In this article, learn about:
Important weekly metrics to monitor for Walmart suppliers
Where to find those metrics
Why those metrics matter
Walmart has been changing the way suppliers access and interpret data. For years, Decision Support System (DSS) was the go-to source for reporting, but those days are over as Walmart has redistributed its reporting. With the rollout of Scintilla, updates within Supplier One, and expanded visibility within Retail Link, suppliers now have more accurate, real-time insights than ever before.
Monday morning is a great time to take stock and realign performance goals. Suppliers can think of it as the perfect opportunity to use the updated systems to understand unique sales behavior and inventory patterns before they become performance risks.
Monday Metrics to Monitor for Walmart Suppliers
In Walmart’s world, metrics matter more than anything. They provide suppliers with a tremendous amount of data that can make or break sales performance. Starting the week off right means focusing on the metrics that tell the truth about sales, stock, and compliance.
Before reviewing individual metrics, it’s important to understand where Walmart’s supplier data is coming from.
Retail Link is still the operational core. OTIF, SQEP, inventory health, and performance scorecards live here. It answers: “Are we executing correctly?”
Scintilla is an analytics engine. Store level insights, sales, demand, availability, and forecasting all live here. Basic (free) and Charter (paid) versions are available. It answers: “What’s happening and why?”
Supplier One is a newer, streamlined workspace which brings together orders, items, payables, and high-level performance overviews. It answers: “What needs action right now?”
Suppliers don’t have to (and shouldn’t) choose just one. The most successful suppliers use a combination of all three to optimize their margins in Walmart.
1. Sales and Inventory Metrics (The Big Picture)
This is where most Monday reviews should start. Sales data is crucial to know when making decisions for the coming weeks. Inventory data is needed for knowing where things currently stand. Together they tell the story: Is demand being met with supply?
Where to find these metrics:
Scintilla: Walmart eComm Sales and Inventory, Store Sales and Inventory
Retail Link: Inventory Health dashboard
Supplier One: High Level Inventory status
What to check on Monday:
Sales velocity vs. available inventory
Items at risk of sell out
Excess stock slowing supply chain
Why it matters: Misalignment here creates big issues down the line like out-of-stocks, excess inventory, and lost sales.
Related Reading: How to Pull Reports for Sales and Inventory in Scintilla
2. Sales Summary
This report is the fastest way to understand how your business performed over the last week (including the weekend) and where attention might be needed first.
Where to find it:
Scintilla: POS (Point-of-Sale), Report Builder: Store sales and inventory, omni sales (charter)
Retail Link: Performance summary
Supplier One: Snapshot views tied to items and orders
What to check on Monday:
Top-selling items
Any sudden dips/spikes
Total sales last week vs. total sales last year (for the same week)
Why it matters: Sales summaries provide a fast check on weekend performance. They help suppliers prioritize which SKUs (or channels) need attention this week, not next month.
3. Inventory Health
Inventory health shows whether the current supply can support Walmart’s forecasted demand.
Where to find it:
Scintilla: Store Sales and Inventory
Retail Link: Item 360
What to check on Monday:
Low supply items and SKUs in high traffic locations
Excess supply items and SKUs in low traffic locations
Why it matters: This metric tells suppliers how efficiently inventory is converting into sales. Low sell-through often signals weak demand. High sell-through paired with low inventory indicates stockout risks.
4. OTIF & SQEP Performance
These metrics measure how well a supplier is performing in alignment with Walmart’s expectations. On Time In Full (OTIF) measures a supplier's accuracy level when shipping goods and Supplier Quality Excellence Program (SQEP) measures things like PO and load quality.
Where to find them:
Retail Link: OTIF Dashboard and SQEP Scorecard
Supplier One: Shipment and order status
What to check on Monday:
Late (or at risk) POs
Repeating defect codes
DC specific issues
Carrier specific issues
Why it matters: OTIF and SQEP directly affect fines, chargebacks, and supplier credibility. Attention here protects revenue and the long-term partnership with Walmart.
GRS Forecasting (Demand Accuracy)
Global Replenishment System (GRS) forecasting reflects Walmart’s expected demand for items and how closely reality matches that expectation.
Where to find it:
Scintilla: Order Forecast, Store Demand Forecast
Supplier One: Compare forecasts with processed orders
What to check on Monday:
Forecast vs. actual sales
Items consistently under or over forecast
Upcoming demand changes
Why it matters: Forecast misalignment leads to over-ordering, backorders, and availability gaps.
Related Reading: What is CPFR? Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment
Supplier Performance Scorecard
This scorecard offers a high-level view of how Walmart evaluates a supplier's performance.
Where to find it:
Retail Link: Supplier Performance Dashboard
What to check on Monday:
Overall score
Any categories trending down
Any early warning signs
Why it matters: This score directly influences retailer confidence and long-term standing.
Store Ownership
Store ownership shows where sales and inventory issues are occurring at the store level.
Where to find them:
Retail Link: Item setup, Store count, and Assortment reports
What to check on Monday:
Stores with zero sales
Uneven store distribution
Availability gaps
Why it matters: Strong national numbers can hide weak store performance and lost sales add up quickly.
Sales Trends
Sales trends help separate an “off” weekend from a real shift in demand.
Where to find them:
Scintilla: Store sales, Omni sales, eComm sales
What to check on Monday:
Seasonal slowdown or acceleration
Items mismatching forecast
Why it matters: Awareness on current trends can support better planning as well as stronger conversations with buyers.
Replenishment In Stock Percentage
Replenishment in stock percentage reflects how consistently items are available where Walmart expects them to be.
Where to find them:
Scintilla: Store Sales and Inventory
Retail Link: Replenishment and availability dashboards
What to check on Monday:
Items falling below targets
Chronic replenishment issues
Store-level patterns
Why it matters: Low in stock percentages lead directly to lost sales and strained performance metrics. Monitoring this metric weekly helps suppliers intervene before availability issues become chronic.
Traited vs. Valid Store Count
This metric compares the number of stores an item is authorized for (traited) versus where it is actively selling (valid).
Where to find them:
Retail Link: Item setup and store authorization tools
What to check on Monday:
Gaps between traited and valid stores
Items not fully launched or distributed
Setup or execution issues
Why it matters: If an item isn’t active where it needs to be, demand won’t convert to sales.
The Future of Retail Link, Scintilla, and Supplier One
Retail Link isn’t disappearing, but it is changing. It may continue to anchor compliance while Scintilla becomes the home for analytics, and Supplier One simplifies workflows.
Over time, suppliers should expect to spend more time in Scintilla and Supplier One but still rely on Retail Link where it matters most.
Next Steps for Walmart Suppliers
Suppliers who build a disciplined Monday routine (across Retail Link, Supplier One, and Scintilla) are better positioned to reduce surprises and improve overall supply chain performance.
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