EDI 945 Warehouse Shipping Advice: Confirming 3PL Shipments
The 3PL confirming what it shipped: the items, quantities, cartons and tracking, so the supplier can fulfill, notify and bill.
- Document
- X12 945: Warehouse Shipping Advice
- Sent by
- 3PL warehouse
- Sent to
- Supplier (depositor)
- In NetSuite
- Item fulfillment, with tracking
(01)What it is
The 945 is the 3PL’s confirmation that an order shipped. It reports what actually went out, which may differ from the 940 if items were short, and carries the tracking or bill of lading number.
For the supplier, the 945 is the trigger for everything downstream: marking the order fulfilled, sending the customer an ASN, and invoicing.
Most 3PLs send one 945 per shipped order, but some send one per carton or per truck. The integration has to know which, or it will create one fulfillment per carton.
(02)What it carries
- 01The supplier’s order number it confirms
- 02Ship date, carrier and tracking or bill of lading number
- 03Items and quantities actually shipped, with any shortages
- 04Carton or pallet details, when the 3PL provides them
In plain language. Each trading partner’s implementation guide sets the exact fields it requires.
(03)Where it fits
Documents usually exchanged before and after the 945.
(04)In NetSuite
Create a NetSuite item fulfillment from each 945, for the quantities it reports, not the quantities ordered. Partial shipments create partial fulfillments, and the remaining quantity stays open or is cancelled by a rule. Store the 945’s ID so a resent 945 doesn’t create a second fulfillment.
(05)Common mistakes
- 01Fulfilling the full order quantity when the 945 reports a short shipment.
- 02Creating duplicate fulfillments when the 3PL resends a 945.
- 03Dropping the carton data the 945 carries, then having nothing to build the customer’s ASN from.
(06)Questions
What is an EDI 945?
The EDI 945 is the X12 warehouse shipping advice: a 3PL’s confirmation to the goods’ owner of what it shipped against a warehouse shipping order (940).
Is a 945 the same as an ASN?
No. A 945 goes from the warehouse to the goods’ owner; an ASN (856) goes from the supplier to its customer. The 945 often provides the data for the 856.
(07)More 3pl & warehouse documents
- EDI 940Warehouse Shipping OrderThe supplier telling its 3PL warehouse what to ship, to whom and how.
- EDI 943Warehouse Stock Transfer Shipment AdviceThe supplier telling its 3PL that inventory is on the way, so the warehouse can expect and receive it.
- EDI 944Warehouse Stock Transfer Receipt AdviceThe 3PL confirming what it received, item by item, including any shortages or damage.
- EDI 947Warehouse Inventory Adjustment AdviceThe 3PL reporting stock changes that aren’t shipments or receipts: cycle counts, damage, returns and status changes.