EDI 850 Purchase Order

What Is an EDI 850 Purchase Order?

The EDI 850 is the standard electronic document a buyer uses to place an order with a supplier. In retail, it is usually the first document in a transaction: the retailer sends an 850 that says what it wants to buy, how many units, at what price, and where and when to deliver.

It is part of the ANSI X12 standard widely used in the United States.

How It Works

An 850 typically contains:

• A purchase order number that later documents must reference.
• Item identifiers such as UPCs or retailer item numbers.
• Ordered quantities and unit prices.
• Ship-to locations, often a distribution center or store.
• Requested ship or delivery dates and any special instructions.

Why It Matters for Ecommerce Brands

The 850 sets the terms for everything that follows. The shipment, the advance ship notice and the invoice all need to match it. If a brand ships a different quantity or the wrong item, the mismatch can lead to rejected deliveries, short payments or chargebacks.

For example, a supplement brand might receive an 850 for 24 cases of one product and 12 of another, to be delivered to a specific distribution center by a set date. The brand's EDI provider translates the 850, the order goes to the warehouse, and the warehouse picks exactly those quantities.

Brands should review each 850 promptly. Some retailers expect an acknowledgment or a response if items cannot be filled, and catching problems early is far easier than fixing them after a shipment goes out.