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How to Switch from TrueCommerce Without Breaking Things – A Complete Guide

How to Switch from TrueCommerce Without Breaking Things – A Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

  • You can switch away from TrueCommerce without interrupting orders as long as you run a phased, partner-by-partner migration and keep both systems active until each partner is fully validated.
  • The biggest migration risks include mapping mismatches, partner testing delays, VAN/connection issues, and surprise fees related to contract terms or new-partner adds.
  • Choosing a modern managed-service EDI platform like Elevate gives you faster onboarding, transparent pricing, flexible scaling, and real human support instead of legacy complexity and long wait times.

Why Do Companies Like Yours Want to Move on from SPS Commerce?

TrueCommerce has been around for decades and supports a wide network of retailers and ERPs, especially for mid-market distributors and brands. But many companies outgrow the platform or struggle with:

  • High or unpredictable monthly fees (especially as volume grows)
  • Slow turnaround times for mapping updates and partner changes
  • Limited visibility into document flow unless you buy add-ons
  • Long contracts, renewal clauses, and early-termination penalties
  • Per-partner charges, VAN fees, and per-document surcharges
  • Support delays or ticket-only communication queues

And now, a growing concern among former DiCentral customers:

TrueCommerce’s New Mandatory Plan Changes for DiCentral Customers

Beginning December 1, 2025, TrueCommerce will no longer support month-to-month rate plans for previous DiCentral customers, according to their most recent email notification. Customers must now select one of their new subscription plans to maintain uninterrupted access.

Here are the official plan announcements TrueCommerce shared with customers:

This shift has left many DiCentral users feeling pressured to upgrade, locked into higher-priced plans, or concerned about the risk of service disruption if they do not migrate to the new subscription structure.

Why Switching to a Modern Managed Service Provider Matters?

TrueCommerce has been a long-standing leader in the EDI industry, especially for mid-sized suppliers and distributors that rely on complex order flows. But the legacy “full-service” EDI model often means:

  • You’re locked into long contracts
  • You’re dependent on slow escalation layers
  • You pay for every mapping update, partner add, or VAN transaction
  • You operate with limited control and minimal transparency
  • You wait days or weeks for simple changes

That’s why more growing companies, especially those with lean operations and limited IT resources are moving toward modern managed-service EDI platforms designed for speed, visibility, and predictable pricing.

Switching from TrueCommerce to a platform like Elevate gives you:

  1. Transparent and Predictable Pricing
    Legacy EDI pricing is often a patchwork of hidden additions: mapping updates, partner adds, VAN fees, monthly bundles, transaction surcharges, and support tiers.
  2. Faster Onboarding & Partner Testing
    TrueCommerce partner onboarding often depends on internal queues, support batching, or extended testing cycles. This slows down operations — especially when you’re onboarding new retail partners.
  3. Real Human Support (Not Just Tickets)
    Many TrueCommerce users report slow support escalations or limited visibility into ticket progress, especially during high-volume retail seasons.
  4. Flexibility to Start Small and Scale Smoothly
    TrueCommerce’s contract structure and pricing model often make it expensive or restrictive to:
    • Add partners
    • Change workflows
    • Seasonal tier jumps
    • Adopt hybrid EDI/API approaches
    • Scale up only when the business does

Elevate is built with flexibility at its core:

    • Start with one trading partner
    • Add more anytime
    • Scale document volume as needed
    • Avoid tier jumps or penalty pricing

This fits perfectly for SMBs, mid-market brands, and fast-growing companies.

5. Full Visibility Into Document Flow

Many TrueCommerce users struggle with limited visibility unless they add modules or depend on support for troubleshooting. This slows down root-cause analysis and increases chargeback risk.

Elevate offers:

    • Full audit logs
    • Error alerts and 997 monitoring
    • Clear exception views
    • Complete transparency into every document

This level of clarity helps you prevent missed ASNs, failed invoices, and retailer penalties.

In short: You get an EDI partner that functions like an extension of your team, not another system to manage.

6. A Smoother Migration Path (Especially for DiCentral Customers)

DiCentral customers pushed into TrueCommerce plans are now facing:

    • Mandatory plan changes by Dec 1, 2025
    • Higher subscription costs
    • Platform migration pressure
    • Risk of service interruption

Elevate provides a phased, low-risk migration designed specifically for these transitioning customers.

The EDI Migration Strategy You Should Adopt

To switch from TrueCommerce successfully, do NOT cancel TrueCommerce first.
Your documents must continue flowing, and your new provider should run in parallel.

Here is the recommended step-by-step approach:

1) Begin with a clear migration strategy

1.1 Inventory Your Current State

Document:

    • All trading partners
    • Document types (850, 856, 810, 940, 945, etc.)
    • Communication methods (AS2, VAN, SFTP, API)
    • Any custom maps
    • Any ERP integration dependencies
    • Chargebacks or compliance issues

Then review your TrueCommerce contract:

    • Renewal date
    • Auto-renewal windows
    • Partner-add fees
    • VAN fees
    • Mapping update fees
    • Termination conditions

This prevents surprises later.

1.2 Choose the Right New Provider

When evaluating a new EDI platform, ask:

    • Can they support your current trading-partner list without rebuilding everything?
    • Are fees transparent?
    • How quickly do they onboard new partners?
    • Do they provide real human support with SLAs?
    • What visibility do you get into document flow?
    • Do they manage partner requirement changes?

A modern platform like Elevate emphasizes transparency, fast onboarding, and managed support.

We are providing a full guide on how to choose the right EDI provider for your business.

1.3 Map & Migrate in Phases

Your trading-partner list becomes your migration roadmap:

    1. Start with a low-risk, low-volume partner.
    2. Map documents in the new system.
    3. Run both TrueCommerce and your new provider in parallel.
    4. Test with partners one at a time.
    5. Move to the next partner only after validation.

Avoid migrating all partners at once — this is the #1 source of errors and chargebacks.

We are providing a detailed guide on the importance of phased migration and adding new trading partners to read as per your convenience.

1.4 Go-Live & Monitor Closely

Keep TrueCommerce active until:

    • All documents are flowing correctly
    • 997s/functional acknowledgments match
    • Your ERP integration is completing end-to-end
    • No exceptions remain

Set up:

    • Alerts for failed ASNs, missing invoices
    • Dual logging for at least 2–3 weeks
    • Daily monitoring until the cutover is stable

1.5 Post-Migration Clean-Up

After full cutover:

    • Decommission old maps and connections
    • Validate cost savings vs TrueCommerce
    • Train internal staff
    • Update your partner onboarding SOP
    • Remove unused VAN connections (if applicable)
    • Validate ERP integration performance

Capture and document lessons learned for future partners.

TrueCommerce Migration Plan Checklist

Here is the pre-migration checklist before canceling your TrueCommerce subscription.

Work with your new provider to confirm:

    • Export of current mappings and partner configuration
    • Downloaded compliance documents
    • Exported transaction logs and historical reference data
    • Identified critical partners (those that cannot go down)
    • Reviewed contract terms and termination timing
    • Understood VAN or AS2 dependencies

Detailed Migration Timeline Example

PhaseKey ActivitiesResponsibleDuration
Week 1Discovery, Partner List, Contract ReviewInternal3–5 days
Week 2Export Data & New Provider SetupProvider + Internal5–7 days
Week 3Partner Testing (Pilot)Providers + Partners5 days
Week 4Phase 1 Go-LiveProvider2 days
Week 5–6Phase 2 Migration + ValidationProvider + Partners1–2 weeks

Use this timeline as an example to build your own along with the new EDI provider you use to migrate from TrueCommerce. This visual timeline not only helps both teams stay aligned but you can track and hold the EDI provider accountable in case they don’t meet the timeline.

Communication Template for Trading Partners

Include a short email notifying your partners that you are migrating to a new EDI provider following a phased timeline.

Switch-Readiness Scorecard

    • Do you have your TrueCommerce renewal date documented?
    • Do you know which partners to migrate first?
    • Do you have access to all mapping and configuration data?
    • Do you have internal staff who understand your document flow?

Score yourself before starting the migration.

Risk Mitigation Plan

    • Run TrueCommerce and your new EDI platform in parallel until all partners are live
    • Enable full monitoring and alerting
    • Validate 997s, ASNs, invoices daily
    • Test high-volume documents multiple times
    • Check for VAN routing issues (if applicable)

How to Cancel TrueCommerce Services

Always complete your migration first, then cancel.

Typical cancellation process:

    1. Log in to your TrueCommerce customer portal.
    2. Navigate to the Billing or Account Management section.
    3. Locate your contract end date and notice window.
    4. Submit a termination request according to the instructions.
    5. Confirm the cancellation in writing (email + portal).

Important: TrueCommerce contracts often auto-renew. Know your window to avoid extra months of billing.

Common Pitfalls During EDI Migration (and How to Avoid Them)

  • Migrating too many partners at once → increases failure risk
  • Ignoring contract renewal dates → surprise charges
  • Choosing a provider with unclear fees → repeating the same pain
  • Not dual-running both systems → missed orders or ASNs
  • Not monitoring during the first two weeks → preventable chargebacks

Final Thoughts

Switching from TrueCommerce doesn’t have to be disruptive or stressful.

With the right preparation, a clear partner-by-partner plan, and a modern managed-service EDI platform, you can:

    • Maintain continuous order flow
    • Avoid chargebacks
    • Reduce costs
    • Improve visibility
    • Speed up onboarding
    • Gain long-term flexibility

If you’re struggling with slow turnaround times, unclear pricing, or limited visibility, it may be time to evaluate what modern EDI providers offer including platforms like Elevate built specifically for SMBs and mid-market companies.

FAQs

Q1. Will I lose orders or experience downtime when switching from TrueCommerce?

Not if you follow a phased migration and run both systems in parallel until validation is complete.

Q2. Can I move my mappings from TrueCommerce?

You can export partner information and document requirements, but most mappings will be rebuilt in the new platform.

Q3. How long does the migration take?

1–2 partners: 1–3 weeks
10–20 partners: 8–12 weeks (depending on partner responsiveness)

Q4. What hidden costs should I prepare for?

Watch for VAN fees, partner-add fees, mapping update fees, and early termination penalties.

Q5. Can I switch even without in-house EDI expertise?

Yes, choose a managed-service EDI provider that handles mapping, testing, monitoring, and troubleshooting.

Q6. What happens if a trading partner changes specs after I switch?

Your new provider should monitor and update requirements as part of the service, confirm this in writing.

Q7. Why is Elevate a good alternative to TrueCommerce?

Elevate offers transparent pricing, fast onboarding, real human support, and flexibility without long contracts, making it ideal for SMBs and mid-sized companies that feel constrained by TrueCommerce’s legacy structure. Learn more here: https://edielevate.com/elevate-vs-truecommerce/