EDI to CSV for Dropshippers: Walmart, Target, Amazon Direct Fulfillment Guide
Complete guide to dropshipping EDI: convert Walmart DSV, Amazon Direct Fulfillment, and Target Plus purchase orders (850) to CSV, manage your 3PL workflow, and submit ASNs via retailer portals without expensive EDI software.
18 min read•Updated October 2025
You're dropshipping products for Walmart, Target, or Amazon. Orders come in as EDI 850 purchase orders. You forward them to your supplier or 3PL warehouse. They ship directly to the customer with retailer branding. You submit the 856 Advance Ship Notice (ASN) to the retailer. Then the 810 invoice gets processed.
The problem: EDI files are unreadable. Retailers send cryptic .edi files with segments like ST*850*0001~BEG*00*DS*PO123456~. You need to extract the customer name, address, items, quantities, and ship-by dates to forward to your supplier.
The solution: Convert EDI to CSV instantly. Upload the 850 purchase order to PlainEDI, get a labeled CSV with all order details, import to your order management system or send to your 3PL. Submit ASN and invoice through retailer web portals (Walmart Drop Ship Vendor Portal, Amazon Vendor Central, Target Partners Online).
This guide covers the complete dropshipping EDI workflow for all three major retailers, 3PL integration strategies, compliance requirements, and cost-effective alternatives to full EDI software.
Understanding the Dropship EDI Workflow
The dropshipping EDI lifecycle follows a standard 4-step pattern across Walmart, Target, and Amazon:
Step 1: Customer Places Order on Retailer Website
Walmart.com: Customer buys product listed under "Sold & Shipped by [Your Company]"
Amazon: Amazon Retail (1P) customer selects Direct Fulfillment product
Target Plus: Customer orders from Target.com/Target app
What happens behind the scenes: Retailer's order management system generates an EDI 850 purchase order and sends it to your EDI mailbox (VAN, AS2, or SFTP) or makes it available in their vendor portal.
Step 2: You Receive EDI 850 Purchase Order
Download locations:
Walmart DSV: Walmart Drop Ship Vendor (DSV) Portal under "EDI Documents" or via EDI VAN/AS2
Amazon: Vendor Central → Orders → "Download Orders" as EDI 850 or via Direct Fulfillment API
Submit EDI 856 Advance Ship Notice to retailer (via portal or EDI transmission)
Walmart DSV: ASN Builder in Drop Ship Vendor Portal (web form, no EDI required) or EDI 856 via VAN/AS2
Amazon: Vendor Central "Shipments" tab or Direct Fulfillment API for EDI 856
Target: Partners Online ASN submission (web form) or EDI 856 via AS2
Why ASN is critical: Late or missing ASNs trigger chargebacks. Walmart charges penalties for late/missing dropship ASNs. Amazon Direct Fulfillment has strict 4-hour advance notice requirement. Target Perfect Order Program (May 4, 2025) charges $0.75/carton for missing ASNs.
Step 5: Submit EDI 810 Invoice
After shipment confirmation, submit invoice:
Walmart DSV: Invoice via Drop Ship Vendor Portal or EDI 810
Amazon: Vendor Central invoice submission (auto-generated from ASN in some cases) or EDI 810
Target: Partners Online invoice or EDI 810
Three-way match: Retailers match 850 PO ↔ 856 ASN ↔ 810 Invoice. Mismatches (quantity, price, UPC) trigger payment holds and chargebacks.
Retailer-Specific Dropshipping EDI Requirements (2025)
Walmart Drop Ship Vendor (DSV) Program
EDI Setup Options:
Web Portal (Recommended for low volume): Walmart Drop Ship Vendor Portal for ASN/invoice submission via web forms (no EDI transmission required)
EDI via VAN/AS2: Full EDI transmission for high-volume dropshippers (850/856/810/997)
Walmart DSV API: Modern API alternative for tech-savvy vendors
Key Requirements:
MABD dates: EDI 850 includes Must Arrive By Date in DTM*002 segment (CCYYMMDD format). Ship to arrive MABD-3 to MABD window.
Packing slip: Must include Walmart branding, customer name, order details (Walmart provides packing slip template in DSV Portal)
Carrier requirements: Use Walmart-approved carriers (UPS, FedEx, USPS). Tracking must be provided in 856 ASN.
Department numbers: REF*DP segment in 850 PO contains department number (critical for correct item routing)
Compliance & Penalties:
Late/missing ASN penalties apply to dropship orders
OTIF (On-Time In-Full) requirements: 90% on-time for prepaid, 98% ready for collect, 95% in-full
Below 90% OTIF triggers 3% COGS penalty
Customer complaints about dropship quality trigger vendor warnings/suspension
Amazon Direct Fulfillment (Vendor Central Dropship)
Program Overview: Amazon Direct Fulfillment allows Vendor Central (1P) vendors to dropship directly to Amazon customers. Vendors must be invited to Direct Fulfillment program (not available to all Vendor Central accounts).
EDI Setup Options:
Vendor Central portal: Download 850 orders, submit ASN/invoice via web interface
Direct Fulfillment API: Real-time API for order retrieval and ASN submission (recommended for 50+ orders/month)
EDI via VAN: Traditional EDI 850/856/810 transmission
Key Requirements:
Order acknowledgment: 850 PO must be acknowledged within 8 hours of receipt
ASN timing: 856 ASN must be submitted 4 hours before actual delivery to customer (strict requirement)
Invoice timing: 810 invoice within 24 hours of shipment
Packaging: Amazon-branded packing slip required (Amazon provides packing slip PDF via API or Vendor Central)
Carrier tracking: Valid tracking from UPS/FedEx/USPS required in ASN
Compliance & Penalties:
Shortage chargebacks: If customer doesn't receive item, Amazon charges unit cost + 10-15% handling fee
Three-way match failures: 850 PO ↔ 856 ASN ↔ 810 Invoice must match exactly (quantity, price, UPC)
SIPP (Shipping and Item Performance Program): Late shipments, invalid tracking, or customer complaints trigger SIPP violations ($1.80-$4.40 per unit penalty effective Jan 1, 2025)
Dispute window: 30 days to dispute shortage chargebacks via Vendor Central (requires proof of delivery)
Target Plus Marketplace Dropshipping
Program Overview: Target Plus is Target's curated marketplace for select vendors. Dropshipping allowed on selective basis (invitation required).
EDI Setup Options:
Partners Online portal: Web-based order download and ASN submission
EDI via AS2: Direct AS2 connection for EDI 850/856/810/997 (required for high-volume vendors)
Third-party EDI providers: SPS Commerce, TrueCommerce integration
Key Requirements (2025 Updates):
Perfect Order Program (effective May 4, 2025): Compliance metrics updated for 2025
ASN penalties: $0.75 per carton for missing/late ASN (changed from 3% COGS), minimum $100 penalty
ASN Accuracy (new 2025 metric): Bill of Lading (BOL) number must be in correct format and segment in EDI 856
Physical Barcode Accuracy (new 2025 metric): GS1-128 labels must be scannable and match EDI data
Fill rate requirement: 95% measured at item level (3% COGS penalty for non-compliant items)
Compliance & Penalties:
Perfect Order Program tracks ASN availability, ASN accuracy, fill rate, physical barcode accuracy
Supplier Performance Management Dashboard (SPMD) for real-time compliance metrics
Repeated violations trigger account warnings, reduced visibility, or account suspension
Dropshipper EDI to CSV Workflow (PlainEDI Method)
Here's the step-by-step process for managing dropship EDI without full EDI software:
Step 1: Download EDI 850 Purchase Order
Walmart DSV: Login to Drop Ship Vendor Portal → EDI Documents → Download 850 PO (.edi file)
Amazon: Vendor Central → Orders → Download Orders (select EDI format)
Target: Partners Online → Orders → Download EDI 850
Retailer sends 850 PO via EDI to your EDI software/provider
Your EDI software auto-forwards 850 to 3PL's EDI system
3PL receives order, ships, sends 856 ASN back via EDI
Your EDI software receives 856, auto-transmits to retailer
Fully automated - no manual CSV conversion
Best for: 200+ orders/month, multiple 3PLs, high-volume dropshipping business.
Cost: $750-$2,000/month for full EDI software (SPS Commerce, TrueCommerce, Orderful) + 3PL EDI integration fees ($100-$500/month per 3PL).
Why expensive: Requires custom EDI mapping between your system, retailer's format, and 3PL's format. 6-12 months implementation time.
When to Graduate from CSV to Full EDI
You should consider full EDI integration when:
You consistently process 200+ dropship orders per month
You work with 3+ retailers (Walmart + Target + Amazon)
You use 2+ different 3PL warehouses (need automated routing)
Manual CSV processing takes 10+ hours per week
Your 3PL offers EDI integration and charges lower fulfillment fees for EDI orders
Migration path: Start with PlainEDI CSV method ($99/month). When you hit 200+ orders/month, migrate to Orderful ($1,999/month modern API platform) or SPS Commerce ($750-$2,000/month managed service).
Cost Comparison: Dropshipping EDI Solutions
Let's compare the total cost of managing dropship EDI for a vendor processing 100 orders/month across Walmart, Amazon, and Target:
Option 1: PlainEDI CSV Method
Monthly cost: $99/month PlainEDI unlimited files
Setup time: 0 hours (instant)
Processing time: 5 minutes per order × 100 orders = 8.3 hours/month
Labor cost: 8.3 hours × $25/hour = $208/month
Total monthly cost: $99 + $208 = $307/month
Annual cost: $307 × 12 = $3,684/year
Option 2: Orderful Modern EDI Platform
Monthly cost: $1,999/month Integrated API plan
Setup time: 9 days average onboarding
Setup cost: First trading partner FREE (Walmart), then ~$200/month per additional retailer-transaction relationship
Processing time: Automated (0 hours/month)
Total monthly cost: $1,999 base + 3 retailers × 2 transactions (850/856) × $200 = $1,999 + $1,200 = $3,199/month
Annual cost: $3,199 × 12 = $38,388/year
Option 3: SPS Commerce Managed Service
Monthly cost: $1,200/month (typical for 100 orders/month, 3 retailers)
Setup fee: $10,000 implementation (custom mapping for Walmart/Amazon/Target)
Setup time: 6-12 months onboarding
Processing time: Automated (0 hours/month)
Year 1 cost: $10,000 + ($1,200 × 12) = $24,400
Year 2+ annual cost: $1,200 × 12 = $14,400/year
Annual Cost Comparison (100 orders/month):
PlainEDI CSV Method: $3,684/year
SPS Commerce: $24,400 year 1, $14,400/year ongoing (3.9-6.6x more expensive)
Orderful: $38,388/year (10.4x more expensive)
ROI Breakeven: Full EDI makes sense at 200+ orders/month when labor cost of manual CSV processing (16+ hours/month at $25/hr = $400/month labor) justifies automation.
Common Dropshipping EDI Challenges & Solutions
Challenge 1: Late/Missing ASN Penalties
Problem: Your 3PL ships the order but doesn't notify you in time. You submit ASN late. Walmart/Target charges late ASN penalty.
Solution:
Set up automated tracking notifications from your 3PL (email/API)
Submit ASN immediately upon receiving tracking number (don't wait for delivery confirmation)
Walmart DSV: Submit ASN same day as ship date
Amazon: Submit ASN 4 hours before delivery (use estimated delivery date from carrier)
Target: Submit ASN before shipment arrives at customer
Challenge 2: Three-Way Match Failures (850 ↔ 856 ↔ 810)
Problem: Customer orders 10 units. Your 3PL ships 10 units. But invoice shows 11 units. Retailer flags mismatch, holds payment.
Solution:
Always verify quantity in CSV matches what your 3PL actually ships
If 3PL ships partial order (out of stock), update ASN quantity accordingly
Invoice quantity must match ASN quantity, not original PO quantity
Use PlainEDI to cross-reference: Download 850 PO → Convert to CSV → Compare with 3PL shipped quantity → Submit accurate 856 ASN
Challenge 3: Multiple 3PLs/Suppliers
Problem: You have 3 different suppliers. Walmart sends you 5 orders. Orders 1-2 go to Supplier A, orders 3-4 go to Supplier B, order 5 goes to Supplier C. Managing this manually is chaotic.
Solution:
Download all 850 POs from Walmart DSV Portal
Convert batch to CSV with PlainEDI (supports batch upload)
Filter CSV by SKU/product category in Excel:
Supplier A products → Export to supplier_a.csv → Email to Supplier A
Supplier B products → Export to supplier_b.csv → Email to Supplier B
Supplier C products → Export to supplier_c.csv → Email to Supplier C
Each supplier ships their portion, sends you tracking
You submit separate ASNs for each shipment (multiple ASNs per PO is allowed)
Walmart: Download packing slip template from Walmart DSV Portal → Email PDF to 3PL → 3PL prints and includes in shipment
Amazon: Vendor Central provides packing slip PDF for each order → Email to 3PL
Target: Partners Online packing slip generator → Email to 3PL
Best practice: Include packing slip PDF link in CSV you send to 3PL (add column "Packing_Slip_URL")
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dropship without EDI software?
Yes. For low-to-medium volume (under 200 orders/month), you can download EDI files from retailer portals, convert to CSV with PlainEDI, forward orders to your 3PL/supplier, and submit ASNs via retailer web portals. No EDI transmission software required.
Do I need EDI transmission for Walmart DSV, Amazon Direct Fulfillment, or Target Plus?
No for low volume. All three retailers offer web portals for ASN and invoice submission:
Walmart DSV: ASN Builder and Invoice Builder (web forms, no EDI required)
Amazon Vendor Central: Shipments tab for ASN submission
Target Partners Online: ASN and invoice web forms
EDI transmission (VAN/AS2) is only required at high volumes (200+ orders/month) or if retailer specifically mandates it for your account.
How does PlainEDI handle dropship-specific EDI fields?
PlainEDI automatically extracts dropship-relevant fields from EDI 850 purchase orders:
Customer ship-to address (N1/N3/N4 segments with "ST" qualifier)
Walmart MABD dates (DTM*002 segment)
Target TCIN and requested delivery date
Amazon ASIN and delivery window
Department numbers, special instructions, gift messages (if present in PO)
What if my 3PL already has EDI integration?
If your 3PL has full EDI integration, you have two options:
Option 1: Use 3PL's EDI integration for automatic order forwarding (retailer → your EDI → 3PL EDI). You'll need full EDI software ($750-$2,000/month).
Option 2: Continue using PlainEDI CSV method if 3PL also accepts CSV/email orders (many 3PLs support both EDI and CSV). Saves $650-$1,900/month in EDI software costs.
How do I handle partial shipments in dropshipping?
If your 3PL ships partial order (item out of stock):
Submit first 856 ASN with actual shipped quantity and tracking
When remaining items ship, submit second 856 ASN with same PO number, new tracking
Retailers accept multiple ASNs per PO
Invoice should match total shipped quantity across all ASNs (not original PO quantity)
What are the biggest dropshipping EDI mistakes?
Top mistakes leading to chargebacks:
Late/missing ASNs: Submit ASN immediately after receiving tracking from 3PL (don't wait)
Wrong ship-to address: Always use customer address from EDI 850 N1/N3/N4 "ST" segments, not retailer warehouse address
Quantity mismatches: ASN quantity must match actual shipped quantity (not PO quantity if partial shipment)
Missing tracking numbers: ASN without valid tracking triggers penalties
Wrong packing slip: Must use retailer-branded packing slip (Walmart/Amazon/Target templates)
Start Dropshipping with PlainEDI - No EDI Software Required
Convert Walmart DSV, Amazon Direct Fulfillment, and Target Plus purchase orders to CSV in 30 seconds. Forward orders to your 3PL. Submit ASNs via retailer portals.