What is an EDI 945?

The EDI 945, commonly referred to as a Warehouse Shipping Advice, is an electronic data interchange document used to verify fulfillment of a shipment. Typically transmitted by a third-party logistics provider (3PL) or a warehouse to their client, it informs the client that a shipment has been successfully executed.

The x12 format, established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), governs the structure of EDI 945 documents in the United States.

How is an EDI 945 used?

When a seller needs a shipment, they send a 940 Warehouse Shipping Order to their 3PL or warehouse, specifying goods and shipping details. After completing the shipment, the warehouse sends an EDI 945 to convey shipment details. This document provides the necessary information for the seller to reconcile the shipment against the sales order and send an EDI 856 Advance Ship Notice if needed.

The seller confirms receipt of the EDI 945 by sending back an EDI 997 Functional Acknowledgement.
 

Example EDI 945 transaction exchange:

Because the EDI 945 is sent in response to an EDI 940, you can start to understand the traditional order for this data exchange.

Here is an example of where the EDI 945 fits in within the transaction series:

1. First, an EDI 940 Warehouse Shipping Oder is sent by a supplier to a 3PL provider to formally request shipment of goods from a remote warehouse to the supplier's (buyer's) location
2. The third-party logistics provider sends the EDI 943 Advanced Shipment Notice to a remote warehouse, informing the supplier that a transfer shipment has been made from the manufacturer. 
3. Finally, the series is completed after an EDI 945 Warehouse Shipping Advice transaction is sent to provide confirmation of a shipment. The EDI 945 informs the trading partner a shipment was made.

EDI 945 Specification 

This X12 Transaction Set contains the format and establishes the data contents of the Warehouse Shipping Advice Transaction Set (945) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used by the warehouse to advise the depositor that shipment was made. It is used to reconcile order quantities with shipment quantities.

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