01
Shipment Details
Shipment number, shipment date, expected delivery date and shipment status.
EDI 856 Advance Ship Notice
The EDI 856 is an ANSI X12 transaction used by a supplier, manufacturer, distributor or warehouse to notify a customer that an order has been shipped.
EDI 856 at a Glance
Sent After Shipment Confirmation
Generated after picking, packing and dispatch.
Sent Before Delivery
Gives the customer advance shipment visibility.
Supports Packaging Hierarchy
Shipment, order, pallet, carton and item details.
EDIFACT Equivalent
Commonly mapped to the DESADV message.
EDI 856 Overview
What Is an EDI 856 Advance Ship Notice?
Advance Shipment Notification
The EDI 856 is normally sent after the goods leave the supplier’s warehouse and before they arrive at the customer’s delivery location.
It provides detailed information about what has been shipped, how the products are packed, which carrier is transporting the goods and when the shipment is expected to arrive.
EDI 856 is also known as an ASN, Advance Ship
Notice, Shipping Notice or Dispatch Advice.
When Is the EDI 856 Generated?
The ASN is usually created after the warehouse completes the picking and packing operation and the delivery is confirmed for shipment.
The customer receives the EDI 856 before the physical shipment, allowing its warehouse or distribution center to prepare receiving resources in advance.
The closest EDIFACT equivalent of ANSI X12 EDI 856
is generally DESADV — Despatch Advice.
Order-to-Cash Workflow
Where EDI 856 Fits in the EDI Process
The Advance Ship Notice is normally transmitted after the purchase order is confirmed and before the supplier sends the commercial invoice.
EDI 850
Purchase Order
The customer sends products, quantities and
delivery requirements.
→
EDI 855
Order Acknowledgment
The supplier confirms, rejects or updates the order.
→
EDI 856
Advance Ship Notice
Shipment, packaging, carrier and product details.
→
EDI 810
Invoice
The supplier sends the invoice for the shipped goods.
ASN Data
What Information Is Included in an EDI 856?
The exact information depends on the trading partner’s implementation guide, but an EDI 856 commonly contains the following shipment and packaging data.
02
Order References
Purchase order number, order date, release number and customer references.
03
Carrier Information
Carrier name, SCAC, service level, tracking number and shipping method.
04
Transport References
Bill of lading, PRO number, trailer number and route information.
05
Product Information
Supplier product number, customer item number, description and unit of measure.
06
Shipped Quantities
Quantity shipped, quantity per carton, number of cartons and total packages.
07
Packaging Information
Pallet, carton, case, package type, dimensions and package weight.
08
Traceability Information
SSCC, lot number, batch number, serial number and expiration date.
HL Segment Structure
EDI 856 Shipment and Packaging Hierarchy
A major feature of EDI 856 is its hierarchical structure. It shows how shipments, orders, pallets, cartons and products are connected.
S
Shipment
Shipment number, carrier, BOL and dates.
O
Order
Purchase order number and order references.
T
Tare / Pallet
Pallet SSCC, pallet type and total weight.
P
Pack / Carton
Carton SSCC, case type, weight and dimensions.
I
Item
Product code, quantity, lot and expiry date.
S → O → T → P → I
One shipment may include multiple purchase orders. Each order may contain several pallets, every pallet may contain multiple cartons, and each carton may contain one or more products.
The HL segment identifies each hierarchical level and links it to its parent level. This enables the customer’s warehouse system to understand the complete packaging relationship.
1 Shipment
2 Purchase Orders
4 Pallets
24 Cartons
Multiple Products
Lot and Serial Details
Segment Reference
Common EDI 856 Segments
The following segments are commonly used to communicate interchange control, shipment, order, carrier, packaging and item information.
Simplified ANSI X12 856 Example
ISA*00* *00* *ZZ*SENDERID *ZZ*RECEIVERID*250523*1030*U*00401*000000001~ GS*SH*SENDERID*RECEIVERID*20250523*1030*1*X*004010~ ST*856*0001~ BSN*00*SHIP12345*20250523*1030*0001~ HL*1**S~ TD1*CTN20*2****G*45*LB~ TD5**3*UPS*G~ REF*BM*BOL987654~ DTM*011*20250523~ N1*SF*SUPPLIER WAREHOUSE*92*WH01~ N1*ST*CUSTOMER DISTRIBUTION CENTER*92*DC10~ HL*2*1*O~ PRF*PO45001234~ DTM*002*20250520~ HL*3*2*T~ MAN*GM*000123456789012345~ TD1*PLT*1****G*40*LB~ HL*4*3*P~ MAN*GM*000123456789012352~ HL*5*4*I~ LIN**BP*ITEM100*VP*SUPP100~ SN1**24*EA~ PID*F****Widget A~ REF*LT*LOT12345~ DTM*036*20260601~ CTT*7~ SE*34*0001~ GE*1*1~ IEA*1*000000001~
| Segment | Purpose | Typical Information |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Interchange Control Header | Sender ID, receiver ID, control number, date, time and X12 version. |
| GS | Functional Group Header | Functional group identification, sender, receiver and version details. |
| ST | Transaction Set Header | Identifies the transaction as an EDI 856 and assigns a control number. |
| BSN | Beginning Segment for Ship Notice | Shipment identification, creation date, creation time and hierarchy code. |
| HL | Hierarchical Level | Defines shipment, order, tare, pack and item levels and their parent relationship. |
| TD1 | Carrier Details — Quantity and Weight | Packaging code, number of packages, shipment weight and weight unit. |
| TD5 | Carrier Details — Routing | Carrier identifier, SCAC, transport method and service level. |
| REF | Reference Identification | Bill of lading, PRO number, lot number and additional references. |
| DTM | Date and Time Reference | Shipment date, delivery date, order date and product expiration date. |
| N1 | Name | Ship-from warehouse, ship-to location, supplier and customer identification. |
| PRF | Purchase Order Reference | Customer purchase order number and related purchase order information. |
| MAN | Marks and Numbers | SSCC number, carton identifier, pallet number and shipping label references. |
| LIN | Item Identification | Buyer item number, supplier item number, UPC, GTIN and other product identifiers. |
| SN1 | Item Detail — Shipment | Quantity shipped and unit of measure. |
| PID | Product Description | Product name, description or other descriptive information. |
| CTT | Transaction Totals | Total number of hierarchical line items or transaction-level counts. |
| SE | Transaction Set Trailer | Segment count and transaction set control number. |
| GE | Functional Group Trailer | Number of transaction sets and functional group control number. |
| IEA | Interchange Control Trailer | Functional group count and interchange control number. |
Shipping Label Automation
SSCC and GS1-128 Shipping Labels
The EDI 856 can include a unique Serial Shipping Container Code for each pallet or carton. The same SSCC is printed on the physical GS1-128 shipping label.
When the customer scans the label during receiving, the warehouse system can automatically identify the shipment, purchase order, package contents and product quantities.
Connects the physical package with ASN data
Supports scan-based warehouse receiving
Identifies pallets and cartons individually
Reduces manual product verification
GS1-128 SHIPPING LABEL
SHIP FROM: SUPPLIER WH01
SHIP TO: CUSTOMER DC10
PO: PO45001234
CARTON: 1 OF 2
SSCC: 000123456789012352
Business Value
Benefits of EDI 856
Advance shipment data allows customers to prepare receiving operations and validate deliveries automatically.
Faster Receiving
Warehouse teams know what is arriving and can scan pallets or cartons instead of entering data manually.
Better Shipment Visibility
Customers receive carrier, shipment, package and expected delivery information in advance.
Improved Inventory Accuracy
ASN data helps create expected receipts and prepare inventory before the physical products arrive.
Fewer Receiving Errors
The warehouse can compare the shipment against the purchase order and physical package automatically.
Reduced Manual Work
Product, quantity, lot, serial and package details are imported directly into the receiving system.
Fewer Supplier Chargebacks
Accurate ASN and label information helps suppliers comply with retailer shipping requirements.
Odoo EDI Automation
EDI 856 Integration with Odoo
By integrating EDI 856 with Odoo, businesses can automatically generate Advance Ship Notices from validated delivery orders and transmit them to trading partners through SFTP, FTP, AS2 or a VAN.
Shipment, package, carrier, tracking, lot, serial, SSCC and product information can be collected directly from Odoo without duplicate data entry.
Discuss Your EDI 856 Integration
01
Confirm the Sales Order
The order is imported or created in Odoo.
02
Pick and Pack Products
Products are assigned to cartons and pallets.
03
Generate SSCC and Labels
Unique pallet or carton identifiers are created.
04
Validate the Delivery
Shipment, carrier and tracking data are confirmed.
05
Create and Send EDI 856
Odoo generates and transmits the ASN automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
EDI 856 FAQs
Is EDI 856 the same as an Advance Ship Notice?
Yes. EDI 856 is commonly called an Advance Ship Notice or ASN. It is also referred to as a Shipping Notice or Dispatch Advice.
When should an EDI 856 be sent?
It is generally sent after the shipment is packed and confirmed but before the goods arrive at the customer’s warehouse or distribution center.
What is the EDIFACT equivalent of EDI 856?
The closest EDIFACT equivalent is normally the DESADV or Despatch Advice message.
Can EDI 856 include pallet and carton details?
Yes. Its hierarchical structure can represent shipments, purchase orders, pallets, cartons, packages and individual products.
Can EDI 856 include lot numbers and expiration dates?
Yes. Depending on the trading partner requirement, it can include lot numbers, batch numbers, serial numbers, production dates and expiration dates.
Can Odoo generate EDI 856 automatically?
Yes. Odoo can generate the EDI 856 when the delivery is validated and transmit it to the customer through SFTP, FTP, AS2, API or an EDI VAN.
Automate EDI 856 Processing in Odoo
Generate Advance Ship Notices automatically from Odoo deliveries, package records, shipping labels, tracking information, lot numbers and serial numbers.
