Tag Archive for: EDI Software


Many different processes take place in the warehouse every day, whether it’s a regular or 3PL warehouse. All of them must be carried out quickly and accurately. In this article, we will look at the importance of using EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) especially, an electronic document – EDI 945 Warehouse Shipping Advice associated with shipment of goods. Let’s figure out who and when to use EDI 945, what information a Warehouse Shipping Advice contains, 945 EDI specifications, benefits of using this EDI document, and much more.

What is EDI 945 transaction?

The Warehouse Shipping Advice Transaction Set (EDI 945) is an electronic data interchange (EDI) document. EDI 945 is usually used by 3PL warehouse/ remote warehouse or third-party logistics company, to notify its client (depositor) that a shipment has been made. It is used to match order quantities with shipment quantities.

945 EDI document type

EDI X12 945 Warehouse Shipping Advice Transaction Set is a document base on the X12 standard. X12 is a non-profit, ANSI-accredited standards development organization for cross-business transactions that support electronic data interchange in North America.

Each set of EDI transactions is supported by a subcommittee working within the X12 Accredited Standards Committee. EDI 945 falls under X12M – Supply Chain Subcommittee.

How is EDI 945 – Warehouse Shipping Advice used?

When a supplier/depositor (for example, a manufacturer or a wholesaler) needs to ship goods from the warehouse, he sends his 3PL warehouse an EDI document 940 Warehouse Shipping Order. EDI 940 contains all the necessary information regarding the goods required for shipment (description and quantity of goods, delivery date, recipient information, etc.) as well as shipping instructions.

Useful Reading: What is EDI 940 Warehouse Shipping Order?

The warehouse, having received the EDI 940, makes the shipment of the order and returns the EDI 945 immediately after the parcel has left the warehouse.

EDI 945 transfers detailed information about the merchandise shipped and the detail of the delivery.

Based on transaction EDI 945, the supplier can generate EDI 856 Advance Ship Notice as needed to notify its customer of an upcoming delivery.

What is the shipping process in a warehouse?

Shipment is the process of preparing and sending goods to the designated location. The shipping procedure at the warehouse is carried out according to predetermined rules. Each company develops shipping regulations independently, taking into account the characteristics and specifics of the goods and warehouse space.

The procedure for shipping goods from the warehouse/ 3PL warehouse can include many stages:

  • processing of the depositor’s order (for example, entering data into the warehouse system);
  • checking the availability of goods in the warehouse;
  • receiving a picking list;
  • selection of the necessary goods from the storage place;
  • moving to the picking area;
  • packaging and labeling in containers/pallets;
  • loading of transport;
  • Preparation and entry into the warehouse system of the relevant information.
EDI- Price

The main task of the warehouse manager is to organize efficient work, which will ensure fast processing of orders since all shipments must be carried out on time.

Automation of warehouse processes, for example, the use of EDI can significantly improve the quality and speed of shipment of goods.

Workflow to Exchange Warehouse Shipping Advice (EDI 945)

Let’s take a closer look at the process of shipment of goods from a third-party warehouse and analyze what other EDI documents are involved in the logistics process. Of course, keep in mind that the process below may reflect only one of the possible options. Each company can establish its own business process with a third-party warehouse, which depends on the type of the company’s activity, type of product, etc.

In the figure below you can see that usually the process in which EDI 945 is involved consists of at least three participants:

– Customer (it could be a retail outlet)

– Supplier (who is a client of the 3PL warehouse, or a depositor)

– 3PL Warehouse / or 3 PL logistics company.

1. The business flow begins with a Purchase Order – EDI 850 which is sent by the customer to the supplier.

2. The supplier responds to the customer with the EDI 855 PO Acknowledgement

3. The supplier sends the Warehouse Shipping Order (EDI 940) to the 3 PL warehouse

4. 3PL Warehouse process a Shipping Order and sends the goods to the supplier’s customer by the address specified in EDI 940.

5. Immediately after dispatch, the warehouse transfers the EDI 945 to the supplier.

6. Based on EDI 945, the supplier generates an Advance Ship Notice (EDI 856) and transfers it to his client.

7. The supplier sends the customer an EDI invoice 810

So, as you saw from the EDI workflow, 945 Warehouse Shipping Advice – is the main document, which confirms the fact of shipment of goods. It is used by many companies operating in wholesale and retail, including online stores.

Useful Reading: EDI Integration for Transportation and Logistics

What information does EDI 945 contain?

EDI document Warehouse Shipping Advice contains accurate and detailed information about the item shipped from the warehouse. Thus, EDI 945 includes the following information:

  • Information about the depositor, warehouse, and place of delivery (addresses, contacts).
  • Details of the carrier and the method of delivery of the goods.
  • Information about the product – cost, product name, SKUs, etc.
  • The number of goods shipped.
  • Complete order detail of the original order (EDI 940)
  • Date and time of shipment from the warehouse.
  • Transportation method

EDI 945 Warehouse Shipping Advice Structure

Like any other EDI document, EDI 945 transaction set has a precise structure and sequence of elements.

  • ISA – Interchange Control Header
  • GS – Functional Group Header
  • ST – Transaction Set Header
  • W06 – Warehouse Shipment Identification (numbers, dates, and other basic data)
  • 0100 – Loop Name (to identify a party by type of organization, name, and code)
  • N1 – Name
  • N9 – Reference Identification
  • G62 – Date/Time
  • W27 – Carrier Detail
  • W10 – Warehouse Additional Carrier Information
  • 0300 – Loop Assigned Number
  • LX – Assigned Number
  • MAN – Marks and Numbers
  • PAL – Pallet Information
  • 0310 – Loop Warehouse Item Detail
  • W12 – Warehouse Item Detail
  • N9 – Reference Identification
  • W03 – Total Shipment Information
  • SE – Transaction Set Trailer 
  • GE – Functional Group Trailer
  • IEA – Interchange Control Trailer

Benefits of using EDI 945 in Warehouses/ 3PL warehouses and Logistics

The use of EDI 945 in a 3 PL warehouses or 3 PL logistics company, allows you to get significant competitive advantages due to:

  • increasing the speed and accuracy of logistics operations;
  • reducing the cost of manual processing of documents;
  • reducing the risks of losses and information inaccuracies;
  • Increasing the speed of order processing due to receiving timely, fast, and accurate information.

Thus, automation of warehouse processes through the use of EDI document such as EDI 945, significantly improves the quality of 3PL warehouse processes.

Automate Warehouse Shipping Advice with EDI2XML Web Service

We have a ready-made EDI solution for the exchange of electronic documents in the X12 and EDIFACT standards. It is a unique HTTP service running over the internet that is capable of receiving HTTP requests to translate EDI messages to XML, and XML to EDI.

Try all the possibilities of the EDI2XML Web Service for free. We offer a 15 days free trial.

Contact us for a free consultation and find out how within an hour you can start exchanging electronic documents such as EDI 945 and many others with your trading partner.

EDI in transportation and 3PL

You may also be interested in reading about:
– Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in the Supply Chain
– How EDI can speed the receiving of goods in a warehouse
– EDI for Third-Party Logistics providers (3PL)
– DELFOR, DELJIT, DESADV – key EDI messages in supply chain management for manufacturing

 

This post was updated to reflect current trends and information.


More and more questions related to EDI software, systems integration, EDI, best EDI software are being raised every day by our contacts and clients. I decided to tackle those questions in this post, hoping it will help consultants, as well as companies looking for the most suitable EDI software solution.

Automation via EDI software

It does not matter which industry a company is part of be it sales, manufacturing, or service delivery at some point, every company seeks to automate its internal processes, increase efficiency and eliminate human errors.

A very common situation is the automation in e-commerce, namely – online eCommerce stores. Typically, there are several people who will work on order processing, after an order is keyed-in and entered by the consumer:

  • Operators who manually transferred orders received from the e-commerce site to the internal system.
  • A warehouse worker who will ship orders.

In an environment where EDI is implemented in such a company, and systems eCommerce and on-Premises systems are directly integrated, the need for operators to enter orders, disappears as the order is automatically transferred to the internal system of a company.

As a result, the persons in charge of shipping orders can prepare the goods for dispatch without the help of operators. So, operators are not needed at all.

The company saves money by reducing staff, eliminating errors due to human factors, moreover, the company will be able to quickly ship and deliver orders in a short window of time, which improves greatly its customer service experience.

With the growth of the business, a new need arises – the necessity for interaction between various business partners who use different systems. Nowadays many companies have realized that EDI (Electronic data interchange) along with integration of its business applications, helps enterprises and qualitatively changes the work of employees.

Grow your potential with EDI web service solution

Today, there are many EDI software solutions in the market that allows you to trade electronically with your business partners. Before making a decision and choosing an EDI software, you should pay attention to:

  • the possibility of modernization and scaling
  • the simplicity of EDI implementation
  • ability to send and receive a variety of EDI documents
  • ease of use and feature-rich
  • ability to integrate with other solutions

one important trend in the tech industry today that is very popular, is the use of web services. It is a trend as a technology and as a business methodology.

If you what to know more about web services technology read our article: Seamless EDI implementation through Web Services

Our unique EDI software includes a combination of EDI2XML EDI Web services, and Magic xpi, the code free integration platform, with drag and drop visual aping, simple to use. This combination will reduce the complexity of EDI development, allowing organizations to quickly reap the benefits of this powerful technology, quickly on-board its partners, and most importantly, fully automate and integrate its own ERP or CRM system in a matter of days.

EDI2XML Web Service, is an HTTP service running over the internet, on EDI2XML own private platform that is capable of receiving HTTP requests to translate EDI messages to XML, and XML messages (based on EDI2XML’s proprietary format) to EDI.

EDI2XML HTTP services provide technological and business benefits which include:

  • Application and data integration
  • Versatility
  • Cost savings (no contract: pay as you go)
  • Very simple and dynamic pricing scheme
  • Quick start of using (you can start with less than an hour)
  • Availability and reliability
  • Based on proven technology in the field for over 18 years now
  • Outstanding technical support

Who is EDI2XML web service for?

EDI2XML Web Service, is for developers and businesses, interested in building their own EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) integration flows and programs. Normally, these individuals, are capable of interacting with external API and Web Services to translate EDI to XML and XML to EDI, and have the resources and expertise to work with Web Services and HTTP requests in order to achieve their goals. EDI2XML web service, is the premier choice for IT people as a reliable service to accomplish such Integration projects.

Getting started with EDI2XML Web Service, is very simple and quick. Within less than an hour, you can issue the first Call to the Web Service and see the response.

EDI2XML Web Service currently, supports the EDI transactions as listed on our website. In case a transaction you are looking for is not on the list, we can simply just add it within 24 hours.

Increase competitive power through integration EDI software

Often, companies are already using different business applications such as CRM or ERP systems, which they are quite satisfied. But the question is: can they work in harmony with each other, and integrate together? What is the best way to integrate EDI software to them?

Have you ever thought that EDI software can improve your business by integration all of your business applications and organizing a new way of transferring data and processes through your CRM, ERP, WMS, SCM, finance, third-party applications, and other outdated or cloud-based system?

As mentioned above our EDI software include EDI web service and Magic xpi integration platform;  this technology combination can cover all your business needs. Before we review what is Magic xpi integration platform, let’s see what integration is.

Integration (from the Latin. Integratio – “insert”) – the process of inserting parts into something. Depending on the context, it may mean:

  • Web integration – the integration of heterogeneous web applications and systems into a single web-based environment.
  • Data Integration – Data integration involves combining data residing in different sources and providing users with a unified view of them. (definition from Wikipedia)

I would add this Wikipedia definition as follow: The integration of software systems and products is the exchange of data between systems with possible subsequent processing. The point of integration is that the data entered by the user (or directly injected by another application or API) into one system is automatically migrated to another.

Magic xpi – efficient integration for any business and any system

Magic xpi makes integration fast and uninterrupted due to pre-built components, proven and certified connectors as well as code-free, visual approach.

Using Magic xpi Integration Platform you can connect a varied business application and systems and improve the capabilities of your ERP, CRM, finance, and other enterprise systems.

Unlike other integration platforms that use complex point-to-point coding, Magic xpi have easy to use, code-free, drag and drop visual data mapper. You can manage the performance of your system at all times thanks to comprehensive monitoring and management tools. Magic xpi has incomparable connectivity including 100+ prebuilt components, certified and optimized adapters for leading IT systems, and a Connector Builder for all your needs.

Magic xpi Integration Platform

Start with the best EDI Software solution

We do offer EDI projects consultancy. We help companies plan, deploy, test and integrate EDI projects. You can simply call us (450) 68-3009 Ext 223 or write us sales@namtek.ca if you need any EDI consulting work. We have a proven 20+ years of experience in EDI and integration projects.

This post was updated to reflect current trends and information.


An article on our parent site, Namtek Consulting Services, called “Finding the Middle Ground with EDI Software & Services, ” explains the three most common options Small and Medium Enterprises look into when beginning to use EDI to exchange documents with their Trading Partners.

These 3 options consist of:

  1. Building an EDI translation tool from scratch and doing all communication in-house
  2. Going with a large, reputable EDI Vendor to outsource your EDI
  3. Buy an EDI translation tool, targeted solely to developers

Here are the PROs and CONs for each:

1.    Homegrown EDI Software

With this option, your company must have an in-house IT team, with the necessary EDI knowledge and experience to handle EDI capabilities and requirements.

PRO: The IT team is capable of developing their own EDI translation software to integrate within their ERP system for optimal performance. The whole process will be customized to their exact needs.

CON: This process usually ends up being very expensive and time-consuming for everyone involved. On top of it, many SMEs cannot afford to have their own in-house IT department and EDI experts.

2.    Prominent EDI Vendor

PRO: Large vendors help you connect to the retail industry’s largest network of Trading Partners.

CON: These Vendors are not cheap! Get ready to pay high monthly fees and to wait months at a time to hear back from their Support team.

3.    EDI Translators for Developers

PRO: These tools are affordable to buy, consisting only of a low one-time fee.

CON: Because these translation tools are used and maintained by developers, it requires knowledgeable resources in-house and ongoing support within the company to preserve all EDI capabilities. Your in-house team will need to handle all EDI mapping and requirements for each Trading Partner connection. Therefore, the cost to buy the translation tool may be within budget, but it will cost your company time, effort and in-house IT wages to complete the whole EDI project.

The best option? An EDI Fully Managed Service that is: Affordable, handles ALL EDI mapping, and has a great support team. Take a look at EDI2XML!

Free EDI consultation