Navigating the Walmart Supplier Performance Scorecard

In this article, learn about: 

• What the Walmart Supplier Performance Scorecard is 

• The components that make up the Scorecard 

• How to interpret and act on its insights 

For Walmart suppliers, the Supplier Performance Scorecard has become the central hub for measuring operational reliability. Unlike older versions that once summarized sales, profitability, and asset efficiency, the Scorecard now focuses squarely on execution — how accurately, on time, and compliantly suppliers move product through Walmart’s network. 

You can access the Scorecard either as a stand alone app in Retail Link or through Supplier One → Performance → Scorecard. Both versions pull from the same data source and reflect Walmart’s unified view of supplier performance. 

When you open the app in Retail Link, you’ll see five tabs across the top: OTIF, SQEP, ASN, FMP, and CARS. 

Each tab measures a different aspect of execution, giving suppliers a complete picture of their operational health.  

While sales and margin reports now live in Scintilla, the Scorecard tells the story behind those numbers: whether products arrived when expected, matched the order exactly, complied with packaging standards, and ultimately avoided costly deductions. 

Related Reading: How to Pull Reports in Scintilla 

The five modules below make up the 2025 version of the Scorecard. 

1. OTIF – On Time In Full 

OTIF (On Time In Full) is the heartbeat of the Supplier Performance Scorecard. It measures how consistently you meet Walmart’s delivery expectations — whether shipments arrive within the required window (On Time) and in complete, accurate quantities (In Full). 

It’s one of the first tabs Walmart replenishment teams review because it instantly reveals whether a supplier is dependable. A strong OTIF record shows control, communication, and coordination across your entire supply chain. A weak one can indicate gaps in forecasting, carrier management, or internal system alignment. 

Metrics you’ll find under OTIF: 

• On Time % – Percentage of deliveries that arrived within the defined window. 

• In Full % – Percentage of orders shipped in complete and correct quantities. 

• Noncompliance Reasons – Breakdowns of what caused failures (late carrier, early shipment, ASN mismatch, etc). 

• Facility or Lane Details – Which DCs or shipping points are most affected. 

How to Analyze OTIF Performance on the Scorecard 

When reviewing your OTIF data, the goal isn’t just to identify whether you hit that 98% on time (collect ready), 90% on time (prepaid), or 95% in full metric — it’s to understand what’s behind the misses and how consistently they occur. 

1. Look for directional trends 

• Compare your current week’s performance against the 4-week and 13-week averages. 

• Identify whether dips are one time (e.g., storm delays) or consistent (e.g., system delays). 

• Pay attention to seasonal patterns — OTIF tends to fluctuate during peak months, especially for seasonal or promotional items. 

2. Segment by fulfillment type 

• Filter results by collect vs. prepaid shipments. If only collect freight is missing delivery windows, the issue may lie with Walmart’s pickup scheduling or load planning. 

• Break down performance by ship point or DC to see if certain lanes or regions underperform. 

3. Use reason codes to isolate root causes 
Each noncompliant order includes a root cause — such as Late Delivery, Early Delivery, Short Shipment, ASN Error, or Appointment Missed. 

• If “Short Shipment” consistently occurs, review your production and PO allocation process. 

• If “Carrier Delay” is common, audit which carriers are most responsible. 

• If “Early Shipment” occurs frequently, your dock scheduling may need alignment with Walmart’s appointment windows. 

2. SQEP – Supplier Quality Excellence Program 

The Supplier Quality Excellence Program (SQEP) is Walmart’s standardized way of measuring supplier performance in packaging, labeling, and shipping accuracy. It was introduced to ensure that every product entering Walmart’s supply chain arrives “floor-ready” — meaning it can flow through the DC and to the sales floor without delays or confusion. 

A high SQEP score means your processes are clean and repeatable. A low score points to friction — issues that cost Walmart time and labor and can lead to chargebacks or delayed inventory. 

How to Analyze SQEP on the Scorecard 

The SQEP dashboard breaks down performance by defect type, location, and frequency. Use it not just to confirm performance quality, but to identify patterns that reveal where issues originate. 

1. Identify the dominant defect categories. 

Look at the Defect Type Breakdown. The most common include labeling, pallet configuration, ASN data, and documentation errors. 

• If labeling issues dominate, review your printing equipment or 3PL packing stations. 

• If ASN related defects rise, cross-check the ASN module — the two are frequently linked. 

2. Analyze by facility and item. 

The Scorecard lets you filter by DC and Item Number. 

• If defects cluster around one distribution center, investigate whether that facility has stricter receiving tolerances or different scanning setups. 

• If a single SKU has multiple defect entries, inspect its packaging dimensions and barcode placement. 

How to Act on SQEP Insights 

Once you’ve identified patterns in your SQEP data, your goal is to translate those insights into packaging or process improvements that eliminate root causes — not just individual defects. 

1. Conduct packaging validation audits. 

• Pull a sample of the affected SKUs and test them against Walmart’s Secondary Packaging Standards Guide. Check carton integrity, dimensions, and barcode placement. 

• Confirm that labels follow GS1-128 requirements with human-readable text visible on two adjacent sides of the carton. 

2. Revisit your vendor pack and pallet configuration. 

• Walmart’s goal is operational uniformity — each pallet should be stable, scannable, and consistent across shipments. 

• Adjust stacking patterns, cornerboard usage, or shrink wrap tension if DCs are flagging unstable loads. 

3. Coordinate with 3PLs and co-packers. 

• Many SQEP issues start at 3rd party facilities. Share Scorecard defect reports weekly so your external teams can correct mistakes at the source. 

4. Align data and documentation. 

• Work with your EDI and replenishment teams to confirm that PO data, ship-to locations, and item IDs in your ASN match what’s printed on your labels. 

• This alignment eliminates data related SQEP defects that appear as “mismatched carton IDs” or “invalid PO numbers.” 

5. Verify sustainability and compliance updates. 

• Walmart continues to expand SQEP’s scope, including metrics tied to recyclability and packaging reduction. Review any new requirements posted in Retail Link under Packaging & Labeling Standards to stay ahead of program changes. 

3. ASN – Advance Ship Notice Accuracy 

The Advance Ship Notice (ASN) module tracks how accurately suppliers transmit their shipment data to Walmart through EDI 856. This electronic document tells Walmart’s distribution centers what’s arriving, how it’s packaged, and when it’s expected. 

 It must be transmitted before the truck arrives and must exactly match the physical shipment. 

The ASN module in the Scorecard displays three main dimensions of performance: 

1. ASNs with errors  
2. No ASNs received  
3. Late ASNs 

Each failure is categorized with PO numbers, allowing suppliers to trace issues back to specific shipments, carriers, or facilities. 

How to Analyze ASN on the Scorecard 

1. Review overall compliance rates 
Start with your total ASN success percentage. Walmart expects near-perfect compliance here — generally 0% (as seen in image above) . Anything higher suggests systemic issues, not one-off errors. 

2. Examine timeliness first 
Late ASNs are often the simplest to fix. Review your Timeliness % and check whether your transmissions are delayed by your internal batch schedule or by time zone mismatches between your ERP and EDI systems. 

3. Study the most common error types 
The Scorecard will display reasons such as Missing Field, or Invalid PO. Each error points to a specific process breakdown: 

• Missing Field: Usually a template or mapping error within your EDI provider. 

• Invalid PO: PO not yet activated or closed before ASN submission. 

4. Cross-reference with OTIF or SQEP data 
If you see a pattern of late ASNs, check your OTIF tab. Late data often leads to “In Full” failures. Similarly, frequent “Invalid PO” or “Incorrect Carton ID” errors might appear again in SQEP as documentation defects. 

5. Identify problem ship points 
Filter by facility to find out where inaccuracies cluster. A single warehouse or 3PL may be responsible for most transmission issues. 

Related Reading: What is an ASN? Understanding Walmart's Updated Validation Process 

4. FMP – Fuel Management Program 

The Fuel Management Program (FMP) module measures supplier compliance with Walmart’s fuel rate and transportation cost structure for collect freight — when Walmart handles pickup and shipping. 

Previously called the Collect Pickup Program (CPP), FMP is now Walmart’s standardized framework for managing freight efficiency and transparency across thousands of suppliers. It ensures Walmart pays the correct rate for fuel, and that suppliers are adhering to cost-sharing agreements accurately. 

While this module may feel financial in nature, it’s also a reflection of operational consistency. Inaccurate freight data or poor pickup coordination often shows up here before it affects OTIF or Claims performance. 

Related Reading: Walmart's New Fuel Management Program 

How to Act on FMP Scorecard Insights 

1. Reconcile rates monthly 
Always use the latest fuel surcharge table from Retail Link.  

2. Review pickup readiness and scheduling 
If Walmart’s carriers frequently reschedule or miss pickups, review your internal “ready time” accuracy. Walmart Transportation expects suppliers to be dock-ready when scheduled — not just product-complete. 

3. Standardize communication with carriers 
Use consistent contact protocols (email templates or EDI 753/754 messages) so both your team and Walmart Transportation have full visibility on load status. 

4. Audit by lane 
If FMP variances appear only in certain regions, investigate whether local distribution centers or specific carriers are using different fuel indexes. 

5. Claims & Returns Scorecard 

The Claims & Returns module is where all the threads of operational performance converge. It shows what happens after delivery — whether customers returned products based off changed mind, defective product, poor quality, etc.  

This section directly connects to your bottom line. Each claim not only represents lost revenue, but it can also indicate a process failure somewhere upstream. Understanding this data helps suppliers not only recover revenue but also eliminate repeat losses. 

How to Analyze Claims & Returns on the Scorecard 

1. Start with the return rate. 
Compare each item’s return rate to its category average or internal benchmark. Items with high sales volume and low return rates are performing well; spikes in return percentages warrant immediate attention. 

2. Examine return reasons. 
Walmart’s reason codes help suppliers pinpoint the type of issue driving returns: 

• Damaged: Items arrived with visible damage, often linked to packaging durability or in-transit handling. 

• Defective: Functional or manufacturing defects surfaced during customer use. 

• Wrong Item / Description: Mismatched SKUs, inaccurate labeling, or content errors. 

• Did Not Meet Expectations: Product didn’t align with customer expectations — a common issue for apparel, home goods, and eCommerce listings. 

3. Segment by channel and fulfillment type. 
Online and store returns often show different patterns. 

• Store returns may result from in-store damage, shelf handling, or mis-merchandising. 

• Online returns tend to reflect content accuracy, packaging durability, or fulfillment timeliness. 

4. Look for clustering. 
If one distribution center or region reports disproportionately high returns for a SKU, it may indicate a packaging or transit issue specific to that shipping lane. 

5. Cross reference with other modules. 
Return reasons often connect directly to other Scorecard metrics: 

• Damaged → SQEP: Weak packaging or incorrect labeling. 

• Defective → Production or quality control process gaps. 

• Arrived Late → OTIF: Delivery timeliness affecting customer satisfaction. 

Recover Revenue Faster with SPS Commerce 

Effective deduction management is not merely a reactive process; it is a critical, proactive element of protecting your bottom line.  

Suppliers can use SPS Commerce Revenue Recovery to stay compliant with Walmart’s AP dispute practices, saving time with strategic shipping document aggregation and auto-disputing.  

Get a free audit today to see if Revenue Recovery with SPS is right for your Walmart business.