Compliance is arguably the most important aspect of doing business with a retailer like Walmart. For suppliers, it is far more than just following rules—it’s about keeping the supply chain moving smoothly and keeping guard of your operations, products, and money.
Luckily, Retail Link provides suppliers with tools to measure and manage compliance at scale. The two apps that take center stage here are the Supplier Quality Excellence Program (SQEP) and the On Time In Full (OTIF) scorecard. Many suppliers also rely heavily upon HighRadius, Revenue Recovery with SPS Commerce and APDP (Accounts Payable Dispute Portal) in order to keep the financial side of things in check. However, it should be noted that both HighRadius and SPS Commerce are SaaS (Software as a Service) companies, separate online portals, and not in Retail Link (though the benefits of working with both are such that they deserve mention.)
SQEP
The SQEP app was born from Walmart’s initiative to reduce defects before they ever reach a store or customer. The SQEP dashboard mainly monitors supplier performance across active phases of the supply chain. Suppliers should familiarize themselves with the ins and outs of this app. The first tab is meant to give a bird’s eye view of compliance (“Performance”), and the second tab is meant to convey more of the crucial, granular details of each defect/chargeback.
When compliance issues occur, suppliers will be required to complete CAPA (Corrective and Preventative Action) reports within designated timeframes, ensuring that defects are corrected at the source.
Review shows us that suppliers receive up to 28% more deductions for SQEP program non-compliance than by the OTIF program, so keen attention in this app is recommended.
Related Reading: Benchmarking your SQEP Performance
OTIF
Walmart’s OTIF program is designed to measure compliance over time, and the OTIF Scorecard app is where Walmart reports suppliers’ performances. Originally, Walmart’s goals for OTIF were much lower (and manageable), but they have risen slowly up to the ambitious 98% for On Time Collect Ready, 90% for On Time Prepaid, and 95% for In Full. Anything lower than these benchmarks and deductions begin.
OTIF fines are sometimes layered on top of other deductions, making tracking and disputing invalid deductions very difficult. One of the primary features of the OTIF Scorecard is the ability to regularly review fines on the PO level.
The OTIF dashboard is very similar to SQEP’s. The first tab is meant to give that bird’s eye view of compliance, and the second tab is meant to convey more of the granular details of each chargeback.
Together, SQEP and OTIF form the core of Walmart’s supplier accountability system. SQEP focuses on quality before arrival—catching errors before they hit a DC—while OTIF ensures delivery performance after an order is placed.
It should be noted that many compliance reports now cross-link between SQEP, OTIF, and Supplier One, signaling Walmart’s ongoing effort to consolidate data and simplify supplier workflows.
Understanding how these programs overlap helps suppliers prevent duplicate deductions and navigate corrective actions more efficiently.
Related Reading: The Unofficial Guide to Disputing OTIF Fines
Automating Deduction Management: HighRadius and SPS Commerce
Third party service providers can connect to Walmart’s Accounts Payable Dispute Portal (APDP), allowing suppliers to manage and reconcile deduction data in a more automated, centralized way—especially for high-volume accounts.
As mentioned above, HighRadius is a SaaS company, which offers an online portal for Walmart suppliers to manage accounts receivable (AR) issues. Within the portal, users can view invoices and request additional information for deduction management.
HighRadius can also assist suppliers in paying Walmart fees. Whereas APDP (the app within Retail Link) is a dedicated system for suppliers to manage deductions and disputes regarding their invoices only.
Combined solutions—such as Retail Link dashboards for visibility, HighRadius for AR automation, and SPS Commerce for dispute recovery—give suppliers a 360° approach to compliance and cash flow management.
Related Reading: How to Dispute Walmart OTIF Chargebacks
Product Quality and Compliance Library
This app acts as a repository for compliance documentation. Within the app, users can find:
Product quality and compliance manuals
Supplier communications standards
Safety requirements
Product compliance
CAPA forms
Import forms
eCommerce guidelines
HAZMAT compliance
Testing compliance monitoring tools
Reviewing these documents regularly is key to supplier success within Retail Link, as Walmart reserves the right to make changes at will.
Supplier One
Supplier One is the app that Walmart designed to give Retail Link users a more unified perspective than what was previously possible through just SQEP and OTIF alone. It offers centralized support for questions, insight driven recommendations, and API integrations.
We're seeing more early-warning metrics for issues appearing within Supplier One, which may become standard. This app also offers a seamless omnichannel management experience—from item setup to catalog performance, in store and online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I save time and only review Supplier One? It seems like a complete perspective on operations and compliance.
Suppliers use OTIF and SQEP alongside Supplier One because together they form a system designed to manage data. While OTIF and SQEP are performance metrics and requirements designed to improve supply chain efficiency and compliance.
How do I know which SQEP phase applies to my business?
Walmart determines which SQEP phases apply to a business by determining which areas of the supply chain that business interacts with. The program is mandatory for all shipments to Walmart Distribution Centers (DC) and includes eCommerce fulfillment facilities.
What is the difference between SQEP reports in Retail Link versus Supplier One?
Retail Link continues to house the main SQEP and OTIF dashboards, while Supplier One is evolving into Walmart’s central hub for supplier operations, including cost and payment reports.
Where can I find a list of common deduction codes?
Suppliers can review the list of common deduction codes within the APDP app in Retail Link. Additionally, suppliers can review All Walmart Codes to determine code meaning at-a-glance.
Key Takeaways
Walmart’s supply chain is a powerhouse—resilient and interconnected. But even the smallest disruption can ripple through the system, making visibility and accountability non-negotiable. Retail Link supports suppliers with insight driven recommendations to maintain high levels of operational compliance, thus protecting time and the bottom line.
While HighRadius provides a solid safety net for AR automations and tracking deductions, other solutions like Revenue Recovery with SPS Commerce take supplier visibility even further—automating dispute management, syncing data across platforms, and giving teams clearer insight into the supply chain.
To stay ahead, suppliers should consistently monitor their performance through SQEP and OTIF dashboards. These tools serve as an early-warning system to catch issues before they escalate. Pairing these apps with Supplier One is a recipe for a successful and smooth partnership with Walmart.
