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Step-by-Step Guide to Reading Lowe's EDI Files

Complete guide to reading and processing Lowe's EDI files (850, 856, 810, 997). Learn ASN requirements, compliance penalties, and how to avoid chargebacks.

15 min readLast updated: October 2025

Why Lowe's EDI Compliance Matters

Lowe's enforces stringent EDI compliance requirements for all vendors. Missing or late ASNs, inaccurate labeling, late deliveries, and incomplete EDI transmissions result in chargebacks. Understanding how to read and process Lowe's EDI files correctly is essential to avoid costly penalties.

Critical Timing Requirement

Lowe's expects the 856 ASN the moment a shipment leaves—not after. Late ASNs result in immediate chargebacks, regardless of whose fault it is.

Required Lowe's EDI Documents

Lowe's requires vendors to support these core EDI transactions:

Mandatory Transactions:

  • EDI 850 - Purchase Order (from Lowe's)
  • EDI 856 - Advance Ship Notice / ASN (to Lowe's) - REQUIRED
  • EDI 810 - Invoice (to Lowe's)
  • EDI 997 - Functional Acknowledgment (both directions) - REQUIRED

Optional Transactions:

  • EDI 855 - Purchase Order Acknowledgment
  • EDI 820 - Payment Order/Remittance Advice
  • EDI 824 - Application Advice
  • EDI 846 - Inventory Inquiry/Advice
  • EDI 852 - Product Activity Data
  • EDI 870 - Order Status Report

Reading Lowe's EDI 850 Purchase Orders

The EDI 850 Purchase Order from Lowe's contains everything you need to fulfill the order: quantities, pricing, ship-to locations, and delivery dates.

Key 850 Segments to Extract:

BEG*00*SA*2024001234*20251020~
  Element 3: PO Number (2024001234)
  Element 4: PO Date (October 20, 2025)

REF*DP*DC1234~
  Lowe's Distribution Center ID

PER*BD*John Smith*TE*555-0100~
  Buyer contact information

DTM*002*20251027~
  Delivery Date (October 27, 2025)
  Qualifier 002 = Delivery requested date

N1*ST*LOWES #0234*92*00123~
  Ship-to store location
  Qualifier 92 = Assigned by buyer (Lowe's store #)

PO1*1*100*EA*25.99*PE*UP*012345678901~
  Line 1: 100 units at $25.99 each
  UPC: 012345678901

Quick Conversion Tip

Use PlainEDI's 850 converter to instantly convert Lowe's purchase orders to CSV/Excel. Extract PO numbers, delivery dates, and line items in seconds.

Creating Lowe's EDI 856 Advance Ship Notices (ASN)

The 856 ASN is mandatory for all Lowe's vendors. This document must be sent before the truck arrives at the distribution center or store.

Critical 856 Requirements:

Chargeback Alert

  • Late ASNs: Send the 856 before the truck arrives—not after
  • Mismatched quantities: If your ASN says 12 cartons but labels scan as 10, you'll be charged
  • Invalid barcodes: GS1-128 labels must match ASN MAN segments exactly

Example 856 Structure:

BSN*00*SHIP001*20251020*143000~
  Shipment ID: SHIP001
  Date: October 20, 2025 at 2:30 PM

HL*1**S~
  Hierarchical Level 1: Shipment

TD5*B*2*UPS*M*001Z12345~
  Carrier: UPS
  Tracking: 001Z12345

REF*BM*2024001234~
  Reference to original PO number

DTM*011*20251021~
  Estimated arrival: October 21, 2025

N1*SF*YOUR COMPANY NAME*92*VENDOR123~
  Ship-from location

HL*2*1*O~
  Hierarchical Level 2: Order (parent is shipment)

PRF*2024001234~
  PO Number reference

HL*3*2*P~
  Hierarchical Level 3: Pack (parent is order)

MAN*GM*00123456789012345678~
  SSCC-18 barcode (GS1-128 label)
  This must match the physical label on the carton

HL*4*3*I~
  Hierarchical Level 4: Item (parent is pack)

LIN**UP*012345678901~
  UPC of item inside the pack

SN1**100*EA~
  Quantity: 100 units

GS1-128 Label Requirements:

Lowe's requires GS1-128 barcode labels on all cartons. The SSCC-18 (Serial Shipping Container Code) on the physical label must exactly match the MAN*GM segment in your 856 ASN.

SSCC-18 Structure (18 digits):

0 0123456789 123456789 7
• Extension Digit (1)
• Company Prefix (9 digits) - Assigned by GS1
• Serial Number (8 digits) - Your unique carton number
• Check Digit (1) - MOD 10 calculation

Creating Lowe's EDI 810 Invoices

The EDI 810 Invoice must reference the original PO number and match the quantities from your 856 ASN. Lowe's requires compliance data (e.g., TSCA Title VI certification for wood products) in invoices.

Key 810 Segments:

BIG*20251021*INV2024001*20251020*2024001234~
  Invoice Date: October 21, 2025
  Invoice Number: INV2024001
  PO Date: October 20, 2025
  PO Number: 2024001234

REF*DP*DC1234~
  Distribution Center reference

N1*BY*LOWES*92*00123~
  Bill-to: Lowe's

IT1*1*100*EA*25.99**UP*012345678901~
  Line 1: 100 units at $25.99
  UPC: 012345678901

TDS*259900~
  Total amount: $2,599.00 (100 × $25.99)

CAD*****STANDARD~
  Terms: Standard payment terms

Compliance Data Required

Lowe's requires compliance data in your invoices. For wood products, include TSCA Title VI certification. Missing compliance data results in invoice rejection.

Understanding Lowe's EDI 997 Functional Acknowledgments

The 997 is a mandatory functional acknowledgment. Lowe's will send you a 997 to confirm receipt of your 856 ASN and 810 Invoice. You must also send a 997 back to Lowe's when you receive their 850 Purchase Orders.

997 Acceptance Codes:

  • AK01 = A (Accepted): Document accepted with no errors
  • AK01 = E (Accepted with Errors): Document accepted but has syntax errors
  • AK01 = R (Rejected): Document rejected due to critical errors

If you skip sending 997s, Lowe's sees your system as non-responsive, which can lead to compliance violations and account holds.

Common Lowe's EDI Errors and How to Fix Them

1. Late or Missing 856 ASN

Error: ASN not sent before truck arrival

Solution: Configure your ERP or 3PL to trigger the 856 automatically the moment the shipment leaves. Use automated EDI workflows.

2. Quantity Mismatches Between 856 ASN and Physical Cartons

Error: ASN says 12 cartons, but labels scan as 10

Solution: Verify carton counts before sending ASN. Implement barcode scanning at your warehouse to catch errors before shipping.

3. Invalid or Missing SSCC-18 Barcodes

Error: GS1-128 label doesn't match MAN*GM segment in ASN

Solution: Use GS1-compliant label printing software. Validate SSCC-18 check digit using MOD 10 algorithm before printing.

4. Missing Compliance Data in 810 Invoices

Error: Invoice missing TSCA Title VI or other required certifications

Solution: Add compliance data fields to your invoice template. Consult Lowe's EDI specification guide for required certifications by product category.

5. No 997 Functional Acknowledgments Sent

Error: Failure to send 997s after receiving 850 POs

Solution: Enable automatic 997 generation in your EDI software for all inbound transactions.

Lowe's EDI Technical Specifications

Format and Versions:

  • Standard: ANSI X12
  • Versions: 4010 or 4030 (verify with your Lowe's EDI analyst)
  • Delimiters: Segment terminator (~), Element separator (*), Sub-element separator (>)

Connection Methods:

  • VAN (Value-Added Network): Preferred method
  • AS2: Secure point-to-point
  • FTP/SFTP: File-based transfer
  • HTTPS: API-based integration

How PlainEDI Simplifies Lowe's EDI Processing

PlainEDI converts Lowe's EDI files to Excel/CSV instantly, helping you:

  • Read 850 POs faster: Extract PO numbers, delivery dates, and line items in seconds
  • Validate 856 ASNs: Check SSCC-18 barcodes and quantities before sending
  • Process 810 Invoices: Match invoices to POs quickly for three-way matching
  • Debug 997 errors: See exactly which segments failed validation

Try PlainEDI for Lowe's EDI

Convert Lowe's EDI files to CSV/Excel in seconds. Upload your 850, 856, 810, or 997 files and get instant conversion—no EDI software required.

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I send a late 856 ASN to Lowe's?

Late ASNs result in immediate chargebacks. Lowe's expects the 856 before the truck arrives at the DC or store. Even small delays can trigger compliance violations and financial penalties.

Does Lowe's require GS1-128 barcode labels?

Yes, Lowe's requires GS1-128 labels with SSCC-18 barcodes on all cartons. The SSCC on the physical label must exactly match the MAN*GM segment in your 856 ASN. Mismatched or missing labels result in chargebacks.

What EDI version does Lowe's use?

Lowe's typically uses ANSI X12 version 4010 or 4030. Verify the specific version with your Lowe's EDI analyst during onboarding. Your EDI software must support the agreed-upon version.

Do I need to send 997 functional acknowledgments to Lowe's?

Yes, 997s are mandatory. You must send a 997 back to Lowe's when you receive their 850 Purchase Orders. If you skip 997s, Lowe's sees your system as non-responsive, which can lead to account holds.

Can PlainEDI help me create Lowe's EDI files?

PlainEDI currently converts EDI files to CSV/Excel (reading inbound files like 850 POs). For creating outbound EDI files (856 ASNs, 810 Invoices), you'll need EDI translation software or a VAN provider that supports EDI generation from CSV/Excel templates.