Hey Vendorville, ever feel like you're caught in a storm of ASN confusion?

Honestly, same. Rest assured, we're here to weather shipping issues with you, rain or shine!

Today, we'll dive into the world of Advance Shipping Notices (ASNs), brightening your day with a better understanding of:

Advanced Shipping Notices
Walmart's ASN Defects
ASN Best Practices

Let's Get Started 📚

Don't worry… there is a silver lining.

We understand the frustration of navigating Advance Shipping Notices (ASNs), especially if you're getting hit with charges that don't make sense.

That's why we're here to guide you through the clouds and shed some light on the challenges of ASNs.

The Basics

An Advance Shipping Notice, or EDI 856, is a document suppliers and retailers use to outline a shipment's shipping dates and physical attributes. This ensures that the receiving party is prepared for the delivery.

While ASNs are a crucial part of the shipping process, things can quickly become stormy when you're faced with compliance penalties. Let's take a look at what ASN defects Walmart fines its suppliers for.

🌤️Other names you might see for an ASN are Ship Notice, manifest, or DESADV.

ASN Defects

Previously, Walmart bucketed ASN defects into a defect type called ASN Not Downloaded. Walmart recently added two new defect types: Late ASN and No ASN Received.

According to our research, this is a result of splitting ASN Not Downloaded into two different categories. However, ASN Not Downloaded is not fully archived; it will still appear under PO Line Accuracy, but only for DSDC and D38 Rx Only.

Thankfully, Late ASN and No ASN Received are slightly more descriptive classifications, giving you more insight into the reason behind the defect.

🌤️Walmart has a new ASN dashboard view to provide more visibility for suppliers into the future state of ASN compliance. To view this new dashboard, go to Retail Link > Apps > Advanced Shipping Notice Dashboard > click on IDOCs on the left-hand navigation bar.

ASN Best Practices

Regardless of the types of defects you're facing, there are some best practices you can implement to improve your ASN outcomes:

Be timely: Always send the ASN before the shipment arrives at the Walmart distribution center.
Be precise: You can avoid most errors by being mindful of the syntax, structure, and required values. Check out this list of EDI 824 error codes.
Be proactive: If you want to avoid future charges but don't know where to start, we recommend testing! You can complete EDI 856 (ASN) and EDI 824 testing through the Vendor Self-Test Portal to validate system communication with Walmart.

🌤️Check out these eBooks to take an even deeper dive into ASNs and other common compliance issues:

Walmart: Common SQEP Defects

Home Depot: Revenue Loss
Target: Common Compliance Fines

Amazon: Deductions Explained

Don't worry… there is a silver lining.

Other Retailer News 📰

April 8, 2024

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"I find that there is almost always a lag between reality and the perception of reality, especially with big things like “the economy” or “business”."

April 7, 2024

Popular discount retailer shuts down all stores, liquidating

"While it has not technically filed for Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the company will be closing all of its stores."

April 3, 2024

FedEx, UPS adding delivery fees in parts of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago

"The surcharges from both carriers will take effect this month in 82 ZIP codes across the U.S., many covering major urban areas."

March 7, 2024

Shippers should lock in trucking rates soon: experts

"Carrier executives are beginning to show optimism for a rate recovery, which could mean rising costs for customers."

Rick’s Tips 💘

Pack Like a Pro with Rick's Quick Guide: Rick, our trusted mascot, knows a thing or two about precision packing.

“Walmart Secondary Packaging Guide eBook is your ultimate cheat sheet for mastering PO accuracy, ASNs, barcodes, shipping, labeling, and transportation for Walmart."

Let’s Circle Back 🌀

Do you see the ASN storm clouds parting? We hope so!

If you need a little more of a mood boost… check out this sunny day playlist from Spotify. It's the perfect soundtrack to bop along to as you navigate ASN charges and changes! 😎

❤️ Sincerely, Your Friends in Vendorville

SupplierWiki

Your Shipping Forecast: Sunnier Days Ahead! 😎