Retailer EDI requirements
Costco EDI requirements
Costco-proprietary (based on X12) · SPS Commerce (mandatory onboarding partner) · Portal: Costco Connect · Typical onboarding: 2–8 weeks
Costco-specific compliance context
- Costco Connect is the vendor portal for certification and day-to-day compliance visibility.
- Typical onboarding window: 2–8 weeks before production cutover (partner-controlled).
- High chargeback exposure when ASN, invoice, or label rules drift.
Core EDI documents
| Code | Document | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 850 | Purchase Order | Inbound | Acknowledge within 24 hours |
| 855 | PO Acknowledgment | Outbound | Line-by-line confirmation |
| 856 | Advance Ship Notice | Outbound | GS1-128 barcode must match ASN exactly — per-pallet deductions for mismatches |
| 810 | Invoice | Outbound | Must match PO and ASN |
| 997 | Functional Acknowledgment | Both | Required for all transmissions |
Compliance requirements
- All onboarding goes through SPS Commerce — Costco's designated partner
- Product approval through vendor portal required first (~2 months)
- GS1-128 barcodes required on every pallet and carton
- Lot codes mandatory for perishable products
- Costco-proprietary data mappings differ from Walmart and Target formats
- Compliance deadline enforced — new suppliers must be live immediately after approval
Supplier programs & chargeback risk
Programs: Warehouse Suppliers, E-commerce, Import
Chargeback exposure: High — per-pallet deductions for ASN/barcode mismatches, delayed payments for invoice errors
Penalty amounts, fees, endpoints, and onboarding windows reflect each retailer's published routing guides and public sources and change frequently. Confirm current figures in the retailer's own vendor portal before relying on them.
Trading partner profile
See mandate context, connectivity options, and onboarding steps on the Costco trading partner page.