An Advance Ship Notice, commonly encoded as EDI 856, is an electronic document sent before a shipment arrives. It provides detailed information about the contents, packaging, logistics units, and structure of the shipment. ASNs give retailers, distributors, and receiving facilities visibility into what is coming, how it is packed, and when it will arrive, allowing for faster, error‑free receiving and better inventory planning.
In retail supply chains, ASNs are one of the most critical EDI documents.










