Amazon EDI Requirements: The Complete 2026 Guide

What Are Amazon's Core EDI Requirements for 2026?

Amazon's core EDI requirements mandate that all Vendor Central (1P) suppliers exchange specific business documents electronically using the ANSI X12 standard over AS2, SFTP, or VAN connections. In 2026, these requirements include stricter validation checks, faster turnaround expectations, and expanded data fields across every core transaction set.

If you sell wholesale to Amazon through Vendor Central, Electronic Data Interchange is not optional. Once your EDI integration goes live, manual document submission through the portal is disabled. Every purchase order acknowledgment, advance ship notice, and invoice must flow through structured EDI transactions, with zero exceptions.

Here is what Amazon requires from every 1P vendor:

• EDI Standard: ANSI X12 version 4010 or higher (code "00400"). Amazon also supports EDIFACT for international vendors operating outside North America.
• Communication Protocol: AS2 (Applicability Statement 2) is Amazon's preferred method. Amazon-Hosted SFTP and Value-Added Networks (VANs) are also supported.
• Core Documents: At minimum, vendors must support the EDI 850 (Purchase Order), 855 (PO Acknowledgment), 856 (Advance Ship Notice), and 810 (Invoice).
• Testing & Certification: Every vendor must complete Amazon's self-service certification process in Vendor Central before going live. No exceptions.
• ISA Qualifier: Typically "ZZ" (Mutually Defined) with vendor-assigned identification numbers for sender/receiver routing.

Amazon operates over 175 fulfillment centers in the United States alone and serves more than 310 million active customer accounts worldwide. That scale demands machine-readable precision. EDI is the backbone that keeps Amazon's supply chain synchronized across millions of SKUs, thousands of vendors, and a fulfillment network that ships billions of packages every year.

What has changed for 2026? Amazon consolidated its "Receive Accuracy" chargeback category in January 2026, merging former Label and ASN chargebacks into a unified framework with active billing starting January 19, 2026. The "Not Filled" penalty was also reduced from 10% to 5% of COGS in July 2025, while compliance thresholds have tightened. Meanwhile, the Selling Partner API (SP API) continues to expand, with a new paid subscription model for third-party developers effective January 31, 2026. Amazon has not announced any end-of-life date for EDI, but the direction is clear: tighter enforcement, faster expectations, and growing API capabilities alongside traditional EDI.

Why Does Amazon Mandate EDI for Its Vendors?

Amazon mandates EDI to achieve operational efficiency at a scale no other retailer matches, reducing order cycle times from days to minutes while eliminating the manual errors that cascade into chargebacks, shortages, and fulfillment delays. For Amazon, EDI is not a technology preference. It is the foundation of a supply chain that processes millions of vendor transactions daily.

Here is why Amazon requires every 1P vendor to operate through EDI:

Scalability Across Millions of SKUs

Amazon's catalog contains hundreds of millions of products sourced from tens of thousands of Vendor Central suppliers. Processing purchase orders, ship notices, and invoices manually at this scale is not feasible. EDI automates the entire procure-to-pay cycle, enabling Amazon to manage vendor relationships at a volume that would overwhelm any human-driven process.

Speed: Days to Minutes

Without EDI, a single purchase order cycle — from order placement to acknowledgment to shipment notification to invoice — could take days of email threads, phone calls, and manual data entry. With EDI, that same cycle completes in minutes. Amazon's fulfillment centers depend on this speed to maintain the delivery promises that drive customer loyalty.

Accuracy: Eliminating Manual Errors

Approximately 60% of B2B transactions face disruptions from data anomalies, according to industry research. Manual re-keying of purchase orders into internal systems introduces mismatches in quantities, SKUs, pricing, and ship-to addresses. These errors do not just slow things down — they trigger Amazon's chargeback framework, costing vendors real money on every mistake.

Inventory Visibility

EDI gives Amazon real-time signals about what vendors can ship, when they can ship it, and what is already in transit. This visibility feeds Amazon's demand forecasting algorithms and fulfillment center planning. Without accurate, timely EDI data, Amazon cannot optimize inventory positioning across its network, which directly impacts product availability for customers.

The bottom line: Amazon does not mandate EDI to make your life harder. Amazon mandates EDI because it is the only way to operate a supply chain of this complexity at this speed with the accuracy customers expect. Vendors who understand this shift their mindset from "compliance burden" to "operational advantage" and consistently outperform those who treat EDI as a checkbox.

Amazon Vendor Central vs. Seller Central — Where Does EDI Fit?

Vendor Central (1P) uses mandatory EDI for wholesale ordering, while Seller Central (3P) primarily uses the Selling Partner API (SP API) for marketplace operations. Understanding which program you operate in — and how EDI requirements differ between them — is critical for choosing the right integration approach.

Amazon operates two fundamentally different selling programs, and the integration method depends entirely on your business model:

Amazon Vendor Central vs. Seller Central: EDI and Integration Comparison

The 1P vs. 3P Landscape

Third-party sellers now account for roughly 60% of paid units sold on Amazon's marketplace, making 3P the larger channel by volume. However, 1P Vendor Central remains critical for brands that want Amazon as a wholesale customer — particularly for categories where Amazon's buying power drives significant volume.

Many manufacturers now operate a hybrid model, selling certain products through Vendor Central (1P) while managing others through Seller Central (3P). This hybrid approach increases complexity because you may need both EDI and SP API integrations running simultaneously. If you are comparing platforms across retailers, you will find a similar dynamic with Walmart EDI requirements, where 1P suppliers also face mandatory EDI compliance.

Direct Fulfillment: The EDI Bridge Between 1P and Dropship

Amazon's Direct Fulfillment program adds another layer. In this model, you remain a Vendor Central supplier, but instead of shipping bulk orders to fulfillment centers, you ship individual consumer orders directly to the customer on Amazon's behalf. Direct Fulfillment requires its own set of EDI documents (or SP API calls) and operates under different compliance rules than standard Vendor Central.

Important 2026 update: All new Direct Fulfillment integrations are now established via SP API, not traditional EDI. Existing EDI integrations continue to function without disruption, but Amazon's direction favors API-based connections for dropship programs going forward.

Which EDI Documents Does Amazon Require?

The most critical EDI documents are the 850 (Purchase Order), 855 (PO Acknowledgment), 856 (Advance Ship Notice), and 810 (Invoice). These four documents form the backbone of every Amazon Vendor Central transaction, and failures on any of them trigger chargebacks that erode your margins.

Here is the complete list of Amazon EDI transaction sets, along with each document's purpose and what happens when you get it wrong:

Amazon EDI Transaction Sets: Complete Reference

The Big Four: Deep Dive

EDI 850 — Purchase Order

The 850 is the starting point of every Amazon vendor transaction. When Amazon wants to buy your products, they send an 850 containing ASINs, vendor SKUs, quantities, unit prices, shipping terms, delivery windows, and ship-to fulfillment center locations. Amazon may send POs daily or weekly depending on product velocity and demand forecasting.

Each 850 includes the PO number (your primary reference for all subsequent documents), order date, buyer/seller identifiers, and special routing instructions. Pay close attention to the ship window — it defines when Amazon expects your shipment and forms the basis for on-time compliance calculations.

EDI 855 — Purchase Order Acknowledgment

Your 855 tells Amazon you received the PO and can fulfill it. This document must be sent within 48 hours of receiving the 850 and must include estimated ship dates and item-level status for each line (accepted, accepted with changes, backordered, or rejected).

The penalty for failing to acknowledge is significant: 1-3% of COGS for unconfirmed PO units. At scale, this adds up quickly across hundreds of purchase orders. Do not let PO acknowledgments sit in a queue.

EDI 856 — Advance Ship Notice (ASN)

The 856 is the most scrutinized and most heavily penalized document in Amazon's EDI ecosystem. Your ASN tells Amazon exactly what is coming, when it will arrive, and how it is packaged — down to the carton level. For a detailed breakdown of ASN structure and best practices, see our EDI 856 Advance Ship Notice guide.

Every Amazon ASN follows a strict hierarchical structure:

Shipment (HL Level 1)
  └── Order (HL Level 2)
      └── Tare/Pack (HL Level 3 — pallet/carton)
          └── Item (HL Level 4)

The ASN must include shipment identification, carrier SCAC codes, tracking numbers, bill of lading, Amazon Reference Number (ARN), SSCC or AMZNCC codes for each carton, carton weights and dimensions, product identifiers, quantities per carton, and expiration dates for consumable items. It must be transmitted before the shipment arrives at the fulfillment center — ideally at least 4 hours before carrier arrival.

Amazon's tiered ASN chargeback structure escalates based on your trailing compliance rate: 2% of COGS above 95% compliance, 4% at 70-95%, and 6% below 70%. This tiered approach means that consistently poor ASN performance compounds rapidly.

EDI 810 — Invoice

The 810 is your electronic bill to Amazon for goods shipped. It must include line items, quantities, unit prices, and payment terms that match the original purchase order. Invoices must be submitted within 24 hours of shipment confirmation.

Critical rule: paper invoices trigger a $5 per invoice chargeback. Once EDI is live, all invoicing must flow through EDI. The 810 must also reconcile with both the 850 (original PO) and 856 (what you actually shipped). Mismatches between these three documents — known as a three-way match failure — cause payment delays and potential deductions.

Additional Documents

Beyond the big four, Amazon's EDI ecosystem includes several supporting transaction sets:

• EDI 846 (Inventory Inquiry/Advice): Reports your current available inventory levels. Critical for Direct Fulfillment where it must be sent multiple times per day. For standard Vendor Central, periodic updates support Amazon's demand planning.
• EDI 753/754 (Routing Request/Instructions): Used for collect freight shipments. The 753 must be submitted by 10am Pacific the day before the last day of the ship window. Amazon responds with the 754 containing carrier details and the Amazon Reference Number (ARN) within 24-48 hours.
• EDI 820 (Payment Order/Remittance Advice): Amazon sends payment details and deduction breakdowns.
• EDI 860 (PO Change Request): Amazon's modifications to original orders, including quantity adjustments or ship date changes.
• EDI 997 (Functional Acknowledgment): Electronic receipt confirming a document was successfully received. Does not indicate agreement — only confirms delivery of the EDI transmission.

How Do You Set Up Amazon EDI? Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up Amazon EDI involves choosing an EDI provider or platform, configuring your connection and document mappings through Vendor Central's self-service portal, completing Amazon's certification testing for each document type, and going live with ongoing compliance monitoring. The process typically takes 2-8 weeks depending on your approach and system complexity.

Step 1: Choose Your EDI Path

Before touching Vendor Central's setup wizard, you need to decide how you will handle EDI. There are three primary approaches, each with very different cost, speed, and flexibility profiles:

EDI Solution Comparison: Modern Platform vs. Traditional VAN vs. In-House

If you are evaluating providers, our guide on SPS Commerce alternatives compares the major platforms and helps you understand what to look for in a modern EDI solution.

Step 2: Configure Your Connection

Once you have selected your EDI approach, navigate to EDI > Self Service Setup in Vendor Central and complete the General Survey. This requires:

• Sender/Receiver IDs: Your ISA Qualifier (typically "ZZ") and Identification Number
• Connection Type: AS2 (recommended), Amazon-Hosted SFTP, or VAN
• Product ID and Measurement Codes: Which identifiers your system uses (ASIN, UPC, EAN, GTIN, Vendor SKU)
• Test Item Information: In-stock items, discontinued items, invalid items, and backorder items with cost, price, and case quantity data

After the General Survey, complete individual surveys for each EDI document type (850, 855, 856, 810, and 846 if applicable). Each survey captures how your system will format, transmit, and process that specific document.

Connection configuration by type:

AS2 (Recommended)

• Generate security certificates for encryption and digital signing
• Exchange certificates with Amazon's AS2 endpoint
• Configure encryption settings, signing algorithms, and MDN preferences
• Test connectivity and confirm successful handshake

Amazon-Hosted SFTP

• Amazon provides SFTP credentials and endpoint details
• Configure file naming conventions per Amazon's specifications
• Set up automated file polling on a scheduled interval

VAN (Value-Added Network)

• Provide your VAN provider details to Amazon
• Configure mailbox routing and delivery schedules
• Verify your VAN supports Amazon's required document formats and versions

Step 3: EDI Testing & Certification

Once all surveys are completed, the "Begin Test" button becomes active in Vendor Central. Amazon's certification process is thorough and validates each document type independently.

What Amazon tests:

• Format Validation: Required fields, identifiers, and segments appear correctly per X12 4010 specifications
• ID Matching: Sender/receiver IDs match your survey configuration exactly
• Scenario Testing: In-stock fulfillment, discontinued item handling, invalid item rejection, backorder processing
• Full Cycle Testing: Complete order-to-invoice cycle (850 received, 855 sent, 856 sent, 810 sent)

Amazon's portal provides real-time feedback on test results. If a test document fails, you will see specific error codes indicating which segments or data elements need correction. Fix the issues and resubmit until all tests pass with no errors.

Tips for faster certification:

• Pre-validate your documents against X12 4010 schemas before submitting to Amazon
• Test with all four scenario types (in-stock, discontinued, invalid, backorder) simultaneously
• Ensure your SSCC/AMZNCC generation logic produces unique, correctly formatted codes
• Verify that case pack quantities in your test data match what Amazon has on file

Step 4: Go-Live & Ongoing Monitoring

Once all document tests pass, the "Go Live" button becomes enabled for each document type. Click it to schedule when live EDI messages begin flowing, and your status changes to "Ready to Go Live."

First 30 days — monitor everything:

• Verify PO acknowledgments are transmitting within 48 hours
• Confirm ASN timing — transmitted before carrier arrival at FC
• Validate invoice matching against both PO (850) and ASN (856)
• Watch for 997 functional acknowledgment failures that indicate transmission issues
• Check Vendor Central's Operational Performance dashboards daily for emerging compliance issues

Amazon EDI is not "set and forget." Amazon updates its chargeback framework periodically (significant changes came in July 2025 and January 2026), adds new fulfillment centers that change ship-to routing, and tightens validation requirements. Build a process for reviewing compliance metrics weekly and updating mappings when Amazon's requirements evolve.

Typical timeline by approach:

Amazon Direct Fulfillment (Dropship) EDI Requirements

Amazon Direct Fulfillment is a dropship program where Vendor Central suppliers ship individual consumer orders directly to end customers instead of bulk shipments to fulfillment centers, requiring a different EDI document flow centered on real-time inventory feeds and per-order processing. The compliance model differs significantly from standard Vendor Central EDI.

How Direct Fulfillment Works

Instead of receiving bulk POs and shipping pallets to Amazon FCs, Direct Fulfillment vendors receive individual consumer orders through EDI (or SP API). Amazon places the order, you pack and ship it directly to the customer's address, and Amazon handles the customer relationship. The customer sees the package as coming from Amazon.

Who Qualifies

• Must be an existing Vendor Central member in good standing
• Amazon selects and invites vendors — you cannot self-enroll
• Typically extended to vendors with strong compliance records and broad catalog depth
• Amazon evaluates your operational capacity for direct-to-consumer fulfillment

Document Flow for Direct Fulfillment

The EDI document set for Direct Fulfillment differs from standard Vendor Central:

• EDI 846 (Inventory Availability): The backbone of Direct Fulfillment. Must be sent multiple times per day for real-time accuracy. Only publish inventory that is literally ready to ship. Inaccurate inventory feeds lead to consumer order cancellations.
• EDI 855 (Order Confirmation): Promptly confirm or reject individual consumer orders. Unlike standard Vendor Central where you acknowledge bulk POs, here you are confirming individual shipments.
• EDI 856 (Ship Notice): Provide advance shipment notification for each direct-to-consumer package with carrier and tracking details. These are parcel-level ASNs, not pallet-level.
• EDI 810 (Invoice): Invoice Amazon for each fulfilled consumer order.

Key Differences from Standard Vendor Central

Direct Fulfillment operates under different compliance rules:

• No traditional chargebacks — the standard PO, ASN, and packaging chargeback framework does not apply
• No shortages — you control inventory and fulfillment
• No freight allowance deductions
• Different penalties: Cancellation rate ($10 per cancelled order) and ship method mismatch ($10 per incident where actual shipping does not match Amazon's specified method)
• Consumer-facing SLAs — you must meet Amazon's delivery promises to end customers

SP API as the New Standard

Important 2026 update: All new Direct Fulfillment integrations are established via Selling Partner API (SP API), not traditional EDI. Existing EDI integrations continue to function without disruption, and vendors can operate both EDI and SP API simultaneously for different processes. This signals Amazon's gradual migration toward API-based connections for dropship programs.

Inventory strategy tip: Consider creating carton-quantity SKUs (such as 5-packs or 10-packs) alongside single units. Some vendors report significantly higher sales volume through multi-pack offerings on Direct Fulfillment, as these SKUs appeal to consumers buying in bulk through Amazon's marketplace.

How Much Do Amazon EDI Chargebacks Cost?

Amazon's EDI chargebacks typically range from $5 to $150 per shipment or 2-6% of the cost of goods, with ASN-related penalties being the most common and most expensive category for vendors. In 2026, Amazon operates one of the most granular chargeback frameworks in retail, with penalties spanning PO compliance, receive accuracy, preparation, packaging, and transportation.

The average chargeback cost across retail is approximately $191 per incident. But Amazon's framework is unique because it operates on a tiered system — the worse your trailing compliance rate, the higher the penalty percentage. This means poor performance compounds. One bad week does not just cost you on that week's shipments; it can activate higher penalty tiers across four weeks of transactions.

For a deeper look at prevention strategies that apply across retail, see our guide on how to avoid EDI chargebacks.

Amazon Chargeback Categories and Penalties

Amazon EDI Chargeback Framework: Violation Types and Penalties (2026)

The Most Common Chargeback Triggers

Based on industry data and vendor reports, the chargebacks that hit vendors most frequently are:

1. Late or missing ASN (856): The single largest source of Amazon chargebacks. If your ASN arrives after the physical shipment, or does not arrive at all, the penalties are steep and tiered.
2. Missing or delayed PO acknowledgments (855): Failing to confirm POs within 48 hours carries a 1-3% of COGS penalty that compounds quickly across high-volume orders.
3. Invoice mismatches (810): When invoiced prices or quantities do not match the original PO, payment gets held and deductions follow.
4. Carton content accuracy: When what is in the carton does not match what the ASN says is in the carton, Amazon charges $2.60 per unit.
5. Packaging non-compliance: Oversized or overweight cartons at $25 each add up fast at scale.

The 90% Safe Harbor Threshold

Amazon provides a critical safe harbor: PO On-Time Accuracy chargebacks are waived if your trailing 4-week average on-time rate exceeds 90%. Fall below this threshold and all PO accuracy subtypes (Not on Time, Down-Confirmed, Not Filled) become active. This makes consistent compliance far more valuable than occasional perfection.

Prevention Through Automation

The most effective chargeback prevention strategy is automation that catches errors before they reach Amazon:

• Pre-transmission validation: Validate every ASN against Amazon's specifications before sending — flag quantity mismatches, verify SSCC uniqueness, check expiration dates
• Three-way match enforcement: Automatically reconcile 850 (PO), 856 (ASN), and 810 (Invoice) data before invoice submission
• Scan-to-ASN workflows: Generate ASN data directly from warehouse scanning operations, eliminating manual carton content entry
• Trailing compliance monitoring: Track your 4-week rolling averages across all chargeback categories with automated alerts when rates approach penalty thresholds

"Crstl delivers a product that makes traditional platforms look like a protection racket. As a fast-emerging brand, Crstl enables us to adapt and scale without viewing us as another pocket to pick."

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— Ryan Chen, CFO & Co-founder, Neuro

Amazon EDI Compliance Checklist for 2026

Use this checklist to verify your Amazon EDI readiness across every phase of the integration lifecycle:

1. Account and Product Prerequisites

• [ ] Vendor Central account approved and active with Amazon
• [ ] GS1 Company Prefix obtained ($250-$10,500/year depending on product count)
• [ ] GTINs/UPCs created and registered for all products in GS1 US Data Hub
• [ ] ASINs assigned and aligned with UPCs in Amazon's catalog
• [ ] Case pack quantities and units of measure (EA, CA, UN, PE) verified and accurate
• [ ] Product barcodes meet Amazon's specifications: minimum 1 x 2 inches, black ink on white background
• [ ] Each size, flavor, or variety has its own unique product identifier

2. EDI Provider and Connection Setup

• [ ] EDI provider selected and contracted (modern platform, VAN, or in-house)
• [ ] Internal EDI technical contact identified and authorized in Vendor Central
• [ ] General Survey completed in Vendor Central (EDI > Self Service Setup)
• [ ] Sender/Receiver IDs configured (ISA Qualifier and Identification Number)
• [ ] Connection type selected and configured (AS2, SFTP, or VAN)
• [ ] Document-specific surveys completed for all required transaction sets (850, 855, 856, 810, 846)

3. Document Mapping and Integration

• [ ] ERP/WMS integration configured for automated PO ingestion and processing
• [ ] ASIN-to-SKU cross-reference mappings built and validated
• [ ] Fulfillment center location codes mapped to ship-to addresses
• [ ] GS1-128 SSCC or AMZNCC label generation logic configured
• [ ] Carton Content Label templates created and tested (scannable, correctly formatted)
• [ ] Exception handling rules defined for backorders, partial shipments, and discontinued items

4. Certification Testing

• [ ] All test documents submitted and accepted by Amazon (855, 856, 810)
• [ ] In-stock item scenario tested and passed
• [ ] Discontinued item handling tested and passed
• [ ] Invalid item rejection tested and passed
• [ ] Backorder processing tested and passed
• [ ] Full order cycle validated (850 received, 855 sent, 856 sent, 810 sent)
• [ ] "Go Live" button enabled for all required document types

5. Go-Live Readiness

• [ ] Operations team trained on EDI workflows and Vendor Central dashboards
• [ ] Ship window compliance process documented (collect vs. prepaid freight)
• [ ] Routing request process established (753 submitted by 10am PT deadline)
• [ ] Chargeback monitoring process established with weekly review cadence
• [ ] Escalation contacts identified at EDI provider for urgent issues
• [ ] Vendor Central Operational Performance dashboards bookmarked and monitored

6. Ongoing Compliance

• [ ] Weekly trailing 4-week compliance rate review (target: above 90% on-time)
• [ ] Weekly ASN accuracy and timeliness monitoring
• [ ] Monthly chargeback analysis and dispute filing (30-day window)
• [ ] Quarterly EDI mapping review for Amazon requirement changes
• [ ] Monitor Amazon chargeback framework updates (significant changes in July 2025, January 2026)
• [ ] Annual GS1 data renewal and ASIN catalog verification

Beyond Compliance — How Modern EDI Prepares You for Amazon in 2026

Meeting Amazon's baseline EDI requirements is table stakes. The vendors gaining a competitive edge in 2026 are leveraging modern EDI platforms that combine traditional document exchange with API integration, AI-powered error prevention, and data analytics that turn compliance into a strategic advantage. The global EDI software market is projected to reach $2.57 billion in 2026, growing at a 12.3% CAGR — reflecting a rapid shift away from legacy approaches.

The API + EDI Hybrid Approach

Amazon's ecosystem is not purely EDI or purely API — it is both. Vendor Central relies on EDI for transactional documents, while SP API handles catalog management, analytics, and increasingly, Direct Fulfillment operations. Modern EDI platforms treat EDI and API as complementary channels within a single integration layer, rather than separate systems requiring separate teams.

This hybrid approach means you can use EDI for purchase orders and ASNs where Amazon requires it, while simultaneously leveraging SP API for real-time inventory updates, catalog synchronization, and operational analytics. For a comprehensive look at how AI is transforming this space, see our AI-powered EDI guide.

Data and Analytics for Supply Chain Visibility

Legacy EDI is a document pipeline: data goes in, documents come out. Modern EDI is an intelligence layer. The difference matters when you need to:

• Identify chargeback patterns before they become systemic — spotting that ASN compliance dips every Thursday because of a warehouse staffing gap
• Forecast demand by analyzing PO velocity trends across fulfillment centers
• Optimize inventory positioning using Amazon's ordering patterns to inform production planning
• Benchmark compliance across retailers, comparing your Amazon performance to Walmart, Target, and other trading partners

AI-Powered Mapping and Error Resolution

The most time-consuming part of traditional EDI is document mapping — translating Amazon's specific field requirements to your internal systems. AI-powered platforms automate this mapping, reducing what used to take weeks of manual configuration to days of automated setup.

More importantly, AI-powered validation catches errors before they leave your system. Instead of discovering a missing expiration date through a $2/unit chargeback from Amazon, pre-transmission validation flags the issue in real time and blocks the document until the data is corrected. AWS B2B Data Interchange has introduced generative AI-assisted mapping, and modern third-party platforms have taken this even further with full document lifecycle intelligence.

Agility for New Amazon Programs

Amazon constantly introduces new programs, requirements, and compliance frameworks. Vendors locked into rigid, legacy EDI infrastructure cannot adapt quickly. When Amazon consolidated its Receive Accuracy chargeback category in January 2026, vendors on modern platforms updated their monitoring rules in hours. Vendors on legacy systems spent weeks understanding the implications.

The same agility applies when expanding to new retailers. A platform that connects you to Amazon through modern EDI can also connect you to Walmart, Target, Costco, UNFI, and hundreds of other trading partners — without starting from scratch for each one.

"Our team is a lot more efficient since switching to Crstl. When it comes to onboarding a customer, the time that it takes is very short."

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— Silas Ang, Director of Supply Chain, Immi

Ready to Modernize Your Amazon EDI?

The brands winning with Amazon in 2026 are those that treat EDI not as a compliance burden, but as operational infrastructure that drives speed, accuracy, and profitability. Modern, AI-powered EDI makes that infrastructure accessible to growth-stage brands, not just enterprises with dedicated compliance teams.

Book a Demo to see how Crstl gets you compliant with Amazon Vendor Central in days, not months. Or explore our Case Studies to see how brands like Neuro, Immi, and Freestyle use Crstl to prevent chargebacks and accelerate retail growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Amazon use EDI?

Amazon uses EDI to automate the exchange of business documents with Vendor Central (1P) suppliers. When Amazon wants to order products, it sends an EDI 850 (Purchase Order). The vendor responds with an EDI 855 (PO Acknowledgment), ships the goods with an EDI 856 (Advance Ship Notice), and bills Amazon with an EDI 810 (Invoice). This automated cycle replaces manual order processing and enables Amazon to manage transactions across tens of thousands of vendors at a scale that would be impossible through manual methods.

Does Amazon require EDI for all vendors?

EDI is mandatory for all Vendor Central (1P) suppliers. Once your EDI integration goes live, manual document submission through the Vendor Central portal is disabled. However, Seller Central (3P) sellers do not use traditional EDI — they interact with Amazon through the Selling Partner API (SP API). If you participate in Amazon's Direct Fulfillment (dropship) program, EDI or SP API is required for inventory feeds and order processing. EDI vendors still retain access to Vendor Central's self-service tools for activities outside the EDI document flow.

What EDI documents does Amazon use?

Amazon's core required documents are: EDI 850 (Purchase Order), EDI 855 (PO Acknowledgment, due within 48 hours), EDI 856 (Advance Ship Notice, due before FC arrival), and EDI 810 (Invoice, due within 24 hours of shipment). Additional documents include EDI 846 (Inventory Advice), EDI 753/754 (Routing Request/Instructions for collect freight), EDI 860 (PO Change Request), EDI 820 (Remittance Advice), and EDI 997 (Functional Acknowledgment). The exact set required depends on your vendor agreement, fulfillment model, and freight terms.

What are the prerequisites for EDI with Amazon?

Before starting Amazon EDI setup, you need: an approved and active Vendor Central account, a GS1 Company Prefix with registered GTINs/UPCs for all products, ASINs assigned and aligned with your product identifiers in Amazon's catalog, verified case pack quantities and units of measure, an EDI provider or platform selected, and an internal technical contact authorized to manage the integration. You must also have test item data ready for Amazon's certification process, including in-stock, discontinued, invalid, and backorder items with accurate cost and quantity information.

How long does Amazon EDI setup take?

Setup timelines vary significantly based on your approach. With a modern AI-powered EDI platform, expect 1-3 weeks from initial configuration to go-live. Traditional VAN providers typically require 8-14 weeks including onboarding, configuration, mapping, and testing. In-house builds can take 3-6 months or longer depending on technical complexity. Amazon's self-service certification process itself typically takes 3-7 days with a modern platform or 2-4 weeks with manual mapping approaches. The limiting factor is usually document mapping complexity and how quickly your team can prepare test data.

What is the difference between EDI and SP API for Amazon?

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) uses the ANSI X12 standard to exchange structured documents like purchase orders and invoices over AS2 or SFTP connections. SP API (Selling Partner API) is Amazon's modern, REST-based JSON API introduced in Q3 2020. EDI is mandatory for Vendor Central (1P) transactional documents, while SP API is the primary interface for Seller Central (3P) and is now required for all new Direct Fulfillment integrations. Vendors can use both simultaneously — EDI for orders, ASNs, and invoices, while leveraging SP API for catalog management, analytics, and supplementary operations.

How much does Amazon EDI integration cost?

Costs depend on your chosen approach. Modern AI-powered platforms typically charge flat monthly SaaS subscriptions without per-document fees. Traditional VAN providers charge setup fees ($3,000-$10,000+) plus per-document transaction fees that scale with volume. In-house builds require significant upfront investment ($50,000+) plus ongoing IT maintenance. Beyond provider costs, factor in GS1 membership ($250-$10,500/year depending on product count) and internal team time for setup, testing, and ongoing compliance monitoring. The hidden cost to consider: Amazon chargebacks from a poorly implemented EDI integration can easily exceed the cost of a proper setup.

What happens if you are not EDI compliant with Amazon?

Non-compliance triggers chargebacks deducted directly from your payments. The penalties are among the most granular in retail: unconfirmed POs cost 1-3% of COGS, late/missing ASNs cost 2-6% of COGS on a tiered basis, paper invoices cost $5 each, and transportation violations can reach $500 per incident. Beyond financial penalties, persistent non-compliance impacts your vendor scorecard, reduces future order allocation from Amazon's buying team, and can ultimately jeopardize the vendor relationship. Vendors have 30 days to dispute chargebacks with supporting evidence, plus a second appeal opportunity if the first dispute is denied.