Dex for Walmart

Recently we’ve had a large amount of calls regarding Walmart and the switch to DEX from other forms of EDI. Here is what this means to you if you’ve been contacted by Walmart.

First, if you have never heard of DEX, the process is both one of the oldest forms of EDI and one of the most immediate for getting your product and invoices into the system of your customer.

DEX was introduced in the late 1980’s and the technology behind it looks fairly simple. It usually consists of a DEX cable that has a plug-in on the end that is the same size as a standard stereo plug like you might see on a pair of headphones.

When in use, this cable connects physically or wirelessly to a mobile device running a route management system like bMobile Route Manager. From there, once the delivery is at the store, the driver simply takes the cable and plugs it into a jack in the receiving dock, which then allows the driver to electronically send a copy of the delivery into the store’s computer system.

There are two files that usually get sent, 894 and 895 records. The 894 is the delivery record, which the receiver then gets on their end allowing them to confirm the items in the delivery, and then if there are any returns, the 895 is also transmitted.

The advantages of this are as follows:

• The delivery is in the customer system immediately, thus reducing time to pay
• The items on the delivery are validated using the UPC code and eliminate any driver entry error – also both price and quantity are validated
• It provides a way for the supplier (you) and the customer to remove any disputes on deliveries, thus reducing chargebacks and other issues

Walmart has been requiring suppliers to use EDI through either a VAN (a third party who handles the transactions) or have those transactions sent directly to their servers. But this method has always been ‘after the fact’ once the driver returned to the office and uploaded the day’s information into the supplier’s route system. This means there would be a delay in getting that information back to Walmart for remittance.

Now, Walmart is adopting DEX and asking all suppliers to use this technology. While to some it may seem like using the oldest EDI method is a step back, it is actually a smart move on one of the largest retailers in the world. It will speed up your payments from them and eliminate errors on the delivery records.

If you want to know more about how to add a DEX solution to your bMobile Route Manager and serve customers like Walmart and many others, please give us a call and we’ll be glad to show you more about how this can help!

Call: 1+(888) 900-5667

Email: info@bmobileroute.com

You can also view the Walmart DEX supplier requirements and standards here.