Walmart is one of the largest retail trading partners in the world — and working with them via EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) can open major growth opportunities. But integrating EDI with Walmart’s systems comes with strict compliance requirements, complex mapping, and a high potential for costly chargebacks. If you’re not careful, small mistakes can snowball into big operational issues.
At Crackerjack-IT, we’ve handled dozens of Walmart EDI integrations and seen the same challenges pop up again and again. Here’s a breakdown of the most common pitfalls — and how to avoid them.
1. Missing or Incomplete Shipping Information
Walmart purchase orders (EDI 850) often contain multiple ship-to addresses or have missing/ambiguous location codes. If your system isn’t configured to handle multi-address parsing, the entire order can fail downstream in your ERP or WMS.
Solution: Build custom logic to extract, validate, and map ship-to details accurately — and ensure fallback logic is in place for address mismatches.
2. ASN (EDI 856) Hierarchy Errors
Walmart requires a very specific hierarchical structure for advance ship notices. If your ASN file doesn't match their expectations — especially with the SHP>ORD>PACK>ITEM levels — it will be rejected, and you’ll face compliance penalties.
Solution: Validate the ASN hierarchy thoroughly before submission. Include all package-level details and tie them accurately to order lines.
3. Improper GS1-128 Barcode Mapping
Walmart mandates GS1-128 barcodes that align perfectly with EDI data. If your ASN, labels, or cartons use incorrect GTINs or don’t match what's sent electronically, you risk delays, rejections, or fines.
Solution: Automate the barcode creation process and ensure it's dynamically fed by your EDI data to guarantee alignment.
4. Delayed or Missing 997 Acknowledgments
Walmart tracks whether you send timely EDI 997 Functional Acknowledgments. Miss one, and it’s a compliance ding. Some EDI systems fail to auto-generate or properly route 997s.
Solution: Enable automatic 997s and monitor acknowledgments through a dashboard or audit log. Use alerts to flag failed transmissions.
5. Manual Workarounds Lead to Errors
Manually editing POs, invoices, or ASNs to “make it work” opens the door for human error. Walmart’s systems don’t tolerate even small inconsistencies.
Solution: Automate as much as possible. Don’t rely on manual intervention to clean up bad data. Invest in robust EDI mapping and logic from the start.
6. Certification Delays
Walmart requires successful test document exchanges before go-live. This certification process can be lengthy and requires technical precision.
Solution: Partner with an experienced integrator familiar with Walmart's onboarding. Pre-validate your data against known requirements to streamline approval.
7. Poor ERP/API Sync
Even with a working EDI connection, if your ERP or warehouse system isn’t updated correctly, order fulfillment, invoicing, and inventory reporting will fall apart.
Solution: Make sure your EDI platform is tightly integrated with your internal systems via API or custom middleware.
Integrating EDI with Walmart isn’t just about checking boxes — it’s about building a system that can handle real-world edge cases, scale efficiently, and stay compliant. Whether you’re just getting started or have hit some bumps with your current setup, Crackerjack-IT can help simplify the process and reduce risk.