EDI 856

Last updated: 3 August 2026

What is an EDI 856 (ASN 856)?

EDI 856, also known as an Advance Shipping Notice or ASN, is an important, and frequently used EDI transaction among suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers in the United States of America. Also referred to as an EDI ASN 856, the document is sent electronically in the ANSI X12 format, giving buyers advance visibility of incoming shipments before they arrive. The ASN is used to advise the receiving party of a shipment and is required by many major retailers to be sent in a specific timeframe before the product arrives at the retailer’s distribution center or store.

EDI 856 documents follow the x12 format set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a not-for-profit organisation that regulates EDI formats in the U.S. For businesses using the EDIFACT standard, the equivalent of the EDI 856 is the DESADV, or Dispatch Advice Message.

UK and European Equivalent

For businesses using the EDIFACT standard, which is commonly used in Europe and other parts of the world, the equivalent of the EDI 856 is the DESADV, or Dispatch Advice Message. This document serves a similar purpose by advising the receiving party of an impending shipment.

Comparison

• EDI 856 (ASN): Used in the USA, follows the ANSI x12 standard.
• DESADV (Dispatch Advice Message): Used in Europe and other regions, follows the EDIFACT standard. You can learn more about DESADV (Dispatch Advice Message and how it works here.

What are the Essential Components of EDI 856?

An ASN needs to contain important information about the order itself, as well as the details of the shipment. Key elements of EDI 856 include:

• Shipment Number
• Shipping Date
• Expected delivery date
• Ship from/to addresses and information
• Purchase order number
• Item details and quantities
• Shipment tracking details (ex. BOL Number, PRO Number, Tracking Number)
• Item tracking details where applicable (i.e. Serial number or lot numbers)
• Packaging detail (ex. Which items are in a specific carton, which cartons on each pallet, etc.)
• UCC128/GS1 Numbers

What are the Benefits of EDI 856?

By using EDI 856 to send advance ship notices, sellers can quickly and easily keep buyers informed of upcoming deliveries. Because the EDI document pulls data directly from the order itself, as well as other shipping documents, this method also helps prevent errors. Suppliers can use ASNs to streamline partner communications, while creating an electronic document trail for each shipment, in case of discrepancies.

For retailers and distribution centres, the EDI 856 makes it possible to track inbound inventory, plan labour around expected arrivals, and automate the receiving process for faster putaway.

After receiving EDI 856, a buyer responds with an EDI 997 Functional Acknowledgement.

Automate Your EDI 856 Advance Shipping Notices

TrueCommerce EDI software generates and sends EDI 856 ASN documents automatically, ensuring retailers receive shipment details on time and in the correct format.

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EDI Format Example

EDI 856 is processed in a “raw” format, meant to be read by machines. The example below shows the raw EDI data, which is usually translated using integrated EDI software into a usable and human-friendly format. Translated EDI documents may look different depending on a business’s unique needs and systems. The EDI 856 format follows the ANSI X12 standard and includes a hierarchical HL loop structure to capture shipment, order, pack, and item level detail.