B&Q EDI Trading (Dropship to customer)
EDI trading is standard procedure in B&Q (Kingfisher Operating Company). This requires vendors who communicate currently via email/fax to transition to electronic trading. Vendors who currently trade electronically to ensure their systems can communicate with B&Q and all the Kingfisher Opcos with which they trade. There are two communication platforms through which vendors can send electronic messages:
- EDI
- Web-EDI Portal
For some vendors, choice of platform will be limited by supply characteristics. Vendors may have a choice of platforms. B&Q (Kingfisher’s) local support team are available to provide guidance to vendors. EDI is B&Q main platform for exchange of documents in the form of EDI messages and will normally be used by all vendors who receive a high volume of orders. This platform is the most efficient solution for B&Q and for vendors, and plays a key role in optimising our processes for ordering, delivery and payment.
B&Q EDI Trading Steps
Interconnection. B&Q be setting up the interconnection between its EDI mailboxes at VAN. Vendor will need to set up EDI platform to prepare to receive messages from B&Q mailbox and to transmit to it.
- Message implementation. B&Q will supply vendor with detailed TRADACOMS message specifications for Customer PO, Acknowledgement, ASN, Delivery Confirmation, Invoice. B&Q will need vendor to confirm once have implemented these messages and are ready to test.
- Message testing. B&Q will need to check that vendor can successfully receive and send messages in the required formats.
- Testing for PO, Acknowledgement, ASN, Delivery Confirmation and Invoice will be conducted as live messages, although B&Q won’t expect a delivery!
- Going live. Once testing is complete B&Q will inform you and Supply Chain team that ordering can begin.
To learn more about EDI vendor implementation and become a certified EDI Professional please visit our course schedule page.