You're Almost There
If you've reached this stage, congratulations — your practice mode testing is complete and your retailer has confirmed that your documents pass validation. Now it's time to run through the preflight checklist and switch to production.
The preflight stage exists to make sure nothing is missed before real orders start flowing. Think of it as a pilot running through their checklist before takeoff.
The Preflight Checklist
RetailReady walks you through each item, but here's what gets verified:
1. Connection Credentials
Production credentials are different from practice mode credentials. Your retailer will provide a separate set of SFTP or AS2 credentials for their production environment. Make sure you've entered the production host, username, password (or certificates), and folder paths. RetailReady tests the production connection before letting you proceed.
2. Product Catalog Is Complete
Every product the retailer might order must be in your catalog with the correct identifiers:
- UPCs match the barcodes on your physical products
- Retailer SKU mappings are set up (so orders match correctly)
- Case pack quantities are accurate (how many units per case)
- Pricing matches what you've agreed on with the retailer
3. Compliance Requirements Are Understood
Review the retailer's compliance guide. Pay attention to:
- Shipping windows — How quickly must orders ship after you receive them? (e.g., within 48 hours)
- Labeling requirements — Do cartons need GS1-128 labels? Are there specific label placement rules?
- ASN timing — Must the ASN arrive before the shipment? How far in advance?
- Chargeback policies — What penalties apply for late shipments, missing ASNs, or labeling errors?
4. Test Documents All Passed
RetailReady confirms that your most recent practice cycle completed without errors. If any test documents had issues that were waived or skipped, you'll be asked to re-test them.
Switching to Production
Once every preflight item is checked off, you'll see a Go Live button on the trading partner page. When you click it:
- RetailReady switches to your production connection credentials.
- The trading partner status changes to Live.
- RetailReady begins polling for real purchase orders from that retailer.
- Any documents you send from this point forward are real — they will trigger actual fulfillment at the retailer's end.
Good to know: If you need to re-test your setup after going live, you can switch a trading partner back to Practice Mode from the trading partner detail page. You can also roll back from Live to Certification if needed.
Tips for Your First Week in Production
The first few days after going live are the most important. Here's how to stay on top of things:
- Check RetailReady daily — Log in at least once a day to review new orders and make sure nothing is stuck or errored.
- Respond to orders quickly — Send your 855 acknowledgment as soon as possible. Many retailers have a deadline (often 24 hours) for acknowledging orders.
- Watch for errors — If a document gets rejected, RetailReady will flag it on your dashboard. Address errors the same day if possible.
- Keep your inventory updated — If you run out of stock on an item, update your inventory in RetailReady immediately to avoid accepting orders you can't fulfill.
- Save your retailer's contact info — Know who to call or email at the retailer if something goes wrong. Their EDI coordinator or vendor compliance team is your lifeline.
After the first week or two, the process becomes routine. Most suppliers find that EDI actually saves them significant time compared to processing orders manually.