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EDI 846 Inventory Advice for 3PLs and SAP

Keep SAP and your 3PL on the same page about inventory, every day.

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What Happens When Your 3PL's Inventory Doesn't Match SAP?

The EDI 846 inventory advice reports your 3PL's stock to SAP every day, so differences are found and fixed right away.

When a third-party logistics provider joins your supply chain, most companies implement the big four EDI transactions: the warehouse shipping order (940), warehouse shipping advice (945), stock transfer shipment advice (943) and warehouse stock transfer receipt advice (944). But what happens when you ask your 3PL to ship inventory it doesn't have? Stock gets lost, moved or run over by a forklift, and your team wastes hours chasing missing product or trying to find the day or order that caused the problem. The 846 is often overlooked, but once customers see it, they quickly see the value.

How It Works

Quick to set up, then it runs every night on its own.

  1. Report
    • Your 3PL sends an 846 every day, usually overnight
  2. Translate
    • Your EDI system translates it and brings it into SAP
  3. Compare
    • SAP compares it with your inventory position at that time
  4. Act
    • Differences are reported; if there are none, you aren't bothered

What the 846 Reports

Location
Inventory levels at each plant, down to the storage location if needed
Stock Status
Good, damaged, quality inspection and other statuses
Discrepancy Report
CONTAX's follow-up reporting shows every difference, so you can correct errors when they happen and prevent them in future

Watch the Demo

How the EDI 846 inventory advice keeps SAP and your 3PL in sync.

EDI 846 Inventory Advice FAQ

What is an EDI 846 inventory advice?

The EDI 846 is a document your 3PL sends to report its inventory levels for your products, by location and stock status. In SAP it can be compared automatically with your own inventory records.

How often does the 3PL send the 846?

Usually once a day, in the middle of the night when processing is at its slowest.

Which EDI transactions are used with a 3PL?

The core transactions are the 940 warehouse shipping order, 945 warehouse shipping advice, 943 stock transfer shipment advice and 944 stock transfer receipt advice. The 846 inventory advice adds a daily check that both sides agree on stock.

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Stop Chasing Missing Stock

Tell us about your 3PLs, and we'll show you how the 846 works in SAP.

Contact Us SAP 3PL Integration