RetailReady Is Your EDI Translator
RetailReady sits between you and your retail trading partners. When a retailer sends an EDI document, RetailReady receives it, translates it from the raw X12 format into something you can actually read, and presents it in your dashboard. When you need to send a document back — like an acknowledgment or invoice — you fill out a simple form and RetailReady converts it to the exact EDI format your retailer expects.
You never need to understand X12 syntax, segment codes, or element separators. That's our job.
How the Connection Works
Retailers exchange EDI documents through secure connections. The two most common methods are:
- SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) — Files are uploaded and downloaded from a secure server, similar to Dropbox but more secure.
- AS2 (Applicability Statement 2) — A direct, encrypted connection between two systems with built-in delivery receipts.
RetailReady manages these connections for you. We maintain the servers, handle the security certificates, and monitor the connections around the clock. You don't need to install any software, configure any servers, or hire an IT team.
The Main Workflow
Here's the big picture of how a typical order flows through RetailReady:
- Receive Orders — Your retailer sends a purchase order (850). It appears in your RetailReady dashboard within minutes.
- Acknowledge — You review the order and send back an acknowledgment (855) confirming you can fulfill it.
- Ship — You pick, pack, and ship the products. Then you create a shipment in RetailReady, which generates and sends the ASN (856). A draft invoice is automatically created at the same time.
- Invoice — Review the auto-created invoice (810) and submit it through RetailReady to bill the retailer.
- Get Paid — The retailer processes your invoice and sends payment information (820).
Each step is clearly laid out in your dashboard with status indicators so you always know exactly where every order stands.
Compliance Tracking
One of the most valuable things RetailReady does is help you stay compliant with each retailer's specific requirements. Every retailer has their own rules about:
- How quickly you need to acknowledge orders (usually 24-48 hours)
- When ASNs must be sent (typically before the shipment arrives)
- What information must be included in each document
- Labeling and packaging requirements
RetailReady tracks these deadlines and warns you when something is due. If an acknowledgment is overdue, you'll see an alert. If an ASN is missing, it's flagged. This helps you avoid costly chargebacks before they happen.
What You Need to Get Started
To begin trading through RetailReady, you'll need:
- Your trading partner agreement with the retailer (they'll provide this)
- Your product catalog — UPCs, descriptions, and pricing
- Your company information — name, address, and contact details
- A web browser — that's it. No special software required.
RetailReady's setup wizard guides you through connecting your trading partners and running test transactions before you go live. Each step is clearly explained, and you can practice with sample orders in a safe sandbox environment. After practice, your trading partner moves through a Certification stage (where documents are sent to the retailer for validation) before going fully live.