Amazon EDI Requirements
Amazon’s 1P relationship (Vendor Central, invitation-only) runs on EDI for core wholesale documents, while Direct Fulfillment (dropship) increasingly uses SP-API for new integrations. For 1P wholesale, EDI is still required and governed by a detailed chargeback regime.
Required EDI documents
| Document | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EDI 850 | Purchase Order | |
| EDI 855 | PO Acknowledgment | |
| EDI 856 | Advance Ship Notice (ASN) | ≥4 hours before arrival at FC |
| EDI 810 | Invoice | |
| EDI 846 | Inventory Advice | supporting |
| EDI 753 | Request for Routing Instructions | collect freight |
| EDI 754 | Routing Instructions | collect freight |
| EDI 860 | PO Change | supporting |
| EDI 820 | Remittance | supporting |
| EDI 997 | Functional Acknowledgment |
Labeling & packaging
- Carton logistics barcode = SSCC-18, AMZNCC, 2D-BPS, or GTIN-14 (GS1-128 or ITF-14); item label = UPC/EAN/GTIN-12/ASIN. SSCC on the label must match the 856 exactly.
- Mixed-SKU pallets need a “Mixed SKU” placard.
- Governed by the North American Vendor Shipment Preparation and Transportation Manual.
Connection & portal
- Vendor Central self-service offers AS2 (preferred), Amazon-hosted SFTP, or a VAN; setup via Vendor Central → EDI > Self Service Setup.
- SP-API (REST) is used for Direct Fulfillment and complementary data; new Direct Fulfillment integrations are API-first, while 1P wholesale (850/856/810/855) remains EDI.
Onboarding & testing
Self-service certification is mandatory before go-live (a full order-to-invoice cycle). Reported 4–8 weeks, up to 8–12 for custom/ERP-native builds.
Compliance & chargebacks
- • Roughly six chargeback categories (PO, ASN, Prep, Packaging, Transportation, Receive).
- • Reported ASN/OTNC tiers by compliance rate: ~2% (>95%), ~4% (70–95%), ~6% (<70%) on a 7-day defect rate; reported carton-content accuracy around $1.67/unit and per-unit prep fees (e.g., bagging, suffocation-warning labels).
- • The 856 must transmit at least 4 hours before the shipment arrives at the fulfillment center; collect freight uses the 753/754 handshake.
Worth knowing
- • Vendor Central (1P) is invitation-only.
- • Direct Fulfillment is API-first for new setups and requires all-or-nothing order acceptance and shipment confirmation within 4 hours.
How EndlessEDI helps with Amazon
EndlessEDI handles Amazon 1P documents on one source of truth and builds 856s that meet the 4-hour rule with matching SSCC labels, while keeping invoices reconciled to POs to avoid deductions.
Explore EndlessEDIAmazon EDI FAQ
Does Amazon use EDI or API?
Both. Amazon 1P (Vendor Central) wholesale runs on EDI (850/855/856/810). Direct Fulfillment (dropship) now uses SP-API for new integrations, though existing EDI Direct Fulfillment continues.
What is Amazon’s 4-hour ASN rule?
For 1P shipments, the 856 (ASN) must transmit at least 4 hours before the shipment arrives at the fulfillment center, with SSCC labels that match the ASN.
Is Amazon Vendor Central open to all brands?
No. Vendor Central (1P) is invitation-only. Brands not invited typically sell 3P via Seller Central, which is listing/API-based rather than EDI.
EDI requirements and penalty schedules change and vary by program. Figures marked “reported” come from third-party sources, not the retailer’s published fee schedule — always confirm against the retailer’s current routing guide and your vendor agreement.
