Jacqueline Nance

on: AI in your day-to-day work

We're seeing AI show up like an extra set of hands/eyes.It can help sort through (and flag) retailer emails, summarize long routing-guide updates, clean up product data, and (maybe, most importantly) surface patterns that would otherwise get buried in spreadsheets.The biggest benefit right now seems to be that it helps people spend less time chasing information and more time making decisions. But it still needs human oversight. AI can identify that something looks off, but it can't always understand the nuance behind a retailer requirement or a fulfillment decision.

on: When does it make sense to drop a retailer?

This is a difficult position and there is rarely one clear-cut answer. A retail account may appear profitable based on revenue and margin, while still creating operational strain through chargebacks, frequent spec changes, and a ton of manual work.Rather than viewing the decision as simply “keep the account or walk away,” it can be helpful to evaluate the total cost to serve. That includes not only deductions and freight costs, but also the time required to manage exceptions, resolve disputes, update processes, and protect service levels.SPS Commerce has a helpful resource on evaluating the operational impact of deductions and chargebacks: Revenue Recovery Metrics. It outlines metrics that can help teams understand where revenue and capacity may be leaking.

on: ASN timing

If you receive a late ASN chargeback, it's worth reviewing the full transaction trail: when the 856 was created, when it was transmitted, when Walmart received it, and whether an acknowledgment or other receipt confirmation was returned. Those timestamps help determine whether the issue was a timing problem, a transmission issue, or a mismatch in the shipment details.Walmart’s requirements vary by program and routing guide, so the most reliable resource is the current guidance tied to your specific supplier agreement. This article may also help provide context on how ASN timing and chargebacks are typically evaluated: How to Avoid Walmart ASN Chargebacks. Wishing you success with this!

on: Supply Chain Disruptions

I may be biased, but I think one of the best long-term outcomes was that resilience finally became just as important as cost.Many organizations now think beyond finding the lowest-cost option. They're building flexibility into their supplier networks, improving visibility, and planning for disruptions instead of assuming everything will go according to plan.

on: Target Defectives v. Damages

In general, these represent different business events, so they shouldn't automatically result in a duplicate deduction.Store defectives/returns (such as A004 Allowance - Defective) are typically tied to products that become unsaleable after it reaches the store or is returned. These are often aggregated store-level charges rather than shipment-specific deductions.Receiving damages or shortages are usually associated with what happened when the distribution center received the shipment. Those are documented as receiving discrepancies and are processed under different deduction codes.That said, if you believe the same units were charged as both a receiving damage/shortage and later as a defective allowance, it's definitely worth investigating. Compare the timing, item numbers, quantities, and any supporting documentation to determine whether the deductions are tied to separate events or if there's an overlap.As for reporting, Partners Online does provide visibility into deductions and dispute details through Synergy, but there isn't really a single report that cleanly combines all defectives and damages into one view. Many suppliers use the deduction detail reports in Partners Online to reconcile these charges and identify potential duplicates before disputing.

on: ASN timing

If you receive a late ASN chargeback, it's worth reviewing the full transaction trail: when the 856 was created, when it was transmitted, when Walmart received it, and whether an acknowledgment or other receipt confirmation was returned. Those timestamps help determine whether the issue was a timing problem, a transmission issue, or a mismatch in the shipment details.Walmart’s requirements vary by program and routing guide, so the most reliable resource is the current guidance tied to your specific supplier agreement. This article may also help provide context on how ASN timing and chargebacks are typically evaluated: How to Avoid Walmart ASN Chargebacks. Wishing you success with this!