X12 856 Advance Ship Notice Explained
The X12 856, commonly called the ASN (Advance Ship Notice), tells a buyer exactly what's on its way before it arrives — contents, packaging, carrier, and expected delivery date. Large retailers frequently require ASN compliance from suppliers and penalize late or missing ones. This guide explains its structure.
What Is an X12 856 File?
The 856 Advance Ship Notice is sent by a supplier once a shipment leaves their facility, describing exactly what was packed, how it's organized (pallet → carton → item), which carrier is handling it, and the tracking/pro number. It lets the receiving warehouse plan labor and dock space before the truck even arrives, and it's the document typically matched against the original 850 Purchase Order and the eventual 810 Invoice.
Key Segments in an 856
- BSN (Beginning Segment for Ship Notice) — shipment identification number and date/time.
- HL (Hierarchical Level) — the loop structure that nests shipment → order → pack → item, letting one ASN describe multi-pallet, multi-carton shipments accurately.
- TD1/TD5 (Carrier Details) — packaging type, weight, and the carrier/routing information.
- REF (Reference Numbers) — tracking numbers, bill of lading number, and other identifiers.
- LIN/SN1 (Item Detail / Item Detail Shipment) — the product identifiers and quantity shipped per item.
A Worked Example
BSN*00*ASN-77102*20240120*0930~ HL*1**S~ TD5*B*2*FEDX*M~ REF*BM*TRACK998877~ HL*2*1*I~ LIN*1*VP*SKU-45501~ SN1*1*100*EA~
Read left to right: shipment notice ASN-77102 created January 20, 2024 at 9:30am, shipped via FedEx with tracking number TRACK998877, containing 100 units of SKU-45501.
The EDIFACT Equivalent
Outside North America, the equivalent document is the EDIFACT DESADV (Despatch Advice) message. See X12 vs EDIFACT for the full comparison, or convert a DESADV file on Convert EDIFACT DESADV to CSV.
Converting an 856 to a Spreadsheet
To turn an 856 file into a readable table, use Convert X12 856 to CSV — every BSN, HL, TD1/TD5, REF, and LIN/SN1 segment is labeled automatically, with the shipment hierarchy preserved in the output.
Try It Yourself
Load a sample 856 file instantly on the converter and see every segment labeled, with export to CSV, Excel, or JSON.
Open the Free EDI ConverterFrequently Asked Questions
What does ASN stand for?
Advance Ship Notice — the common name for the X12 856 transaction set.
Why do retailers require ASN compliance?
It lets receiving warehouses plan labor, dock space, and putaway before a shipment physically arrives, and many large retailers financially penalize suppliers for late or missing ASNs.
What is the EDIFACT equivalent of an X12 856?
The EDIFACT DESADV (Despatch Advice) message.