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AIMS360 is the leading fashion EDI software. Our industry-experts curated a nifty guide for all of your apparel EDI needs.
Scale Your Brand with Major Retailers (Large Distribution Sales Channels)
Direct-to-consumer (Shopify e-commerce) and boutique/independent wholesale are great foundations — but to truly scale, you should also increase distribution through major retailers. National chains and high-volume marketplaces act as large distribution sales channels: a single EDI 850 purchase order can represent thousands of units across dozens (or hundreds) of stores with recurring reorders when sell-through is strong. With AIMS360, you can onboard quickly, meet routing-guide rules, and keep inventory, ASNs, invoices, and payments flowing — so you can win shelf space and keep it.
See examples on our EDI Retailers List: https://www.aims360.com/integrations/edi-retailers-apparel-erp
United States — Major Apparel Retailers (Apparel-led banners)
Why this matters: these are the apparel-centric majors your brand actually wholesales into. They run strict EDI programs and routing guides — scaling here requires accurate, on-time EDI 850/855/856/810 flows and compliant labels.
Canada — Major Multi-Brand Apparel Retailers (USD)
(Only multi-brand retailers that buy wholesale; excludes vertical brands like Roots or Aritzia.)
Plain-English takeaway: DTC + boutique wholesale builds your brand; major retailers multiply it. To play at this scale, you need EDI — because that’s how purchase orders, ASNs, invoices, and payments move at enterprise volume with speed, accuracy, and compliance.
Fashion Retailers Require EDI Because… (Clear, Beginner-Friendly)
Major retailers manage thousands of orders and shipments daily. They can’t manually open emails, download PDF invoices, and retype line items — that’s slow and error-prone. One typo on a SKU, size, or price can trigger chargebacks, delays, or cancellations.
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) replaces paper and PDFs with system-to-system electronic documents that load directly into the retailer’s software. For example:
- The retailer sends you an EDI 850 (purchase order).
- You confirm with an EDI 855 (PO acknowledgment).
- When you ship, you transmit an EDI 856 (ASN) with UCC-128 / GS1-128 carton labels so DCs scan cartons instantly.
- You bill with an EDI 810 (invoice), and later receive an EDI 820 (remittance advice).
- A quick EDI 997 confirms the file was syntactically received.
Because everything is electronic, data moves instantly without manual re-keying — so major retailers require EDI. AIMS360 makes this simple by building EDI into your fashion ERP, so documents, labels, and inventory all match by design.
Fashion Bulk EDI vs Fashion Dropship EDI
AIMS360 handles both types of apparel EDI transactions to major retailers:
Bulk EDI – A larger-quantity order (usually with start and cancel dates) that ships to stores or a distribution center. The retailer may allocate to stores and e-commerce. If a brand uses AIMS360’s garment manufacturing or full-package purchasing, set the in-warehouse date right before the start date of the order. Common docs: EDI 850 (PO), EDI 856(ASN), EDI 810 (Invoice).
Dropship EDI – Retailers list your products on their e-commerce site and forward consumer orders to you for direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipment with branded packing slips, tracking, on-time EDI 856 and EDI 810. AIMS360 supports both flows natively.
With AIMS360, both bulk and dropship are native (no middleware). Labels/ASNs are generated directly from pick/pack data — a proven way to reduce chargebacks.
EDI UCC-128 / GS1-128 Labels
Most major retailers require a UCC-128 (GS1-128) shipping label on every carton or pallet. AIMS360 generates compliant UCC-128 labels straight from your ASN pick/pack data, so the barcode, PO, carton ID (SSCC), destination, and SCAC all match the shipment — and match your EDI 856.
EDI Price Tickets (with Progressive Label & Fineline)
Resource: Progressive Label Inc.
Many trading partners require pre-ticketed merchandise. You can print in-house or buy from an approved service bureau. Progressive Label provides retail price ticket printing, garment labels, and UPC stickers; they also sell software/hardware for in-house printing and maintain ticket specs for many major retailers.
RFID programs: Some retailers mandate RFID (EPC) tickets and encoded swing tags. Fineline Technologiesprovides barcode + RFID retail tickets/tags and can encode EPCs to retailer specs on short lead times.
AIMS360 exports the exact data required to produce compliant barcode (UPC/GTIN) or RFID price tickets, ensuring what you print matches what you transmit in your EDI 832 catalog, EDI 850 PO, EDI 856 ASN, and EDI 810 invoice.
UPC Barcode Requirements (GS1)
Retailers require that every style-color-size has a unique UPC/GTIN. GS1 regulates these numbers so they stay unique.
Through GS1 you can:
- Obtain your GS1 Company Prefix
- Get a range of GTINs/UPCs to assign to products
AIMS360 stores UPCs in your item master and includes them in EDI 850, EDI 810, EDI 856, and EDI 832.
Online Catalogs (GXS / Intertrade)
Most trading partners require you to host your product line with UPCs/pricing in an online catalog. AIMS360 exports clean, compliant EDI 832 data to either network:
- GXS (OpenText): https://www.opentext.com/products-and-solutions/products/business-network/edi/?source=AIMS360.com
- Intertrade: https://www.intertrade.com/?source=AIMS360.com
NRF / GS1 Color & Size Codes
Use standardized GS1/NRF color and size codes to keep data consistent across major retailers and reduce item-setup errors. AIMS360 stores/maps these codes so your EDI 832, EDI 850, and EDI 810 remain aligned.
Essential EDI Documents for Apparel (Quick Definitions + Use Cases)
(All document names link to your AIMS360 EDI page.)
- EDI 753 – Request for Routing Instructions
- Use case: Before shipping a bulk PO to a DC, send a 753 asking which carrier/service level to use and where to route pallets.
- EDI 754 – Routing Instructions (Response)
- Use case: Retailer replies with approved carrier (SCAC), pickup window, and DC address you must use to avoid chargebacks.
- EDI 810 – Invoice
- Use case: After the ASN is accepted, AIMS360 issues the invoice for the exact shipped cartons/units, so AR and the retailer’s AP match.
- EDI 820 – Payment/Remittance Advice
- Use case: Retailer sends payment details and deductions; AIMS360 auto-reconciles the 820 to your invoice(s), including chargebacks.
- EDI 832 – Price/Sales Catalog
- Use case: Publish styles, UPCs/GTINs, sizes, colors, and pricing to the retailer’s catalog network (GXS/Intertrade) so they can onboard and order.
- EDI 846 – Inventory Inquiry/Advice
- Use case: For dropship, send available-to-sell quantities so the retailer’s site only lists what you can fulfill.
- EDI 850 – Purchase Order
- Use case: Retailer issues a bulk PO to a DC or a consumer order for dropship; AIMS360 ingests it and allocates inventory/production.
- EDI 852 – Product Activity Data
- Use case: Retailer shares store/site sales and on-hand; planning uses it to forecast, and AIMS360 compares sell-through to open orders.
- EDI 855 – PO Acknowledgment
- Use case: Confirm PO lines, request date/qty changes if needed, or reject discontinued items.
- EDI 856 – Advance Ship Notice (ASN)
- Use case: Right after packing, AIMS360 transmits carton contents and UCC-128 IDs so the DC can scan cartons on arrival without delays.
- EDI 864 – Text Message
- Use case: Send free-form notes (compliance clarifications or urgent updates) that don’t fit another transaction.
- EDI 865 – PO Change Acknowledgment/Request — Seller-Initiated
- Use case: Propose a ship-date change on specific lines due to production shifts; retailer replies with acceptance or alternates.
- EDI 870 – Order Status Report
- Use case: Provide a status summary on backordered or partially shipped POs without multiple emails.
- EDI 997 – Functional Acknowledgment
- Use case: Confirms the receiver successfully got and syntactically accepted the EDI file (e.g., 850/856/810).
Chargebacks: What They Are & How to Avoid Them
Chargebacks are financial penalties for non-compliance (late ASNs, label errors, wrong quantities, missed cancel dates, etc.). Best practices:
- Generate EDI 856 from actual pick/pack data so ASNs match cartons
- Print UCC-128 labels from the same data to avoid label/content mismatches
- Auto-create EDI 810 invoices from shipments so quantities/prices align
- Validate routing-guide rules (cartonization, ship windows, labeling) inside your workflow
If you run into any issues with your EDI 856 ASNs or EDI 810 invoices — timing, mismatches, or rejections — contact our 24×7 emergency support immediately so the AIMS360 EDI department can jump in and help you avoid chargebacks.
Top Retailers Our Brands Sell To (Examples)
AIMS360 connects you — out of the box — to hundreds of retailers. Examples include Amazon, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Saks Fifth Avenue, TJMaxx, Ross, Target, Walmart, REI, QVC, Belk, Bergdorf Goodman, Von Maur, Tillys, and more.
→ Browse the full EDI Retailers List: https://www.aims360.com/integrations/edi-retailers-apparel-erp
How EDI Flows with Warehouses & 3PLs (Step-by-Step)
- Retailer sends EDI 850 → AIMS360 imports the PO.
- Production & AI Allocation → If production is required, AIMS360 creates or links a work order and allocates fabric/trim/capacity using AI; if stock exists, AI allocation reserves units immediately.
- Route to Warehouse/3PL → AIMS360 routes the order to the optimal in-house warehouse or 3PL (supports multiple locations/partners).
- Pick/Pack & Labels → As cartons are packed, AIMS360 generates UCC-128 / GS1-128 labels and builds the EDI 856 ASN from real contents.
- Invoice & Remittance → AIMS360 issues the EDI 810, and later reconciles EDI 820 remittance (including chargeback deductions) in Accounting.
AIMS360 + Accounting (QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite)
AIMS360 integrates with QuickBooks, Sage, and NetSuite so Accounting stays in sync with EDI invoices, credits, payments, and automatic reconciliation of chargebacks deducted by retailers (from EDI 820 remittance). This closes the loop between EDI 810 invoices, EDI 820 payments, and your GL — cutting month-end work and disputes.
New: Go-Live Process (What Launch Looks Like)
A proven, retailer-backed path to “live” with minimal risk — led by our EDI implementation staff:
- Discovery & Routing-Guide Review — We read each retailer’s routing guide and define required documents (e.g., EDI 850, EDI 855, EDI 856, EDI 810, EDI 820, EDI 832, EDI 997).
- Map Confirmation — We confirm you’re on the right retailer maps (requirements can vary per vendor).
- Data Readiness — Items, UPCs, prices, color/size codes, pack/carton rules.
- System Setup — Labels (UCC-128), packing slips, ASN cartonization rules, carrier/SCAC settings.
- Testing Cycles — Exchange test EDI 855/EDI 856/EDI 810 with retailer EDI teams.
- Training — Role-based training for your team on retailer-specific workflows.
- Parallel Run (If Needed) — Dry-run the first PO end-to-end.
- Go-Live — Launch with first real orders; our team monitors transmissions.
- Hypercare & Optimization — 24×7 emergency support so you never miss an EDI 856 ASN or EDI 810invoice deadline; keep optimizing with new retailers and programs.
Our EDI Implementation Consultants (Your On-Call Experts)
Think of our EDI implementation staff as your personal EDI consultants. We’ve worked with hundreds of retailers and can handle any part of the process — from routing-guide interpretation and map setup, to testing, training, labels, and go-live. After launch, we provide ongoing coaching and 24×7 emergency help.
AIMS360 ERP Resources
- Retailers: See the EDI Retailers List (request any new partners, too).
- Knowledgebase: Visit the AIMS360 Knowledgebase (log in with your email; click Forgot Password if needed).
FAQ
1) What is EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) and what does it stand for in business?
Answer: EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is the standard for sending business documents between systems (no PDFs or retyping). Fashion brands use EDI to exchange purchase orders, ASNs, invoices, and remittances quickly and accurately. Learn how AIMS360’s built-in apparel EDI system works. For standards, see the X12 document list.
2) How does EDI work for fashion brands (vs. PDFs)?
Answer: Instead of “open email → download PDF → retype lines,” EDI is system-to-system: retailer sends EDI 850→ you reply EDI 855 → you ship and send EDI 856 (with UCC-128/GS1-128 labels) → you bill EDI 810 → you get paid via EDI 820 → EDI 997 confirms receipt. AIMS360 automates this end-to-end for both bulk and dropship programs. More on AIMS360 EDI for fashion and the X12 document list.
3) What’s the difference between EDI dropship and EDI bulk for major retailers?
Answer:
- EDI bulk: Dated POs to DCs/stores; typically EDI 850, 856, 810.
- EDI dropship: Retailer’s site forwards consumer orders; you ship DTC with tracking, on-time EDI 856 and EDI 810.
- AIMS360 supports both and is proven with programs like Nordstrom EDI, Kohls EDI, JCPenney EDI, and CommerceHub EDI. Labels/ASNs are generated from pick/pack data to help prevent chargebacks. Explore partners on our EDI integration page.
4) What is an EDI routing guide and how does AIMS360 help?
Answer: A routing guide is the retailer’s rulebook (cartonization, UCC-128 label specs, carrier/SCAC, ship windows, packing slips, DC addresses, compliance checks). Our EDI implementation staff reads each routing guide, confirms your maps, runs tests with the retailer EDI team, trains your users, and monitors go-live—so your EDI integration is compliant from day one.
5) What is a UCC-128 / GS1-128 label and why does it matter for chargebacks?
Answer: It’s the scannable shipping label that links each carton/pallet to your EDI 856 ASN (via SSCC). If the label or ASN doesn’t match, DCs can’t receive quickly—leading to chargebacks. AIMS360 prints UCC-128 labels directly from shipment data so labels and ASNs always match. Learn more in AIMS360 EDI for fashion.
6) What is EDI software training? How does AIMS360 train our team to get EDI-compliant?
Answer: EDI software training teaches your team how to process EDI 850/855/856/810/820, follow routing guides, print labels, and reconcile deductions. AIMS360’s EDI implementation consultants deliver hands-on training for each retailer (bulk + dropship) and ongoing coaching. For foundational classes, many teams also use EDI Academy.
7) Which EDI documents do major fashion retailers require most often?
Answer: Core set: EDI 850 (PO), 855 (PO Acknowledgment), 856 (ASN), 810 (Invoice), 820 (Payment/Remittance), 832 (Catalog), 846 (Inventory), 852 (Product Activity), 864 (Text), 865 (PO Change Ack/Request), 870 (Order Status), 997 (Functional Ack). See the X12 document list. All supported natively in AIMS360 EDI for fashion—including specialized programs like EDI Jewelry.
8) What is an EDI 832 catalog and which networks are used (GXS and Intertrade)?
Answer: The EDI 832 publishes your product master (styles, UPC/GTIN, sizes/colors, prices) so retailers can onboard and order accurately. Common networks: OpenText GXS and Intertrade. AIMS360 exports clean 832s to both and integrates with portals such as CommerceHub EDI. See our EDI integration partners.
9) What is the most popular EDI software for apparel in 2025 & 2026?
Answer: For apparel brands, AIMS360 apparel EDI software stands out because EDI is built into the ERP—no bolt-on middleware, fewer failure points, and no per-transaction “gotcha” fees typical of some “free EDI software” offers. It combines EDI systems, warehouse/3PL flows, AI allocation, and Accounting sync in one platform. Learn about our built-in apparel EDI system.
10) How does AIMS360 handle ERP EDI integration with Accounting (QuickBooks, Sage 100, NetSuite)?
Answer: AIMS360 posts EDI 810/820 directly to Accounting and reconciles retailer deductions/chargebacks automatically. Connectors: QuickBooks, Sage 100, NetSuite. See Accounting.
11) Do I need a VAN, or can I connect directly (AS2/SFTP)? What about SPS Commerce, DiCentral, OpenText/GXS, CommerceHub, Roundhouse EDI?
Answer: You can exchange EDI via direct AS2/SFTP or through networks/VANs like SPS Commerce, DiCentral, OpenText/GXS, and CommerceHub. Roundhouse EDI is supported on request. AIMS360 recommends the best path per retailer—see EDI integrations.
12) How long does EDI implementation take and what do AIMS360’s EDI consultants do?
Answer: Most go-lives are measured in weeks (retailer/volume dependent). Our EDI implementation staff will:
- Read routing guides;
- identify required docs;
- confirm retailer maps;
- test with retailer EDI;
- train your users;
- ensure you can print labels;
- set go-live and monitor first orders;
- provide ongoing support anytime;
- offer 24×7 emergency support so you never miss an EDI 856 or EDI 810 deadline.
