The EDI Testing and Certification Process: What to Expect

Before your first live purchase order from a new retailer can be processed, you need to pass their EDI certification. This process ensures your systems send and receive EDI documents correctly and that your labels meet their specifications.

Why Testing Matters

EDI certification exists to catch problems before they become chargebacks. A few days of testing prevents months of compliance issues after go-live.

The Typical Certification Process

Step 1: Connection Testing
Verify that your EDI connection (AS2 or VAN) can successfully transmit to and receive from the retailer’s EDI endpoint.

Step 2: Transaction Set Testing
Send test versions of each required transaction set — typically 855, 856, and 810. The retailer’s EDI compliance team reviews them for format accuracy.

Step 3: Scenario Testing
Most retailers require testing of multiple order scenarios:

• Full PO with single line item
• Full PO with multiple line items
• Partial shipment
• Cancelled PO

Step 4: Label Review
Submit sample GS1-128 carton labels for the retailer’s review. They check zone content, barcode format, and field accuracy.

Step 5: Approval and Go-Live
Once all test scenarios pass, you receive certification approval and can receive live purchase orders.

Common Testing Delays

• Wrong segment or element values in test transactions
• SSCC-18 barcode generation errors
• Missing required segments
• Label zone content or barcode quality issues

Spring Systems’ Role in Testing

Our team handles all retailer communication during the testing process. We know the compliance contacts at every major retailer and can accelerate approvals that might take weeks through self-service channels.