What is an EDI 855?

An EDI 855 Purchase Order Acknowledgement is typically sent by a seller to a buyer in response to an EDI 850 Purchase Order. Beyond acknowledging the new order, this document informs the buyer about the acceptance, necessary changes, or rejection of the purchase order.

Large retailers and distributors often mandate the use of EDI 855, requiring it to be sent within a specified timeframe or at a specific step in the EDI order process to ensure EDI compliance.

Here is an EDI 855 order series within Cleo Integration Cloud 
 

The purpose of this EDI transaction is not to replace the EDI 997 Functional Acknowledgement but to be sent in addition to it. The EDI 855 serves to inform the buyer that the order has been received and processed. Typically, the EDI 855 Purchase Order Acknowledgment provides detailed information about each line item, ensuring the accuracy of the order and confirming the seller's ability to meet the order's requirements.

EDI Transactions Guide

850 | 855 | 856 | 810 | 820
 

How is an EDI 855 Used?
 

Upon receiving an EDI 850 Purchase Order, a seller may respond by sending an EDI 855 acknowledgment. The primary purpose of the EDI 855 is to confirm the receipt and processing of a new order, indicating the seller's ability to fulfill it. In addition to serving as an affirmation in the best-case scenario where the EDI 850 is accepted without changes, the EDI 855 also reports any ordering inaccuracies. However, if the EDI 850 contains errors or cannot be fulfilled as requested, the seller uses the EDI 855 to notify the buyer of any necessary changes or to reject the order outright.
 

What are the Benefits of EDI 855?

Like all EDI documents, EDI 855 is encrypted in transit to protect seller and buyer details, offering more security than other communication methods. Sending an EDI 855 purchase order acknowledgement eliminates the need to confirm new orders with your customers by email, fax or phone calls. Additionally, the automated nature of EDI 855 helps reduce errors associated with manual retyping and the number of customer service touchpoints. For buyers, an EDI 855 can quickly alert them to any order issues, preventing any later issues with supply, invoicing, and payments. "

EDI 855 Specification

This X12 Transaction Set contains the format and establishes the data contents of the Purchase Order Acknowledgment Transaction Set (855) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used to provide for customary and established business and industry practice relative to a seller's acknowledgment of a buyer's purchase order. This transaction set can also be used as a notification of a vendor-generated order. This usage advises a buyer that a vendor has or will ship merchandise as prearranged in their partnership.

Sources

Accredited Standards Committee X12. ASC X12 Standard [Table Data]. Data Interchange Standards Association, Inc., Falls Church, VA. https://x12.org/index.php/products/transaction-sets