Weber Logistics EDI Guides (Vendor Compliance Requirements)
Weber Logistics EDI ASN contains information transmitted to a retailer in advance of delivery that details the products and volumes in the shipment. After early/late deliveries, by far the biggest source of retail chargebacks is late, unreadable, or incorrect advance shipping notices (ASNs). Address the ASN problem and you’ve licked a good percent of your chargeback issues. Of all the electronic data interchange (EDI) feeds retailers receive, ASNs are the most important.
Having real-time facts on goods in transit enables retailers to:
- Pre-plan receiving to reduce labor costs
- Identify discrepancies between orders and shipments so they can reallocate inventory
- Cross dock freight to reduce storage costs and speed the flow of goods to stores
Retailers are keen to leverage these advantages and have little patience for non-compliance with EDI technology that has been around for over 20 years. Invest in the right systems to manage EDI, or outsource to a 3PL or other provider that specializes in EDI.
Staying one step ahead of retailer compliance requirements without an advanced WMS is like racing the Indy 500 in your dad’s Buick. It’s not a race you’re going to win. Any paper-based process will require significant labor to stay compliant. And no amount of checks and re-checks will eliminate human error entirely. That’s why you need a WMS to automate distribution and data transfer tasks. Barcoding and RFID ensure a high level of accuracy, and picking and shipping errors are automatically identified. If you use a 3PL that lacks advanced WMS, chances are you’re paying for this lack of automation with increased chargebacks.
Clearly document the specific requirements of each retail customer and do a QC check on a percent of outbound shipments. The documentation process is easy. Most large retailers have vendor websites where they post and update routing guides. The audits themselves typically involve checking that:
- The correct label has been applied to the correct carton or pallet
- Labels have been placed in the right location
- The correct packing lists have been attached
- Pallet instructions have been followed (e.g. correct pallet type used, proper pallet height and configuration built, use of shrink-wrap).
To learn more about EDI and become a certified EDI Professional please visit our course schedule page.