ASN (Advance Shipping Notice)

What Is an ASN?

An advance shipping notice, often called an ASN, is a document that tells a warehouse or retailer exactly what is on its way before the freight arrives. It usually lists the SKUs, the quantity of each, how they are packed, the number of cartons or pallets, and tracking or carrier details.

In fulfillment, the brand or its manufacturer submits the ASN to the 3PL. In retail and wholesale, a supplier sends an ASN to the retailer, often through EDI, as a required step before delivery.

How It Works

The typical flow is simple. The brand creates the ASN when a purchase order ships from the factory or a previous warehouse. The receiving warehouse uses it to schedule the dock, assign labor and set up the expected quantities in its system. When the shipment lands, staff count and scan the goods against the ASN and flag any differences.

For example, an ASN might say a delivery contains two pallets with 40 cartons of a serum, 24 units per carton, plus one mixed carton of samples. If the team counts 38 cartons, the shortage is recorded right away instead of surfacing weeks later as a stockout.

• List every SKU and quantity exactly as packed.
• Note how cartons and pallets are labeled.
• Send the ASN before the freight arrives, not after.

Why It Matters for Ecommerce Brands

ASNs speed up receiving and make inventory available to sell faster. Without one, a warehouse has to figure out what arrived from scratch, which slows check-in and increases the chance of errors.

An accurate ASN also creates a clear record for resolving disputes with suppliers. If a factory short-ships, you have documentation of what was promised versus what was received. Retail partners frequently require ASNs and may issue chargebacks when they are missing or wrong.