Many companies scaling internationally face the same question: They supply German retailers via EDI, receive an inquiry from the USA, and wonder whether they need a second EDI provider or whether one platform can handle both markets. Or they expand into the USA and don’t know if their existing European EDI service provider is even familiar with the American market.
The short answer: A single EDI service provider can serve both markets, provided it is proficient in both standards.
Why two markets, two standards?
The fundamental difference between EDI in Germany and EDI in the USA lies in the format.
In Germany and Europe, EDIFACT (Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport) is the standard. Developed in 1987 it remains the preferred standard for cross-border trade in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. TrueCommerce originated in Germany: The former GLI developed the world’s first EDIFACT converter in 1986, making it one of the pioneers of this standard.
In the USA, ANSI X12 is dominant. The standard was developed in 1979 by the American National Standards Institute and remains virtually the only standard in North America. It defines specific transaction sets for each document type.
- 850 corresponds to the order (ORDERS in EDIFACT)
- 856 corresponds to the delivery note/ASN (DESADV in EDIFACT)
- 810 corresponds to the invoice (INVOIC in EDIFACT)
- 832 corresponds to the price list
- 846 corresponds to the inventory report
Same documents, different names and structures. An EDI provider that only masters one of the two standards cannot fully serve either market.
TrueCommerce supports both standards on one platform. This means for customers: no second system, no second contract, no second point of contact.
What American retailers do differently
Besides the differing EDI standard, there are other requirements that differentiate the US market from Germany.
Vendor Compliance Manuals
Large American retailers such as Bloomingdale’s, Walmart, or Target define in detailed manuals how EDI documents must be structured, within what time frame they must be transmitted, and what the consequences of errors are.
Chargebacks
This is the term that often catches European companies off guard when they first encounter US commerce. If an ASN arrives late, a required field is missing, or a document is in the wrong format, the retailer issues a chargeback. These chargebacks can quickly eat up a significant portion of the margin. An EDI service provider familiar with the US market configures the EDI connection to ensure that documents are transmitted validly and on time. They actively monitor the data exchange and intervene before an error results in a chargeback.
ASN (Advanced Ship Notice) is mandatory with strict timing
The Advanced Ship Notice (856) often needs to be submitted to the American retailer even before the physical shipment of goods. Its content, barcode format, and submission time are standardized and retailer-specific.
GS1 standards
American retailers use GS1-128 labels and require UPC barcodes at the product level. An experienced EDI service provider supports this setup process to ensure that the first shipments arrive without errors.
EDI connectivity and ERP: Where scaling occurs
The EDI interface alone does not solve any problem. The real key lies in the connection between EDI and the ERP system.
When orders from the USA or Germany are automatically integrated into the ERP system, shipping notifications are created directly from the ERP system, and invoices are transmitted without manual input, a process is created that can grow with the company.
TrueCommerce offers ERP adapters for all common systems: SAP Business One , SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management, NetSuite, and others. These pre-built connectors link the ERP system directly to the TrueCommerce network. No individual programming project, no IT effort for each new trading partner.
This pays off as soon as the business grows: A second US retailer is added, followed by a third trading partner in Germany. The ERP integration remains the same; only the new partner connection is added.
When EDI and API work together
EDI is the established standard for structured, high-volume B2B transactions with large retailers. It is reliable, compliant, and available for both markets. Also, check out our webinar: EDI & API – the perfect combination!
In addition, APIs are playing an increasingly important role. APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) enable real-time data exchange and are particularly suitable for modern cloud integrations, flexible workflows, and scenarios where status queries or inventory data must be available immediately.
Many companies today combine both: EDI for orders, invoices, and ASNs with established retailers, and APIs for real-time visibility, marketplace integrations, or internal systems. TrueCommerce supports both approaches on a single platform, so customers don’t have to choose between technologies but can use the one that best suits their needs.
What EDI Managed Service actually means
The EDI connection is the first step. What comes after determines whether the system runs reliably.
Every retailer changes their requirements from time to time: new mandatory fields, updated label specifications, altered deadlines. Those who have to track and implement these changes internally tie up resources that are then lacking in day-to-day operations.
With a managed service model, TrueCommerce takes care of exactly that. The team monitors data transfers, adjusts mappings when trading partners change their specifications, and is the point of contact for error messages or compliance issues. Customers don’t have to manage EDI themselves; they simply use it.
This is also confirmed by the experience of Runge Verlagsauslieferungs GmbH, a German logistics service provider that handles the EDI connection to Amazon via TrueCommerce. According to project manager Jonas Seggewiß, the decisive factor was the combination of local presence and global availability.
“German-language support is very important to us. Of course, we also benefit from TrueCommerce’s global trading partner network.”
Jonas Seggewiß, Head of IT and Customer Service at Runge Verlagsauslieferung GmbH
The project started with 15 publishing clients and is designed for expansion: More retail partners are expected to join, and the platform will grow accordingly. You can find the full customer story here.
One supplier, two markets: What that means in practice
For companies that are active or plan to become active in both Germany and the USA, a single EDI service provider with a global network offers concrete advantages:
One platform for EDIFACT and ANSI X12. No system breaks, no duplicate data maintenance.
An ERP adapter connects both markets to the same system. Orders from New York and Berlin flow into the same ERP system.
A managed service team understands the requirements of both markets and keeps the connections compliant without requiring adjustments from the company’s own IT team.
A network with over 180,000 pre-connected retail partners worldwide. New retailers in the USA or Germany can be connected much faster through this network than through new programming.
Targeted reduction of chargeback risk
For companies entering the US market for the first time, the issue of chargebacks is often underestimated. An incorrect or delayed EDI document automatically triggers a chargeback from the retailer. This happens without any prior consultation.
TrueCommerce validates documents against each retailer’s current specifications before transmission. Errors are detected before they reach the trading partner. The managed service team actively monitors transmissions and escalates issues if something is wrong. EDI Chargebacks are not caused by malicious intent, but by formatting errors and missed deadlines. Both can be largely avoided by using an experienced EDI provider.
The next step
If you are currently connecting a German retailer via EDI and have received an inquiry from the USA, or if you want to be active in both markets from the outset: Talk to us.
We analyse the specific requirements of your trading partners in both markets and show you what the connection can look like on a platform that grows with your business.