EDI 940 - Warehouse Shipping Order

What is the EDI 940? The EDI 940, also known as the Warehouse Shipping Order, is sent by a supplier or manufacturer to a warehouse or fulfillment center to request the shipment of goods to a customer or retailer. The EDI 940 gives instructions to ship specific products or cartons to one or more locations.

EDI Documents

EDI 940 format

The EDI 940 serves a crucial role in the ordering and distribution process. This document contains detailed instructions on what items need to be shipped, the quantities of each item, where the items should be shipped (ship-to address) and when the shipment should occur.

The EDI 940 format by SPS Commerce

The core elements of an EDI 940 typically include:

REF: Purchase order number

A unique identifier for the order.

N1: Ship-to-address

The destination address where the goods are to be shipped.

W01: Warehouse order details

Information about the products included in the shipment, such as quantity, item identification number and expected shipping date.

PER: Receiver contact information

Contact details of the person or department receiving the shipment.

NTE: Shipping instructions

Any special instructions regarding how the shipment should be handled or delivered.

W66: Special equipment requirements

Details on any special equipment needed for the shipment.

How is the EDI 940 used?

The EDI 940 is critical in facilitating smooth and efficient communication between companies and their warehouses or fulfillment centers, contributing to a more effective and responsive supply chain.

Here’s how it typically works:

1. Order placement and EDI 940 generation:
When an order is processed in the seller’s system, a warehouse or fulfillment center is automatically assigned to the order based on inventory levels and item location. The seller then generates an EDI 940 document for the order, which includes the items that need to be shipped, quantities, delivery location and instructions and date of shipment.
2. The EDI 940 is sent to the warehouse:
The EDI 940 is electronically sent to the designated warehouse or fulfillment center. This is done through an EDI network between the seller and warehouse systems. The process is automated, ensuring quick and error-free transmission of data.
3. The warehouse processes the order:
Upon receiving the EDI 940, the warehouse management system (WMS) automatically processes the shipping order. Warehouse staff are directed to pick the specified items from the inventory, pack them according to the instructions, and prepare them for shipment.
4. Order shipment and confirmation:
After the order is packed, the warehouse arranges for the shipment of the goods to the specified destination. This may involve coordinating with third-party carriers or using the warehouse’s shipping capabilities. Once the order is shipped, the warehouse may send back an EDI 945, Warehouse Shipping Advice, to the buyer. This confirms that the order has been shipped and provides tracking information.

Benefits of using an EDI 940 Warehouse Shipping Order

Both the sender and the receiver benefit from implementing the EDI Warehouse Shipping Order. Many of these benefits are dependent on how automated and integrated the transaction is for both parties.

Some of the benefits of the EDI 940 include:

The use of the EDI 940 offers several benefits:

Efficiency:

Automating the order-to-shipment process reduces manual intervention, speeding up the order fulfillment process and reducing the risk of errors.

Visibility:

The buyer can track the status of their order in real-time, from the moment the EDI 940 is sent to when the goods are shipped, enhancing supply chain visibility.

Accuracy:

Electronic transmission of detailed order information ensures that the warehouse receives clear and precise instructions, reducing the risk of shipping errors.

Cost reduction:

By streamlining the order and shipment process, companies can reduce administrative costs and potentially lower shipping costs through more accurate and efficient operations.

What happens if you’re not using the EDI 940?

Many suppliers use third-party warehouses or third-party logistics firms to process shipments and maintain inventory on their behalf. The EDI 940 Warehouse Shipping Order is one of two primary transaction sets designed for EDI communications with remote warehouses.

Without using the EDI 940, suppliers and their 3PL partners rely on email, faxes, phone calls, spreadsheets or other manual methods to send and receive warehouse orders. This is more time-consuming than EDI automation and creates the potential for delays and data-entry errors.

Automate Warehouse Shipping Orders with Full-Service EDI from SPS Commerce

A full-service provider, like SPS Commerce, has an expert team that handles ongoing management of your EDI solution so you can prevent EDI errors and chargebacks.

SPS communicates directly with your trading partners to manage connectivity, setup, requirements, updates and support efforts. Our team takes ownership of understanding your trading partner requirements and making map changes. We actively manage 9,000 changes from retailers each year.

Our full-service team also proactively monitors and optimizes your solution to minimize keystrokes and data entry. Interested in learning more about our EDI solution?

Additional EDI Resources

Enter a virtual library of information about EDI for suppliers, vendors and distributors to provide you with the product knowledge you need to power your business.

Ultimate List of EDI Transactions

Here are some of the most common documents and transactions that are supported through EDI automation.

See the Ultimate List

Five Top EDI Documents to Automate

When you automate your most-used EDI documents, it can significantly cut down keystrokes and speed up processes.

Give Me Five

EDI Glossary

Terminology including retail definitions, order management models, supply chain roles, software and distribution channels.

What’s the Word

EDI for Suppliers & Vendors

Discover how leading vendor and supplier businesses are serving their customers better with EDI solutions from SPS Commerce.

EDI for Suppliers & Vendors