Amazon encourages Vendors to implement EDI and SSCC Labels to avoid upcoming No Carton Label Content Chargebacks.

In recent correspondence to vendors and solution providers, Amazon have outlined the steps that vendors should take in order to avoid the upcoming No Carton Content Level Charge-backs which will be introduced on January 1^st, 2015. According to Amazon, becoming EDI compliant and introducing SSCC/GS1-128 Labels will greatly help to avoid the upcoming charge-backs of $5 per non-compliant carton. A copy of the correspondence is detailed below:

“Dear Amazon Vendor,

In December 2013, we announced new labeling and ASN (Advanced Shipment Notification) requirements, whereby we require all vendors to provide ASNs and carton (package) labels to communicate carton content information. In the March 2014 newsletter, we provided vendors with another reminder and asked vendors to be compliant with these requirements by August 31st, 2014.
As a next step, we will be introducing the No Carton Content Label chargeback. This chargeback will apply when cartons (packages) in your shipment do not have carton content labels with the required information: PO number in both text and Code39 or Code128 barcode form, ASIN, ISBN, UPC, or EAN, Number of units in carton, Expiration date (if applicable), Lot number (if applicable).
Although you may receive notifications about this chargeback as of October 7th, 2014, the charge will be waived through December 31st, 2014. As of January 1st, 2015 we will be enforcing a $5 chargeback per each non-compliant carton (package).
To comply with our policy, you must affix one of the following to each carton (package) in your shipment:
1) SSCC labels (most preferred) - EDI vendors using document 856 can use the SSCC labels to meet the above requirements. We have revised the EDI 856 Technical Specifications document in the Vendor Central Resource Center so that vendors can start providing expiration date and lot number details. If you are not currently using the 856 document, we recommended that you start using it to meet our carton content label requirements. If you are not set up to use EDI, we recommended looking into this option in order to use SSCC labels to comply with this policy.
2) 2D barcode shipping labels - If you're already using the GS1 specifications to generate a 2D barcode, you may continue to do so. We will accept all 2D Barcode shipping labels that meet the GS1-128 standards. If you have not invested in the GS1-128 standards and want to provide us the required information via a 2D barcode, you can also use one of the following formats (in order of preference):

• PDF417 - Besides being an industry standard and one of the speediest formats to read, there is no character limit on this format.
• Data matrix
• QR Code
• Maxi - this has a 93 character limit.

For specifications with illustrative examples, download the North American Shipment Guidelines in the Vendor Central Resource Center, open the NA_Vendor_Prep_and_Trans_Manual.pdf file, and go to the "BPS (Barcode Packing Slips) - 2D barcode shipping labels" section.
3) The redesigned Shipments feature in Vendor Central offers an option to print the required information at the carton (package) level and will be linked to an AMZNCC (Amazon container code) barcode label. To access this feature, sign in to Vendor Central and go to Orders > Shipments.
Note: Labels printed via the Shipments feature in Vendor Central will include the required PO information. If you use one of the other two options, ensure that the labels include the required PO information, or print a separate PO label from the Orders > Purchase Orders feature. “


If you would like further information on how B2BGateway’s EDI and Label solutions can help you avoid the upcoming Amazon Chargebacks, please call +1 401 491 9595 / +353 61 708533 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

Do you speak my Lingo? A users guide to EDI Jargon!

In a previous post we spoke about common EDI acronyms and what they stood for, now let’s take this one step further and highlight some commonly used EDI jargon terms and what they mean to you the end user.

EDI Standards - EDI standards are formats for EDI documents (transactions sets) that specify what information goes where within an EDI document. Usually your specific industry or trading partners will determine which EDI standard your organization must use. Examples of EDI standards include ANSI X12, EDIFACT, Tradacoms, Odette, oioUBL.

EDI transaction sets – EDI transaction sets are business documents such as purchase orders, invoices, inventory updates, shipping notices, etc.). The EDI transaction set is identified according to which EDI standard it belongs to. For example in the ANSI X12 standard, EDI transactions sets are given a unique 3 digit identifier whereas in the EDIFACT standard, the identifier is made up of groupings of letterings. In ANSI X12 a shipping notice is referred to as an 856 however in EDIFACT it is called a DESADV.

EDI Software – EDI software facilitates sending and receiving EDI transaction sets according to each trading partner’s unique business rules and requirements. The EDI transaction sets are translated and mapped into a form that a user can use, they can be either transported into a web based EDI type portal or they can be integrated directly into the users back end application such as an ERP, Accounting Package, OMS, WMS and so on. Also within the EDI software there should be a translator. The functionality of the translator is that it that converts EDI data into another format.

EDI Mapping – Converting the electronic transaction sets being sent by one system into the format required by the other system. It is the internal programing that changes the files and allows them to process through systems automatically.

GS1/UCC-128 Barcode Labels - A standard way of labelling packages that includes a scan able bar code label that contains the shipping information for the order and is placed on the outer box. Now known as GS1-128 labels, these were formerly known as UCC-128 labels.

Communication Protocol – Is the ability to connect two different computer systems and transfer the data between them. VAN, AS2 and FTP are some of the most popular methods used in EDI.

Value Added Network – Commonly referred to as a VAN is a network that hosts the exchange of EDI data. A VAN transports the data from one system to another.

EDI Standards Version – A segment that identifies a specific release of the ANSI X12 or EDIFACT standards that may be used by the trading partners. Commonly used versions include ANS! X12 version 4010, version 4030, version 5010 or EDIFACT version D96A.

Functional acknowledgement – An EDI transaction set that is sent by the receiver to the sender to let them know that the previous EDI transaction set was received. It may be referred to as an FA or 997 in ANSI X12 terms.

Trading Partner – A business with whom your organization trades or exchanges goods and/or services. For example if an organization was a wholesale distributor its trading partners may be Walmart, CVS, Amazon and a 3PL (third party logistics provider).

EDI Compliant - A client is capable of transmitting data electronic via an EDI provider and meets the standards and requirements for doing so.

For further information and on the various EDI jargon used please feel free to reach out to the B2BGateway sales team at +1 (401) 491 9595 / +353 61 708533 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

Advantages of adding ASN/GS1-128 labels to your EDI supply chain process.

 

üThe ASN (Advance Ship Notice) and GS1-128 label (formerly known as UCC-128 label) will provide a link to the original PO sent by the trading partner(s).

üImplementing ASN and GS1-128 labels between trading partners and suppliers is not just seen as best business practice, but it will also speed up all party shipping and receiving procedures.

üThe automation of the supply chain with the introduction of ASN/GS1-128 labels will help decrease manual labor costs and reduce errors.

üAll ASN/GS1-128 label standards are global – this alleviates confusion from global suppliers.

üThe ASN/GS1-128 label standards apply throughout the entire supply chain, from raw materials supplier to manufacturer to distributor/wholesaler to end user/retailer.

üThe ASN/GS1-128labels can be used for both inter and intra-company transactions.