Is an ASN the same as a Bill of Lading?

No. An ASN is sent in advance to notify the receiver about what is coming. A Bill of Lading travels with the shipment and serves as the legal contract between shipper and carrier.

The supplier or shipper sends the ASN to the buyer or receiving party, usually through EDI. A 3PL like 3PL Center can handle ASN generation and transmission as part of standard fulfillment.

What happens if an ASN is missing or incorrect?

Missing or inaccurate ASNs cause receiving delays, inventory mismatches, and retailer chargebacks that range from $50 to several hundred dollars per shipment. Repeat violations can put the entire vendor relationship at risk.

EDI 856 is the standard electronic transaction format for an Advanced Shipping Notice. It is the document type retailers and trading partners expect when ASN data is transmitted between systems.

Do you need EDI to send an ASN?

EDI is the most common transport method, but some retailers also accept ASNs via web portal upload, API integration, or flat file. EDI is required for high-volume retailers like Walmart, Target, and Amazon.

Can a 3PL send ASNs on my behalf?

Yes. A 3PL with EDI integration generates and transmits ASNs as part of the standard pick, pack, and ship workflow. You do not need to maintain your own EDI infrastructure.

How early does an ASN need to be sent?

Most retailers require the ASN before the shipment arrives at the destination DC. Specific cutoffs vary by retailer, ranging from a few hours before delivery to 24 hours in advance. Check your routing guide for exact requirements.

Insight

3 min read

What Is an Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN)?

An Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) is an electronic notification sent before a shipment arrives. Here is what an ASN includes, why retailers require it, and how 3PL Center automates ASN compliance. (Updated 5/4/26)

Published on April 21, 2025

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What Is an Advanced Shipping Notice?

An Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) is an electronic notification sent before a shipment arrives. It includes contents, quantities, packaging, and estimated arrival time so the receiving party can prepare ahead of time. Retailers like Walmart and Target require ASNs to avoid chargebacks.

An Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) is the heads-up your warehouse needs before a shipment lands at the dock. Done well, ASNs cut receiving time, prevent chargebacks from big-box retailers, and keep inventory accurate. Done badly or not at all, they slow down the entire supply chain.

What is an Advanced Shipping Notice?

An Advanced Shipping Notice is an electronic document a supplier sends to a buyer to tell them what is being shipped, how it is packed, and when it will arrive. Most ASNs travel as EDI 856 transactions between the shipper’s and receiver’s systems.

What information does an ASN include?

Purchase order number

Carrier name and tracking information

Estimated arrival date and time

Shipment contents (SKUs, quantities, lot numbers)

Pallet, carton, or pack-out configuration

Special handling instructions (temperature, fragile, hazardous)

Bill of lading reference (when available)

When is an ASN sent?

An ASN is generated once a shipment is picked, packed, and labeled but before the carrier picks it up. The supplier transmits the ASN electronically, usually through EDI, so the receiver can plan dock appointments, staff levels, and putaway before the truck arrives.

How does an ASN improve receiving?

When the receiving team has the ASN before the shipment arrives, they can:

Schedule dock appointments and assign labor in advance

Match expected contents against the original purchase order

Pre-load inventory into the WMS so units are sellable the moment they hit the floor

Cross-dock direct-ship items without intermediate putaway

Catch shorts or wrong-SKU shipments before they create downstream errors

Result: faster warehouse receiving, fewer manual errors, and quicker time to sellable inventory.

What’s the difference between an ASN and a packing slip?

Both documents describe what is in a shipment, but they serve different purposes and travel through different channels.

Feature	ASN	Packing Slip
Sent	Electronically, before shipment arrives	Physically, with the shipment
Purpose	Pre-arrival notification and planning	Physical confirmation at receiving
Format	EDI 856 document	Paper or in-box document
Used by	Receiving and inventory systems	Warehouse personnel during putaway

What’s the difference between an ASN and a Bill of Lading?

An ASN is an advance notification sent before the shipment lands. A Bill of Lading (BOL) travels with the shipment and serves as the legal contract between the shipper and the carrier. Receiving teams use the ASN to plan and the BOL to confirm what physically arrived.

Why do retailers require ASNs?

Major retailers (Walmart, Target, Amazon, Costco, Macy’s, Nordstrom) require ASNs because their distribution centers run on tight schedules and high volume. Without an ASN, the DC has no way to schedule dock appointments, staff the right number of unloaders, or route inventory to the right destination. Most retailers issue chargebacks for missing, late, or inaccurate ASNs, ranging from $50 per shipment to several hundred dollars depending on the retailer and the violation.

How much do ASN errors cost?

Retailer chargebacks for ASN errors usually fall in three categories: late ASN (sent after the shipment arrives), inaccurate ASN (counts or SKUs do not match the shipment), and missing ASN (none sent at all). Penalties stack on top of base shipping cost and can wipe out margin on individual orders. For high-volume suppliers, missed ASN compliance can put the entire vendor relationship at risk.

Working with a 3PL for ASN automation

A 3PL with EDI integration sends ASNs automatically, every time, from the same shipment data the warehouse uses to pick and pack. 3PL Center connects to major retailers through EDI, generates ASNs as part of the standard fulfillment workflow, and maintains retail compliance standards across Walmart, Target, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and other big-box accounts. Real-time WMS visibility lets your team track ASN status from dock to shelf at our California and New Jersey warehouses.