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Walmart EDI: The Complete Supplier
Compliance Guide
Walmart EDI: The Complete Supplier
Compliance Guide
Get EDI compliant with Walmart before your first chargeback. Live in 2 to 4 weeks.
What Is Walmart EDI?
Walmart is one of the largest retailers in the world, operating approximately 10,500 stores and clubs across 24 countries. Every supplier shipping products to Walmart, whether to distribution centers, stores, or fulfilling eCommerce orders, must be fully EDI-compliant. There are no exceptions.
Walmart was one of the first retailers to mandate EDI back in 1988, and their requirements remain among the most rigorous in the industry. Getting it right means smooth operations and timely payments. Getting it wrong means chargebacks that can erode your margins by 2 to 5 percent or more.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Walmart EDI in 2026, and how Elevate’s platform makes the entire process painless for small and mid-sized suppliers.
If you are new to EDI, start with our Beginner’s Guide to Implementing EDI before diving into Walmart-specific requirements.
EDI Documents Required by Walmart
internet-based protocol.
| DOCUMENT | NAME | DIRECTION | PURPOSE | TIMING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDI 850 | Purchase Order | Walmart → You | Order details for fulfillment | Acknowledge within 24 hrs |
| EDI 855 | PO Acknowledgement | You → Walmart | Confirms you received and accepted the order | Within 24 hrs (4 hrs for DSV) |
| EDI 856 | Advance Ship Notice | You → Walmart | Shipment + packing + tracking info | BEFORE arrival at DC |
| EDI 810 | Invoice | You → Walmart | Billing for goods shipped | Within 24 hrs of shipment |
| EDI 812 | Credit/Debit Adjustment | Either | Financial corrections | As needed |
| EDI 820 | Remittance Advice | Walmart → You | Payment notification | With payment |
| EDI 997 | Functional Acknowledgement | Either | Confirms document receipt & validity | Automatic |
Drop Ship Vendors (DSV) face additional requirements: EDI 846 inventory feeds at least once per business day per warehouse, PO acknowledgement within 4 hours, and real-time tracking updates as soon as the carrier scans the package.
Elevate handles all these document types out of the box. Our team maps each one to Walmart’s exact specifications during onboarding. You do not need to understand the technical details.
What is Retail Link?
Retail Link is Walmart’s supplier portal, the command center for your Walmart business. While Elevate handles your EDI document exchange, Retail Link gives you visibility into:
- SQEP dashboards and compliance updates
- Item-level sales and demand forecasting
- Product setup, images, and catalog content
- Invoice status, payments and deductions
Get Approved as a Walmart Supplier
This happens between you and Walmart's merchandising team before any EDI work begins. Once your products are accepted, you will receive a Supplier Agreement through Retail Link.
Register on Retail Link
You will need an internal team member to set up the account on Walmart's supplier portal.
Get Your GS1 Identifiers
Walmart requires GS1-compliant UPC/GTIN codes on all products and GS1-128 labels on shipping cartons. Register at gs1us.org if you do not have these yet.
Connect with Elevate
This is where we take over. When you sign up with Elevate, our team sets up your AS2 connection to Walmart, maps all required EDI documents to Walmart's specifications, configures your account for your specific product categories and fulfillment model, and handles all communication with Walmart's EDI team.
Test and Certification
Walmart requires formal testing before you go live. We submit test documents, work through any validation issues, and get you certified. Most suppliers complete testing within 1 to 2 weeks.
Go Live
Orders start flowing. Elevate monitors your document traffic, catches errors before they become chargebacks, and keeps your maps updated whenever Walmart changes their specs.
With Elevate, most Walmart suppliers are live in 2 to 4 weeks. Compare that to 6 to 12 weeks with legacy providers like
SPS
Commerce
or
TrueCommerce.
Walmart Chargebacks: What They Cost
Non-compliance triggers automated chargebacks deducted directly from your
payments.
The #1 chargeback risk is the ASN (EDI 856). It must be sent before the shipment physically arrives, must include correct GS1-128 data, and must match the physical contents of every carton exactly. Even one wrong quantity on one line item triggers a penalty.
How Elevate Protects You from Chargebacks
Real-time Monitoring
We watch your 997 and 824 messages and catch rejections before they become chargebacks.
Automated ASN Generation
No manual error in the most chargeback-prone document
Proactive Compliance Updates
We update your maps when Walmart changes specs, at no extra cost.
ERP Integration
Data flows from your backend system directly. No re-keying, no human error.
Walmart's OTIF Program
OTIF stands for On-Time In-Full, Walmart’s core compliance metric. On-Time means the shipment arrived within the agreed delivery window. In-Full means the shipment contained the exact quantities ordered.
OTIF is primarily a logistics and warehouse issue, not an EDI issue per se. But accurate EDI data is what makes OTIF achievable. If your ASN data is wrong, your delivery appears non-compliant even if the physical shipment was perfect. This is why EDI accuracy and OTIF performance are inseparable.
98%
On-Time Target
Arrive within delivery window
98%
In-Full Target
Correct quantities shipped
3%
Failure Penalty
Of affected order value
Still Have Questions About How to Get EDI Compliant with Walmart?
Our team has helped multiple suppliers get Walmart-compliant. Let us walk you through it.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Walmart uses the ANSI X12 EDI standard transmitted over AS2 (Applicability Statement 2). AS2 provides encrypted, internet-based communication with digital signature verification. Elevate handles your entire AS2 connection, including setup, monitoring, and certificate management.
A: With Elevate, most suppliers go live with Walmart in 2 to 4 weeks. This includes AS2 connectivity setup, document mapping, and Walmart’s required testing phase. Legacy providers like SPS Commerce often take 6 to 12 weeks for the same process.
A: ASN (EDI 856) errors are the leading cause. The most frequent issues are sending the ASN after the shipment arrives, quantity mismatches between the ASN and physical shipment, and incorrect GS1-128 label data. Elevate’s ASN monitoring catches these errors before they become chargebacks.
A: Walmart requires AS2 for all new supplier connections. Some legacy VAN connections may still exist, but all new setups use AS2 exclusively. Elevate manages your AS2 connection end-to-end.
A: OTIF (On-Time In-Full) requires 98% compliance for both on-time delivery and correct quantities. Failures result in a 3% chargeback on the affected order value. Accurate EDI data, especially the ASN, is critical to maintaining your OTIF scores.
A: Yes. Elevate is specifically built for small and mid-sized businesses. Walmart EDI setup is a one-time $750 fee, with monthly platform fees starting at $50. That is a fraction of what legacy providers charge, and far less than what chargebacks from non-compliance would cost.
A: Retail Link is Walmart’s supplier portal for compliance monitoring, sales data, and item management. Yes, all Walmart suppliers need access. It works alongside your EDI system. Elevate handles document exchange, Retail Link gives you visibility into performance.
A: Yes. We handle migrations from SPS Commerce, TrueCommerce, and other providers with minimal disruption. We coordinate onboarding, replicate your existing EDI flows, and test everything before cutting over so your trading relationships are never disrupted.