Five top EDI documents to integrate and automate
AT A GLANCE Master key EDI documents like purchase orders, invoices and ASNs. Discover how automating EDI workflows reduces manual work and errors. Learn how integration speeds up order-to-cash processes. Understand how full-service EDI supports scalability and...
Four Painful SAP EDI Problems You Can Overcome with Full-Service EDI
Far too many SAP EDI solutions fall short, leading to wasted resources and lost opportunities. But with the right SAP EDI solution, you can avoid these problems altogether. Osborn, LLC is a leading supplier of industrial brushes. The company faced several challenges...
Improve the order-to-cash process to speed up payments
What is the order-to-cash process? The order-to-cash process involves all the steps that start from when a customer places an order to when you get paid for an invoice. Automating the order-to-cash process is essential for ensuring accuracy and an efficient order...
Three Ways Fulfillment for NetSuite Helps Optimize Picking, Packing and Shipping
Every retailer has specific rules, requirements and preferences for packing shipments. What’s more, retailers have different packing requirements for different types of goods, such as apparel or perishables. These requirements include how many units can be packed per...
How EDI Shipping Can Declutter Your Day
As the pace of retail quickens, so does the need to have better visibility to products and shipments in transit. This is what makes EDI and transportation a perfect match. When suppliers (aka shippers) and carriers want to know answers to the following questions, EDI...
The SPS Commerce Holiday Readiness Guide
The holiday season can be a busy, hectic time for businesses of all sizes. Increased channel traffic, order spikes and your partners’ downstream challenges can be especially difficult to manage. But, by selecting the right mix of solutions to help you stay ahead of...
Change Management: 5 Keys to Streamlining Your Cloud Migration
Moving from an on-premise ERP system to a cloud solution offers a wealth of benefits ranging from cost savings to system flexibility. But replacing the software central to your business can be risky without the right safeguards and partnerships. Migrating your...
Best Practices to Drive Sell-Through
Sell-through compares the amount of inventory a retailer receives with what’s actually sold to the consumer–and it’s more important than ever. Finding the gaps between supply and demand can help uncover insights that boost sales. Improving sell-through can be...
Order-To-Invoice EDI for SAP: A New Standard
AT A GLANCE Explore how EDI enhances SAP workflow automation. Find out benefits like faster processing and fewer errors. See how it improves cash flow and customer satisfaction. Delve into SPS Commerce as an SAP EDI integration leader. A common refrain at SPS Commerce...
Optimizing The Retail Special Order System
When we normally talk about retail networks and order fulfillment, we usually think of consumer-based retail stores like Target and Best Buy. But there’s a whole other world within retail: the world of distributors.
Specifically, I’m talking about companies like Fastenal and Grainger, as well as NAPA and Auto Zone. If you’re not in the trades, you’re probably not familiar with them. These are the “stores” (they’re actually called branches) the contractors and auto mechanics go to for tools and parts. Rather than going to the hardware store, a contractor can call a distributor to order the specific new hammer drill or sump pump needed for their worksite or job.
QuickBooks EDI Solutions from SPS – Integrated Fulfillment for Intuit QuickBooks Online
Introducing the SPS Commerce connection to QuickBooks Online, an automated, integrated solution that helps your organization sell more product, track inventory and measure expenses, while turning data into actionable insights. See the SPS Commerce listing in the...
Faster, more efficient order fulfillment with EDI for UPS, FedEx, USPS and other popular carriers
Meeting customers’ expectations for fast and flawless order fulfillment isn’t easy, especially when managing drop-ship orders. As part of SPS Commerce Fulfillment, a full-service EDI solution, Carrier Service can help businesses satisfy retail or eCommerce customers...
How to Prepare for Drop Shipping vs. Order Fulfillment From a Warehouse
AT A GLANCE Explore differences between drop ship and warehouse models. Find out cost and speed considerations for e-commerce. See how hybrid strategies improve customer experience. Delve into SPS solutions as adaptable for both models. Are you a supplier that needs...
Considerations for EDI & ERP Integration
As organizations modernize their IT infrastructure, they often want to integrate their order information with their system of record (ERP system). How can companies connect these two parts of their business without manual work? Fortunately, EDI ERP integration can...
A Simple Guide to Understanding the GS1-128 Barcode Label
AT A GLANCE Explore what GS1-128 barcode labels are and why they are essential in logistics. Find out how these labels enhance product identification and regulatory compliance. See how GS1-128 improves shipping accuracy and warehouse efficiency. Discover best...
How to Choose an EDI Provider
Whether you are new to EDI or re-evaluating legacy systems, choosing an EDI provider can be a challenge. But finding the best fit for your business while navigating the confusing jargon has never been more important. Armed with the right information, you can find an...
EDI 214: How to Improve Shipping Using the Transportation Carrier Shipment Status Message
In today’s retail environment, shippers have no choice but to keep up with rising standards for fast delivery. As a result, visibility into shipment status is more important than ever. The EDI 214 (Transportation Carrier Shipment Status Message) is a key piece of the...
Purchase Order Changes (EDI 860): What are the Benefits for Buyers and Sellers?
The Purchase Order Change is a fundamental EDI document for improving inventory management, supply chain efficiency and financial accuracy. The Purchase Order Change is commonly known as the EDI 860. This document ensures that a final order is correct. It also helps...
How to Maximize the Advantages of Cross-Docking for Warehouse Efficiency
Receiving shipments from suppliers and moving inventory to individual stores is complex and costly. If you’re looking to optimize labor costs, maximize space utilization, leverage existing technologies, and reduce transportation costs, cross-docking is a great option....
Help Consumers Find Your Product with a Catalog Management System
When consumers shop, they need product details to find the item from their searches and to give them the confidence to choose one product over another. Product details provide the attributes that consumers look for in store and search for online. They can’t find or...
What is a 3PL Provider and How to Select One?
No matter how complex the need, there are three basic capabilities that sum up what suppliers need to get out of a 3PL: expertise, capacity and technology.
EDI 852: Important Fundamentals of the Product Activity Report
For success in retail, it’s important to know how much inventory you have, how much you've sold and what products to bring forward next. This information can help you manage marketing dollars, improve sell-through, avoid overstocks and sidestep stockouts. The EDI 852...
7 Important Questions and Helpful Answers About GDSN Data Synchronization
High-quality product data is critical for any business that buys or sells products. Many companies we talk to want more information about product data standards, such as GDSN data synchronization. We recently sat down with product manager Scott Williams to discuss...
Ask The Right Questions: Outsourced Vs In-house Vendor Portals
Web-based vendor portals are popular in Australia, particularly in the grocery sector. Retailers have told us that they are an easy way to ensure all suppliers or vendors are onboarded for electronic exchange of orders, invoices, and shipping documents (ASNs), giving...
EDI 846: 5 Reasons to Adopt the Inventory Inquiry/Advice
The EDI 846 Inventory Inquiry/Advice has become an essential EDI document due to growth in drop-shipping and eCommerce. This EDI document is foundational for organizations that want to expand into omnichannel retailing, which requires up-to-date inventory information....
Using the EDI 945 to Deliver Shipment Details
There are many ways third-party logistics providers (3PLs) communicate shipment details to their customers. The list includes emails, phone calls, texts and even faxes. Most 3PLs find these methods outdated and use the EDI 945 Warehouse Shipment Advice instead. It is...
The Most Eco-Friendly Shoppers in the U.S.
Social responsibility is of increasing importance to consumers. This made the research team at SPS Commerce wonder, what U.S. cities are the most eco-conscious and which eco-friendly products are trending? Thanks to Google, we can compare consumer demand data for the...
What is the EDI 940?
As a third-party logistics provider (3PL), you’ve likely been in conversations about customers using or requiring the EDI 940. But what is it? And why do you need it? In its most basic form, it is an electronic version of an order from your customer. In fact, whenever...
5 Secrets to a Successful ERP Implementation
This time of year, businesses often consider deploying new systems — including enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Considering a new ERP implementation? These 5 strategies will help everything run smoothly within your company and with your customers: Plan for...
How Purchase Order Acknowledgements Can Transform Your Supply Chain
AT A GLANCE Uncover purchase order acknowledgments and their role in retail. Learn how automation reduces manual confirmation errors. Examine improved supplier-retailer communication. Master how EDI accelerates order-to-fulfillment cycles. With the growth of eCommerce...
The Power of Netflix on Consumer Behavior
AT A GLANCE Examine how consumer shopping habits have shifted post-pandemic. Gain insight into trends like omnichannel, personalization, and fast delivery. Connect behavioral insights to data-driven inventory management. Explore why agile supply chains are essential...
Be Ready All Stages of Business Growth with EDI, Xero & SPS
The No Nasties Project was founded a little over two years ago. Today, the supplier has sold more than 30 million Sugar Free-zies stix across Australia. No Nasties evolved from a start-up in 2018 to a nationally recognized brand by 2020. Their staff know how the...
A Guide to eCommerce Fulfillment for Retailers & Distributors
According to a recent study, 63 percent of consumers expect to continue to do more online shopping, even after the pandemic. The acceleration of eCommerce also has massive implications for how retailers and distributors fulfill orders. Yet fulfilling eCommerce orders...
Looking for an EDI developer? Think about full-service EDI instead
It’s no secret that technology talent is hard to come by these days, and an EDI developer is no exception. EDI developers are a rare breed with specialized and broad skills that make them especially difficult to find, such as: Implementing and monitoring EDI systems,...
EDI Software for the Undecided
Whether you’re new to EDI software or a veteran, choosing the right solution is a big decision. Perhaps you’re asking, “what should I look for in EDI software?” or “what’s involved with a new EDI software implementation?” Let’s explore some fundamental questions about...
Replacing inventory with information
Inventory information can be the lifeline or the death rattle of companies in the retail ecosystem. Companies – regardless of size – need to balance inventory with meeting customers’ needs (whether your customer is an actual shopper, a retailer, or a manufacturer)....
How to Manage Increased Drop-Ship Demand at Scale with SPS and NetSuite
Are you new to the drop ship order process? Has the pandemic replaced many of your bulk orders with drop-ship ones? Or, maybe you’ve dabbled in drop ship, but now you’re seeing your drop-ship orders skyrocket? If so, you’re definitely not alone. Every segment of...
SPS Commerce encourages Girl Scouts to “Think Like a Programmer”
It’s no surprise that young girls often associate math and science with boys, as only 24% of women make up the STEM workforce. Events like “Think Like a Programmer” are helping to break down those barriers. “Think Like a Programmer” is a full-day event for Girl...
How to Implement Just-in-Time Inventory
Evolve Your Business to Just-in-Time Inventory Inventory management within your supply chain often includes a complicated web of data being managed through multiple systems. High cost, inefficient inventory, and distribution management practices are unfortunately...
Why EDI Integration That’s Built for Oracle NetSuite Certified Matters
When you’re a small to mid-sized company, new orders and new customers are the lifeblood of your business. But as your order volume grows, so does the complexity of your supply chain. If your company is going through a transition like this, automating your...
How to excel at eCommerce order fulfillment
It’s no surprise that eCommerce order fulfillment is capturing headlines and mindshare. On-time shipments, BOPIS/BORIS options, and recognizable packaging can make or break a consumer’s shopping experience. If done right, they’ll return. If not, forget about a repeat...
Streamlining Item Data Management
Streamlining item data management is not only achievable, it’s quite helpful for retailers, vendors and even the consumer. Find out more in this podcast.
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Seven elements of full-service EDI [Infographic]
AT A GLANCE Explore key elements including managed services and compliance. Find out how full-service EDI reduces manual errors. See how automation accelerates partner onboarding. Delve into scalability benefits for growing businesses. If you’re looking for an EDI...
How EDI Integration for SAP works with a full-service approach
EDI Integration for SAP supports fast, efficient and accurate communication with trading partners, as well as helps to streamlines processes across the various systems within an organization. But as we discussed in our previous post, not just any SAP EDI integration...
Technology: Table stakes for your EDI solution
When looking for an EDI solution or EDI platform, most companies start by evaluating the provider’s technology. This is an essential first step in ensuring the solution can meet your business requirements and those of your trading partners. If you’re wondering how to...
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Evaluating Your EDI Options: 7 Building Blocks of Full-Service EDI [White Paper]
Whether you’re new to EDI or an EDI veteran, the countless cloud type of EDI offerings available in the market today probably all sound the same. A Google search for “EDI providers” leads to over 8 million results! Although the multitude of EDI services may sound...
SPS Commerce heading west for IN>LA18
If you’ve been following along with the blog over the past few months, you know that SPS Commerce has been hosting networking events from coast-to-coast. Our final occurrence in the series, SPS Commerce IN>LA18, is next week. Join us on Thursday, November 8, 2018,...
The true costs of inefficient supplier and vendor onboarding
We’ve mentioned previously how the typical process for onboarding a new supplier to your systems can take weeks, if not a few months, for some retailers. Though it simply sounds like a long, annoying process, it’s a bigger issue than that. A months-long vendor...
EDI 894: Primer on the Delivery/Return Base Record
There are a variety of ways to get products from a supplier’s warehouse to a retailer’s store. A popular model is to have products delivered to a distribution center, and then ship the items to individual stores from there. However, when you’re not quite big enough to...
The EDI solution that can Integrate with any system
AT A GLANCE Discover benefits of integrating EDI with ERP systems. Learn how automation reduces manual data entry. Understand improved speed and partner compliance. Gain insight into integrated EDI as a future-ready solution. As the retail supply chain strives to be a...
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