EDI 870

Order Status Report

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What is an EDI 870?

​​EDI 870, also known as the Order Status Report, is an EDI transaction set used by a seller to update a buyer on the status of a pending order. It can be triggered in two ways:

  • In response to an EDI 869 Order Status Inquiry
  • Sent automatically on a scheduled basis (daily, weekly, or based on specific order milestones)

The EDI 870 transaction follows the ANSI X12 870 format set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which regulates EDI standards in the U.S.

What are the Essential Components of EDI 870?

The Order Status Report document needs to contain several key pieces of information relating to an existing order. These include, but are not limited to: 

  • Purchase Order number 
  • Vendor identifying information 
  • Product quantities, descriptions, and prices 
  • Order status information 
  • Status explanation, when needed 
  • Answers to questions from an EDI 869 Inquiry 

How do I Use EDI 870?

Suppliers send an EDI 870 Order Status Report in two main scenarios:

  1. In response to an EDI 869 Inquiry – providing detailed answers to buyer questions about a specific order.
  2. As a scheduled update – automatically sent at set intervals or milestones in the order process, keeping buyers informed without manual follow-ups.

Once received, buyers typically send back an EDI 997 Functional Acknowledgement to confirm successful receipt of the 870.

The Benefits of EDI 870

Using EDI 870 to communicate order status offers multiple advantages:

  • Replaces paper, email, or PDF reports with automated messages
  • Saves time and reduces manual data entry for vendors
  • Minimises errors caused by manual processing
  • Provides buyers with timely visibility into order progress and potential delays
  • Enhances security through EDI protocols, encryption, and authentication

By streamlining communication, EDI 870 Order Status Reports help buyers track shipments, prepare warehouses, and evaluate vendor performance more effectively.

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 Security and business value of EDI 870

Retailers and other buyers use the EDI 870 Order Status Report to track pending orders, prepare warehouses for incoming deliveries, and stay informed about potential delays. 

Because the document may contain sensitive business information, transmitting it via EDI adds an extra layer of security compared to email or PDF. Leading EDI providers apply encryption, authentication, and other security protocols to ensure these updates are delivered safely and reliably.

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