What is SPS Commerce?
SPS Commerce is an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) provider that provides brands/merchants connections to a network of trading partners. In order for a brand/merchant to sell their products to (or dropship for) many retailers/trading partners, an EDI provider must be used to connect to the trading partner.
What role does Extensiv Integration Manager play in the implementation?
Integration Manager acts as a flexible communications channel that can automate data exchange between your SPS Commerce trading partners and your back-end system whether it be a 3PL, Order Management System, or Shipping Platform. Our system handles the customized mapping required for each individual trading partner and EDI document and standardizes it to the needs of your order destination. We also work with each new connection to identify potential issues unique to the client's specific order process and collaborate with SPS Commerce's implementations team to create robust solutions.
Most trading partners require a rigorous testing process for each EDI document in the scope for automation. This testing process can take a number of weeks (3-4) to complete per trading partner connection. During that time Integration Manager will work with you to setup, configure and perform end-to-end testing of the connection to insure that you meet the validation requirements of the retailer and are ready to begin exchan
ging data.
The setup and testing fee is a flat per-retailer fee that covers the initial configuration, setup and testing of the connection along with any minor development required to reach compliance with the retailer's requirements and ensure that orders arrive correctly formatted in the target system.
How much time does it take to implement a trading partner connection?
We typically estimate 4 weeks for the first trading partner connection and 2-3 per additional trading partner connection. This can vary depending on the documents needed per trading partner. After the initial retailer is completed then multiple trading partners can be tested in parallel.
Which EDI Documents does Integration Manager support?
This connection relies on SPS Commerce translating raw EDI data provided by the retailer, into a standardized Integration Manager format. We cannot parse raw EDI.
Dropship vs B2B
Dropship (Direct to Consumer) orders handled via EDI connection are treated just like an e-commerce order. The order will load into your fulfillment system and a tracking number will be passed back to SPS Commerce (and the trading partner).
B2B orders (purchase orders to trading partner locations) have additional requirements. In addition to a standard shipping label (or freight label) a UCC-128 carton label must be included on each carton. SSCC-18 (GS1) barcodes and carton level detail must be provided to SPS Commerce. If your fulfillment system (WMS) is able to print UCC-128 labels and pass the required carton level data back to Integration Manager, Integration Manager can pass that data back to SPS Commerce. Otherwise, UCC-128 labels must be generated in the SPS Commerce interface. If you are unsure if that data is available in your order destination please reach out to
help@cartrover.com to verify.
What steps are required to begin the SPS Commerce implementation process?
- Reach out to Integration Manager Support to request trading partner connections via SPS Commerce. Please include the trading partners you'd like, whether they are B2B or Dropship, and what EDI documents you would like to automate.
- Our team will make sure that we can provide you full coverage, help address any potential issues and provide an estimate.
- If not already established with SPS Commerce, Integration Manager will provide an introduction to the appropriate SPS Commerce contact.
- Let our team know once you've agreed to terms with SPS Commerce and we'll issue a formal invoice for the work from Integration Manager. On payment an EDI developer from Integration Manager will be assigned to your project and connect with you for next steps!