Walmart transmits PO changes as 860s when quantities, dates, or pricing move after the original 850. Your system needs to apply the change to the open order and re-acknowledge, not just file the document.
Compliance Requirements
Here is what Walmart expects from EDI-compliant suppliers:
- EDI 850 Purchase Order receipt and processing
- EDI 855 PO Acknowledgment within 24 hours
- EDI 856 ASN with SSCC-18 barcodes before shipment arrives
- EDI 810 Invoice matching PO and ASN data
- EDI 997 Functional Acknowledgment for all inbound transactions
- OTIF compliance: 98% on-time, 95% in-full targets
- GS1-128 barcode labeling on all cartons
- Retail Link access for inventory and sales data
Chargeback Penalties
Non-compliance with Walmart's EDI requirements can result in significant financial penalties:
Common Walmart Chargebacks
- Late ASN: $500+ per shipment
- Missing or incorrect SSCC-18: $500 per carton
- OTIF failure: 3% of COGS for non-compliance
- Incorrect invoice data: deduction from payment
How to Set Up EDI with Walmart
- Complete supplier onboarding through Walmart's supplier program and get Retail Link credentials.
- Register your EDI identifiers and connection method (direct AS2 or through your EDI provider) in Retail Link.
- Download Walmart's implementation guides from Retail Link and map the required documents: 850, 855, 856, 810, and 997.
- Complete Walmart's EDI testing cycle for each document type.
- Go live and track OTIF and scorecard metrics in Retail Link weekly.
Official Walmart EDI Resources
Always verify requirements against Walmart's own documentation. These are the official resources suppliers use:
- Retail Link: Walmart's supplier portal. EDI implementation guides, testing, and supplier scorecards live behind the Retail Link login.
- Walmart Supplier Information: The official path to becoming a Walmart supplier, which is the prerequisite for EDI setup.
How to Achieve Walmart EDI Compliance
Getting compliant with Walmart requires three things: an EDI platform that supports all required transaction types, automated validation that catches errors before they trigger chargebacks, and integration with your ERP so orders flow through without manual re-entry.
EDI transaction formats follow ASC X12 standards, and product identification uses GS1 GTIN and GS1-128 barcode specifications. Both are required by virtually every major US retailer.
OrderSync handles all three compliance layers. Our platform processes EDI transactions (850, 855, 856, 810, 997) alongside PDF, CSV, and email orders through a single pipeline. Automated validation checks every order against your product catalog, pricing rules, and Walmart-specific compliance requirements before syncing to your ERP.
Related Guides and Articles
Learn more about Walmart EDI requirements and compliance best practices:
Related Resources
Test Your EDI Compliance
Upload your EDI documents to our free inspector and check for compliance issues before sending to Walmart.
Open EDI InspectorFrequently Asked Questions
What EDI transactions does Walmart require?
Walmart requires EDI 850 (Purchase Order), EDI 855 (PO Acknowledgment), EDI 860 (PO Change Request), EDI 856 (Ship Notice (ASN)), EDI 810 (Invoice), EDI 997 (Functional Acknowledgment), EDI 846 (Inventory Inquiry). Each transaction must meet Walmart's specific formatting and timing requirements.
What happens if I'm not EDI compliant with Walmart?
Non-compliance triggers chargebacks that can range from $200 to $5,000+ per incident depending on the violation. Repeated non-compliance can lead to supplier suspension or loss of the retail account.
Can OrderSync help with Walmart EDI compliance?
Yes. OrderSync supports all EDI transaction types required by Walmart and includes automated validation to catch compliance errors before documents are sent. Our platform processes EDI alongside PDF, CSV, and email orders through a single pipeline.
Where are Walmart's EDI specifications published?
Inside Retail Link. Walmart gates its implementation guides behind supplier credentials, with separate guides per document type. You need an active supplier agreement before you can pull the specs.
Does Walmart support direct AS2 connections?
Yes. Walmart supports direct AS2, and most EDI providers also maintain pre-built Walmart maps and connections. Direct AS2 removes VAN fees but means you own the connection monitoring.
How does EDI relate to Walmart's OTIF program?
OTIF (On Time In Full) measures whether shipments arrive when and as ordered. The 856 ASN is the data trail Walmart scores against, so ASN accuracy and timing directly affect OTIF penalties, which run a percentage of the cost of goods on non-compliant cases.