TL;DR
- Shopify has no native EDI. You connect it through an EDI provider such as SPS Commerce, TrueCommerce, Crstl or Orderful.
- All four retailers trade on the same core documents: the 850 purchase order, 855 acknowledgment, 856 advance ship notice (ASN) and 810 invoice.
- The ASN is where most fines start. Walmart and Target both expect an error-free 856 before the truck arrives.
- KeHE made seven EDI documents mandatory on July 1, 2026, with a $150 fee for any invoice not sent by EDI.
- Walmart's OTIF fine is 3% of cost of goods on cases that miss on-time or in-full goals.
- Plan for carton data. Shopify doesn't produce the carton-level SSCC labels an ASN needs. Your EDI tool or 3PL has to.
Requirements verified October 8, 2026. Retailers publish most rules inside supplier portals, so confirm current terms in your own portal before onboarding.
What is EDI, and does Shopify support it?
EDI (electronic data interchange) is the standard format big retailers use to send purchase orders and receive shipment notices and invoices, computer to computer. If you sell to Walmart, Target, UNFI or KeHE, EDI is not optional.
Shopify does not support EDI natively. Shopify's own enterprise blog recommends placing an EDI platform in front of Shopify. That platform translates retailer documents so the “850, 855, 860, 997, 856, or 810… all simply become single-line updates on the Shopify order record.”
What Shopify does provide is the B2B foundation EDI orders land in. According to Shopify's help center, most B2B features, “including companies, catalogs, net payment terms,” are available on all paid plans, with non-Plus plans capped at three active catalogs. Shopify Plus adds unlimited catalogs, catalog assignment by company, deposits and partial payments.
Sources: Shopify Enterprise blog, B2B EDI (Dec 2024), Shopify B2B plan features.
Which EDI documents do Walmart, Target, UNFI and KeHE require?
All four require the same four core documents: 850, 855, 856 and 810. The differences are in the extras, the timing rules and the fines.
| Doc | What it is | Walmart | Target | UNFI | KeHE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 850 | Purchase order (retailer to you) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (875 for grocery) | ✓ |
| 855 | PO acknowledgment (you to retailer) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (within 48 hours) |
| 856 | Advance ship notice (ASN) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (every shipment) |
| 810 | Invoice | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (880 for grocery) | ✓ |
| 860 | PO change (retailer to you) | Conditional | Conditional | ✓ (876 for grocery) | ✓ |
| 753 | Request for routing (pickup) | Collect freight | — | — | ✓ (pickup only) |
| 812 | Credit/debit adjustment | — | — | — | ✓ |
| 852 | Product activity data | Conditional | Conditional | ✓ | — |
| 824 | Application advice (errors) | ✓ (ASN errors) | — | ✓ | — |
Sources: Walmart's Supplier One ASN FAQ, KeHE's April 2026 supplier notice as quoted by SPS Commerce, and SPS Commerce's supplier guides for Walmart, Target and UNFI. Target doesn't publish its list outside Partners Online, so the Target column reflects EDI provider guides.
On top of the transaction sets, every retailer requires GS1 barcodes: GTINs on products and GS1-128 labels with an SSCC-18 on cartons or pallets.
What are Walmart's EDI requirements?
Walmart requires suppliers to send the 850, 855, 856 and 810, and to transmit a validated ASN before the truck arrives. Walmart's own help docs say the ASN must be “transmitted AND validated (no errors) by Walmart's system BEFORE the physical truck arrives.”
Who needs an ASN: “If you ship to a U.S. mainland Walmart DC or FC, you are in the club,” per Walmart's Supplier One FAQ. Some channels, such as drop ship (DSV), are held to different standards.
Connection: Walmart supports AS2 and its own WebEDI. Its onboarding guide warns that “EDI setup and testing can be costly” and suggests “Walmart-approved Web EDI or lower-cost providers.”
Labels:
- “All palletized or unitized merchandise MUST have a physical pallet-level shipping label.”
- The standard is the “GS1-128 Logistical Label,” and the barcode “must contain the SSCC-18.”
- Items need GTINs from GS1 US.
Walmart's current OTIF (On-Time In-Full) goals:
| Metric | Goal |
|---|---|
| On time (prepaid freight) | 90% of cases arrive on time |
| On time (collect freight) | 98% of cases ready for pickup by the appointment |
| In full | 95%, per merchandise alignment |
| Fine | 3% of cost of goods on noncompliant cases |
ASN fines: under Walmart's Supplier Quality Excellence Program (SQEP), “all of the ASN related defects are a flat fee of $25/PO,” according to SPS Commerce. A late ASN is one sent after the PO arrives at the DC.
Sources: Walmart Supplier One ASN FAQ, Walmart supplier preparation resources, SPS Commerce: Walmart OTIF metrics, SPS Commerce: SQEP.
What are Target's EDI requirements?
Target requires an error-free 856 ASN before the delivery trailer's in-yard date and time, along with the 850, 855 and 810. Target scores suppliers on a compliance program that SupplyPike calls “a credit score for suppliers.”
Target publishes its full policy only inside Partners Online, its vendor portal. Here are the fees reported by SPS Commerce and SupplyPike:
| Metric | Goal | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| ASN availability | 100% | $0.75 per carton, $100 minimum (from May 2025) |
| ASN accuracy (shipment and item) | 100% | $0.75 per carton, $100 minimum (from May 2025) |
| Physical barcode accuracy | 100% | $0.75 per carton, $100 minimum (from May 2025) |
| Fill rate (original order) | 95% | 3% of cost of goods |
| On time (receipt window) | 100% | 3% of cost of goods (down from 5% before August 2024) |
| On-time release and pickup adherence | 100% | 1.5% of cost of goods |
Target's May 3, 2026 policy update added physical casepack accuracy and an item attribute audit at the DC. Fee amounts for those weren't published outside the portal.
Labels: cartons need a scannable GS1-128 barcode with a unique SSCC-18, and items need GS1 GTINs.
Sources: SPS Commerce: 2025 Target compliance changes, SPS Commerce: Target compliance policy (Sep 2026), SupplyPike: Target's compliance program.
What are UNFI's EDI requirements?
UNFI requires electronic purchase orders for all products. SPS Commerce reports that “UNFI mandates that all purchase orders for products are communicated electronically.” The core set is the 850, 855, 856 and 810. UNFI's grocery division uses its own versions: 875 for orders, 876 for changes and 880 for invoices.
SPS Commerce lists UNFI's documents as the 850/875, 855, 860/876, 856, 810/880, 852, 824 and 864, plus the GS1-128 pallet label. Not every supplier needs all of them. The scope depends on the UNFI division and shipping method.
Labels: “UNFI requires GTIN-14 barcodes, typically in GS1-128 or ITF-14 formats.” The pallet label encodes the SSCC, GTIN and lot number.
Chargebacks (from UNFI's supplier policies, as reported by SPS Commerce):
| Issue | Fee |
|---|---|
| Late delivery (over 30 minutes) | $250 |
| No-show | $500 |
| Unscheduled delivery | $300 |
| Rescheduling with under 24 hours' notice | $300 |
| Missing or unreadable barcodes | Up to $500 per PO |
| Missing pallet placards | $30 per pallet |
UNFI also changed its SSA allowance on February 1, 2026. It's now taken as one monthly deduction per region instead of on every invoice.
Sources: SPS Commerce: supplier's guide to EDI at UNFI (Sep 2026), SPS Commerce: UNFI supplier compliance guide.
What are KeHE's EDI requirements?
KeHE requires every supplier to send and receive seven EDI documents as of July 1, 2026. KeHE's April 2026 notice says “all KeHE suppliers must be able to send and receive” them. KeHE sends the 850, 860 and 812. Suppliers send the 855, 753, 856 and 810.
KeHE uses X12 version 5010, and SPS Commerce is its preferred EDI vendor. Suppliers with their own EDI system can keep it, but must complete testing through SPS.
Timing rules:
- 855: “within 48 hours of receiving an EDI 850.”
- 753: “three business days prior to the day the shipment is ready for pickup” (KeHE pickup only).
- 856: required “for each and every shipment.”
- 810: sent only after the 855.
- Truckload deliveries: book an appointment at least seven days before the ship-to-arrive date.
Labels: “eaches require a GTIN-12 (UPC)” and “cases must have an ITF-14 or GS1-128.”
Fees under KeHE's EDI Compliance Program (from July 1, 2026):
| Issue | Fee |
|---|---|
| Noncompliant 856 ASN | 2% of the noncompliant purchase order |
| Invoice not sent by EDI | $150 per invoice |
| On-time delivery below 85% in a quarter | $250 per late shipment |
| Delayed pickup | $75 per hour, max $400 |
| Case barcode compliance below 95% | 3% |
Disputes must be filed within 180 days.
Sources: SPS Commerce: KeHE EDI requirements (Apr 2026), SPS Commerce: Ready to ship at KeHE (Jul 2026), SPS Commerce: Common KeHE deductions (May 2026), SPS Commerce: KeHE supplier site.
How does an EDI order flow through Shopify?
An EDI provider turns each retailer document into a Shopify order update, and each Shopify fulfillment into a document back. Here's the flow:
| Step | Document | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Retailer orders | 850 in | The EDI platform creates a Shopify order, mapping the retailer's item codes to your SKUs |
| 2. You confirm | 855 out | Acknowledgment sent back, accepting or changing quantities and dates |
| 3. Retailer changes the order | 860 in | Order updated in Shopify |
| 4. You pack and ship | 856 out | ASN sent with cartons, SSCC-18 labels and tracking |
| 5. You bill | 810 out | Invoice generated to match the PO terms |
| 6. Retailer adjusts | 812 / 820 in | Credits, deductions and remittance recorded |
The gap most brands miss. Shopify records that an order shipped, but not what's in each carton. “Carton-level identifiers are not something Shopify produces,” as Endless Commerce puts it. The ASN needs carton contents and SSCC numbers, so they have to come from your EDI tool's packing feature, your 3PL or your warehouse system.
Two more setup rules that apply on every platform:
- Every variant needs a unique SKU. TrueCommerce requires this for its Shopify connection. Retailers order by item code, so duplicates break the mapping.
- Retailer item codes need a crosswalk. Each retailer has its own item number. Your EDI platform maps those to your Shopify SKUs and GTINs.
Which EDI providers work with Shopify?
The main options are SPS Commerce, TrueCommerce, Crstl and Orderful. Each says it supports Walmart and Target. Support for UNFI and KeHE varies, so confirm before you sign.
| Provider | Shopify connection | Walmart / Target / UNFI / KeHE | Model | Published pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPS Commerce | Shopify App Store app | All four. KeHE's preferred vendor | Full service | Contact for pricing |
| TrueCommerce | Shopify App Store app | Walmart, Target, UNFI; KeHE via SPS testing | Managed implementation | Not published |
| Crstl | Shopify App Store app | All four named | Full service and API | From $149/month, no document fees |
| Orderful | Integration (no App Store app) | All four named | API and Web EDI | Web EDI $189/month per partner; integrated from $399/month |
| Zenbridge | API integration | Walmart, Target | API platform | From $450/month (3 partners) |
Pricing and retailer support are as published by each provider in October 2026. TrueCommerce now includes DiCentral and B2BGateway, which it acquired.
How to choose:
- One or two retailers, small volume: a self-serve or Web EDI option keeps costs predictable.
- KeHE in your plans: SPS is the preferred vendor, and every supplier tests through SPS anyway.
- An ERP already in place (NetSuite, Business Central): connect EDI to the ERP and let the ERP sync with Shopify, so inventory and invoices have one source.
How much does EDI for Shopify cost?
Expect anywhere from about $150 a month for a single-retailer setup to $1,000 to $5,000 a month for a multi-retailer operation. Most published cost ranges come from EDI vendors, so treat them as directional:
| Setup | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Self-service Shopify EDI apps | $50 to $200/month | Crstl |
| Managed EDI platforms | $300 to $1,000+/month | Crstl |
| Cloud EDI, per trading partner | About $189/month | Orderful |
| Small to mid-sized operations | $1,000 to $5,000/month | Orderful |
| Legacy provider setup | $1,000 to $5,000 per partner | Orderful |
| Custom builds | $5,000 to $50,000+ upfront | Crstl |
The bigger cost is usually chargebacks, not software. A KeHE supplier that sends invoices by email instead of EDI pays $150 each time. A Walmart supplier that misses OTIF pays 3% of cost of goods on the affected cases.
Sources: Orderful EDI pricing guide (updated Sep 2026), Crstl: Shopify EDI integration.
How do you set up Shopify for retail EDI?
Work through these steps before your first retail PO arrives:
- Get GS1 barcodes. License a GS1 US company prefix. Assign GTIN-12 (UPC) to each item and GTIN-14 or ITF-14 to cases.
- Clean your SKUs. One unique SKU per variant, matched to its GTIN, case pack and dimensions.
- Set up Shopify B2B. Create a company profile for each retailer, with its own catalog, pricing and payment terms. Available on all paid plans, with three active catalogs below Plus.
- Decide your system of record. Shopify alone, or an ERP that holds inventory and invoicing. EDI should connect to whichever one owns the numbers.
- Pick an EDI provider that supports every retailer on your roadmap, not just the first one.
- Solve carton data. Confirm your 3PL or EDI tool can pack, print GS1-128 labels with SSCC-18 and feed carton contents into the 856.
- Test with each retailer. Every retailer runs its own testing before go-live. KeHE requires testing through SPS.
- Read the routing guide. Delivery windows, appointment rules and pallet standards live in each retailer's portal: Retail Link and Supplier One (Walmart), Partners Online (Target), myUNFI and the UNFI supplier portal (UNFI), and KeHE CONNECT Supplier (KeHE).
Food brands: the FDA's food traceability rule (FSMA 204) compliance date is July 20, 2028. Retailers are already adding traceability data elements to ASN and label requirements, so check yours.
What causes the most EDI chargebacks?
Most chargebacks trace back to five mistakes:
| Mistake | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Late or missing ASN | The 856 is sent after the truck arrives | Trigger the ASN at carton close, not at invoice |
| ASN doesn't match the shipment | Cartons were repacked after the ASN went out | Generate the ASN from the final packing data |
| Bad or missing labels | SSCC on the label doesn't match the ASN | Print labels and the ASN from the same system |
| Invoice outside EDI | Emailed or mailed instead of an 810 | Route every retail invoice through EDI |
| Short shipments | Inventory in Shopify doesn't match the warehouse | Sync inventory from one system of record |
Who can connect Shopify to retail EDI for you?
Solo Media Group is a Shopify Platinum Partner that has completed 500+ merchant projects, rated 4.9 on Clutch from 48 reviews. We build Shopify stores for CPG and food and beverage brands that sell direct and through retail, including the B2B setup, ERP, 3PL and EDI provider integrations that keep both channels running.
We led the Shopify POS implementation for Renard's Cheese, a fourth-generation Wisconsin cheesemaker. It consolidated four disconnected systems across retail, bistro, online and content into one Shopify platform, according to Shopify's case study.
- Shopify agency for CPG brands
- Shopify agency for food and beverage brands
- ERP, PIM, CRM and WMS integrations
- Shopify B2B development
Not sure how DTC and retail should share one store? Read CPG vs DTC: what the difference means for how you build the store.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify support EDI?
Not natively. Shopify connects to retailer EDI through a third-party provider such as SPS Commerce, TrueCommerce, Crstl or Orderful.
Do I need EDI to sell to Walmart?
Yes, for suppliers shipping to Walmart's US DCs and FCs. You need at least the 850, 855, 856 and 810, plus GS1-128 pallet labels with SSCC-18.
What EDI documents does KeHE require?
Seven, from July 1, 2026: KeHE sends the 850, 860 and 812, and suppliers send the 855, 753, 856 and 810.
What is an 856 ASN?
An advance ship notice. It tells the retailer what's in each carton or pallet before the shipment arrives. Late or inaccurate ASNs are the most common source of EDI fines.
Which EDI provider is best for Shopify?
SPS Commerce has the widest retail network and is KeHE's preferred vendor. Crstl is a lower-cost option from $149/month. Orderful suits brands that want API-first EDI.
Can I use Shopify Basic for wholesale EDI orders?
Yes. Shopify B2B features, including companies, catalogs and net payment terms, are on all paid plans, with up to three active catalogs below Plus. Plus adds unlimited catalogs, direct catalog assignment, deposits and partial payments.
Last updated: October 8, 2026. Retailer requirements change often. Confirm current rules in each retailer's supplier portal.
