Here\u2019s how decoding a few supply chain best practices can boost your ability to scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understanding the landscape<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen your goal is to leverage a retailer\u2019s platform, you\u2019re going to have to play by the retailer\u2019s rules. A basic requirement of selling anywhere, outside of maybe your local farmer\u2019s market, is to properly and uniquely identify your products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To do that, sellers are encouraged to leverage trusted, widely accepted, global standards like those from GS1 US. Keep in mind, working within an infrastructure that supports the retailer\u2019s systems and reputation is beneficial to your growth and standards serve as a common language for business communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps the most well-known standard is the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). The GTIN is a globally unique product number encoded into a UPC barcode that also appears below the symbol\u2019s black lines and spaces. It facilitates inventory management throughout the retailer\u2019s supply chain and helps assure the product\u2019s legitimacy. Think of it like a fingerprint that identifies your product anywhere throughout the global supply chain. And, according to Google<\/a>, products that include GTINs have a 40% higher click-through rate!<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeyond the GTIN, it\u2019s likely that you will need to comply with more complex business requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An elevated standard<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rangeme-blog-images.imgix.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/warehouse-and-transport-gallery_istock_000002944682large_800x533-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhile perusing the supplier guidelines of major retailers like Walmart, Target, Nordstrom or Dollar General , you may come across the term Electronic Data Interchange or its acronym, EDI. It might seem like just another acronym to learn, but EDI is extremely prevalent for order automation and underpins much of the retail supply chain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here in the US, many of the major retailers and logistics providers require the use of EDI to send and receive digital documents to their suppliers, the most common of which are purchase orders (POs), invoices and advance ship notices (ASN). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though it doesn\u2019t remove the necessity for human checks and balances, EDI\u2019s automation of much of the process enhances accuracy and confidence in each step. When a PO is input through your order management system, EDI can automatically notify the sender and your fulfillment house, eliminating the need for multiple email confirmations. Via EDI, your enterprise resource planning system can also provide an ASN and invoice once the goods ship, ensuring all parties receive validation of receipt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lin Jiang, founder of Yishi Foods<\/a>, an Asian inspired oatmeal brand that sells through Whole Foods and Walmart, started with manual, paper-based data systems before implementing EDI. \u201cWe didn’t have EDI when we launched our brand,\u201d said Jiang. \u201cWe learned through distributors and retailers that it’s just an easier way to get POs and invoices out. So, once we started using that, life became a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce you learn from your trading partners about their EDI requirements, preferences and capabilities, decide what EDI solution fits with both your trading partners\u2019 needs and your capabilities. You can find an EDI provider who can help you get started by using the GS1 US Solution Provider Finder.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nPutting it all together<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTamecca Seril, founder of FOLKUS<\/a>, a company that manufactures sustainable paper products inspired by Black culture, has leaned into GS1 Standards to grow her business. \u201cYou can\u2019t successfully leverage RangeMe<\/a> or break out on Shopify if you don\u2019t have a basic understanding of GS1 Standards like GTIN, EDI, etc. It makes communicating with another software or platform easier. I wish people realized how accessible and important it is to scale your business,\u201d said Seril. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen entrepreneurs (and businesses of all sizes) leverage the power of GS1 Standards and capability of EDI, they can see not only see increased productivity, but potentially broaden the reach of their organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the GTIN, it\u2019s likely that you will need to comply with more complex business requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An elevated standard<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhile perusing the supplier guidelines of major retailers like Walmart, Target, Nordstrom or Dollar General , you may come across the term Electronic Data Interchange or its acronym, EDI. It might seem like just another acronym to learn, but EDI is extremely prevalent for order automation and underpins much of the retail supply chain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here in the US, many of the major retailers and logistics providers require the use of EDI to send and receive digital documents to their suppliers, the most common of which are purchase orders (POs), invoices and advance ship notices (ASN). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though it doesn\u2019t remove the necessity for human checks and balances, EDI\u2019s automation of much of the process enhances accuracy and confidence in each step. When a PO is input through your order management system, EDI can automatically notify the sender and your fulfillment house, eliminating the need for multiple email confirmations. Via EDI, your enterprise resource planning system can also provide an ASN and invoice once the goods ship, ensuring all parties receive validation of receipt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lin Jiang, founder of Yishi Foods<\/a>, an Asian inspired oatmeal brand that sells through Whole Foods and Walmart, started with manual, paper-based data systems before implementing EDI. \u201cWe didn’t have EDI when we launched our brand,\u201d said Jiang. \u201cWe learned through distributors and retailers that it’s just an easier way to get POs and invoices out. So, once we started using that, life became a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce you learn from your trading partners about their EDI requirements, preferences and capabilities, decide what EDI solution fits with both your trading partners\u2019 needs and your capabilities. You can find an EDI provider who can help you get started by using the GS1 US Solution Provider Finder.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nPutting it all together<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTamecca Seril, founder of FOLKUS<\/a>, a company that manufactures sustainable paper products inspired by Black culture, has leaned into GS1 Standards to grow her business. \u201cYou can\u2019t successfully leverage RangeMe<\/a> or break out on Shopify if you don\u2019t have a basic understanding of GS1 Standards like GTIN, EDI, etc. It makes communicating with another software or platform easier. I wish people realized how accessible and important it is to scale your business,\u201d said Seril. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen entrepreneurs (and businesses of all sizes) leverage the power of GS1 Standards and capability of EDI, they can see not only see increased productivity, but potentially broaden the reach of their organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhile perusing the supplier guidelines of major retailers like Walmart, Target, Nordstrom or Dollar General , you may come across the term Electronic Data Interchange or its acronym, EDI. It might seem like just another acronym to learn, but EDI is extremely prevalent for order automation and underpins much of the retail supply chain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here in the US, many of the major retailers and logistics providers require the use of EDI to send and receive digital documents to their suppliers, the most common of which are purchase orders (POs), invoices and advance ship notices (ASN). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though it doesn\u2019t remove the necessity for human checks and balances, EDI\u2019s automation of much of the process enhances accuracy and confidence in each step. When a PO is input through your order management system, EDI can automatically notify the sender and your fulfillment house, eliminating the need for multiple email confirmations. Via EDI, your enterprise resource planning system can also provide an ASN and invoice once the goods ship, ensuring all parties receive validation of receipt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lin Jiang, founder of Yishi Foods<\/a>, an Asian inspired oatmeal brand that sells through Whole Foods and Walmart, started with manual, paper-based data systems before implementing EDI. \u201cWe didn’t have EDI when we launched our brand,\u201d said Jiang. \u201cWe learned through distributors and retailers that it’s just an easier way to get POs and invoices out. So, once we started using that, life became a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you learn from your trading partners about their EDI requirements, preferences and capabilities, decide what EDI solution fits with both your trading partners\u2019 needs and your capabilities. You can find an EDI provider who can help you get started by using the GS1 US Solution Provider Finder.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tamecca Seril, founder of FOLKUS<\/a>, a company that manufactures sustainable paper products inspired by Black culture, has leaned into GS1 Standards to grow her business. \u201cYou can\u2019t successfully leverage RangeMe<\/a> or break out on Shopify if you don\u2019t have a basic understanding of GS1 Standards like GTIN, EDI, etc. It makes communicating with another software or platform easier. I wish people realized how accessible and important it is to scale your business,\u201d said Seril. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When entrepreneurs (and businesses of all sizes) leverage the power of GS1 Standards and capability of EDI, they can see not only see increased productivity, but potentially broaden the reach of their organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPutting it all together<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n