Navigating Logistics Apps in Retail Link

Every shipment that moves through Walmart’s supply chain—whether headed to a distribution center, store, or directly to a customer—depends on precise timing. The logistics apps in Retail Link help suppliers make that precision possible. They connect every action, document, and data point from the moment Walmart issues a Purchase Order (PO) to the final OTIF score.  

Core Apps 

Walmart suppliers know that even the most granular data point can drive decisions that create real impact. The logistics tools in Retail Link may seem complex, but together these apps form the digital backbone of how products move across one of the biggest retail networks in the world.  

Below are the most important apps for suppliers to understand—and a few tips from experienced suppliers on how to use them wisely.  

Scintilla and Demand Planning 

Launched by Walmart’s Data Ventures in 2024, Scintilla offers insight into what, when, and how customers are buying your products.  

Suppliers can access it through Supplier One or directly at: www.scintilla.com  

Scintilla offers a basic, free version as well as a paid version called Scintilla Charter. Among other things, suppliers can use Scintilla to review metrics to determine what is needed for the most efficient and successful forecasting operations.  

Scintilla Basic provides reporting and training accompanied with: 

• Email notifications as reports complete 

• Enhanced eCommerce sales data 

• Hourly store inventory 

Scintilla Charter offers everything that Scintilla Basic offers plus additional features such as: 

• Online pick-up and delivery data 

• Data feeds and APIs 

• PO and OTIF reporting 

Scintilla isn’t just about data—it’s about patterns. Suppliers would be wise to set alerts for category or region-level shifts. A 2% change in store inventory can indicate a concerning trend long before it appears in replenishment reports.  

Transportation Supply Chain Portal (TSPC) 2.0 App 

Walmart’s Transportation Supply Chain Portal (TSPC) app manages inbound shipments for Collect Suppliers—those using Walmart’s contracted carriers. This app replaced the Collect Vendor Portal.  

Within the TSCP 2.0 portal, suppliers can: 

• Accept/decline routing tenders 

• Download routing instructions 

• Find carrier details 

• Schedule pickup/delivery appointments 

This data feeds directly into OTIF scoring; any delay in tender response or missed appointments can impact supplier performance. Suppliers should be sure to respond to routing tenders within 2 hours to avoid carrier assignment delays that could impact OTIF scores. Missed responses are one of the most common hidden causes of OTIF penalties. 

Related Reading: Tracking Shipments in TSPC 2.0 

ASN (Advance Ship Notice) Dashboard App 

The ASN dashboard lets suppliers verify shipment details before actual delivery. This step (EDI 856) ensures that the data from supplier shipping matches what Walmart expects to receive.  

The app provides data on the metrics that measure compliance. It can focus on verifying the accuracy of specific ASNs and offers features that help with data analysis. Within this dashboard, suppliers can: 

• Filter data by Network, Freight type, DC type, DC #, Department, and Dates 

• Export Excel documents with PO numbers and PO lines with ASN opportunities 

• View EDI 824 error types and affected orders 

• Set up automated email notifications to send directly to suppliers with POs missing or inaccurate ASNs 

Related Reading: What is an ASN? Walmart’s Validation Process 

Distribution Center App 

The Distribution Center (DC) app in Retail Link provides a current list of Walmart stores, clubs, and DCs. Suppliers can login to their Retail Link account, select the Distribution Centers app, and search by Store/Club/DC or GLN list to download Walmart's most recent list. 

Experts recommend suppliers update their GLN list monthly. Walmart occasionally reclassifies regional DCs, which can silently break automated routing maps.  

Related Reading: Walmart Receiving Distribution Center (DC) List 

Delivery Confirmation App 

After scheduling a shipment in TSPC 2.0, suppliers use the Delivery Confirmation app to view Electronic Freight Bill (EFB) documents, which serve as a receipt for goods, evidence of title, and freight contract. 

Pro Tip: If suppliers receive a Code 25 “No Merchandise Received for Invoice” deduction, this app should be the first place to cross-check EFB timestamps against carrier scans. 

OTIF Dashboard App 

The OTIF dashboard (which can also be found in Supplier One) brings it all together. It consolidates data from transportation, routing, and ASN apps to measure supplier reliability.  

Here suppliers can:  

• View OTIF scores by PO, DC, or week 

• Find root cause categories for missed deliveries 

• Find trending data to track improvement 

By monitoring OTIF regularly, suppliers can address potential failures—such as incomplete ASNs or missed routing windows—before they escalate.  

Related Reading:  Walmart’s OTIF Fundamentals 

Supplier One 

Supplier One is Walmart’s financial command center. It consolidates payments, invoices, and communication into one hub—offering real-time visibility that Retail Link alone just doesn’t provide. Supplier One can also help track whether OTIF penalties have been applied and reconciled. 

Suppliers can access Supplier One as an app through Retail Link or at https://supplierone.wal-mart.com. Walmart uses single sign-on (SSO) authentication, so suppliers with Retail Link credentials also have access to Supplier One. 

Related Reading: Supplier One in Retail Link 

Data Flow: How Logistics Apps Connect 

With as many apps as Retail Link houses, it is easy to get a bit confused about how they all connect and work together. Every Walmart shipment follows the same general path—and each step touches a different app.  

Supplier One runs parallel to these apps, pulling financial and deduction data tied to logistics events (like OTIF fines or missed appointments). Reviewing Supplier One in tandem with these dashboards ensures full operational and financial visibility. 

Troubleshooting Common Logistics Issues 

Suppliers need a way to ensure the data they’re reviewing is accurate and up to date. Logistics apps within Retail Link allow suppliers to do just that; however, problems can still arise.  

Retail Link vs. Supplier One 

Both platforms track logistics, but from different angles. Retail Link focuses on operations and performance, while Supplier One focuses on financial reconciliation. Suppliers who use both will benefit from a greater span of time and data.  

Collect vs. Prepaid Shipments 

Collect and prepaid designations are expressions of transportation, not billing, indicating which entity in a business transaction is responsible for shipping the freight. 

• Collect: Walmart handles carrier selection and routing. 

• Prepaid: Supplier arranges and pays for freight, taking full control (and responsibility) of shipment timing.  

Pro Tip: Prepaid suppliers would be wise to implement strict internal guidelines—Walmart’s tolerance for late arrivals is minimal, even when carrier delays occur.  

Missed Pickup Window 

If a shipment misses the pickup and/or delivery window, it will be imperative to update the record in TSPC 2.0 immediately. Search for the shipment, then select the three dots within the circle in the top right hand of the pop-up window. There, suppliers can update and request new times.  Missed updates often lead to inaccurate OTIF reporting, which can cost suppliers a lot in unnecessary deductions. 

DSDC or DSD  

• DSDC (Direct Store Delivery Consolidation): Shipments go through Walmart’s RDCs. These are ideal for small, frequent replenishment. DSDC is advantageous because it reduces shipping costs for all parties involved, accelerates the receipt of freight at stores, and enables ordering in small quantities. 

• DSD (Direct Store Delivery): Shipments go directly to the stores’ docks; best for fast-turn products. These deliveries require a high level of efficiency.  

The supplier’s Walmart merchant and replenishment team are ultimately responsible for deciding if a supplier should be set up for DSD, but it helps to know the requirements.  

Inbound Performance vs. OTIF Report 

OTIF is a component of the Inbound Performance Report—which captures all metrics around on-time arrivals, fill rates, and appointment accuracy.  

For Walmart suppliers, OTIF is a critical metric for avoiding fines, while the broader Performance Report provides a more comprehensive view of supply chain health and efficiency. 

Best Practices 

For any supplier, logistics can be a major pain point. From faulty labels to shortages of cartons on a pallet, logistics can be a mine field. Luckily, these apps support suppliers a great deal. 

Our experts recommend: 

• Reviewing all logistics apps weekly—especially ASN and OTIF 

• Using automated alerts whenever possible 

• Keeping routing and GLN data fresh 

• Reconciling Supplier One deductions monthly 

• Ensuring all shipments are in full and expected to arrive on time 

• Aligning EDI acknowledgments with physical shipments 

Most OTIF fines stem from preventable data mismatches, not actual delivery failures. Cross-verifying ASNs and tenders before pickup is the easiest way for suppliers to avoid them.  

Key Takeaways 

The logistics apps within Retail Link have some amazing features and are designed to work together, not separately. By understanding the flow from PO to NOVA to OTIF scoring, suppliers gain the visibility needed to ship smarter, avoid deductions, and maintain a strong partnership with Walmart.