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Ocado Retail Purchase orders · Despatch advices · Invoices Last reviewed: August 2026
🇬🇧 UK

Ocado EDI,
done properly.

Supply Lens automates the complete Ocado document cycle. Purchase orders in, acknowledgements, despatch advices and invoices out, with Ocado location structure and fulfilment compliance handled from day one.

Orders in
Purchase orders handled automatically
Every Ocado PO lands in your ERP with the correct CFC location resolved
On time
ASNs within Ocado's delivery windows
Despatch confirmation triggers the despatch advice automatically, helping keep it inside the window
Fewer deductions
Invoices checked before they're sent
Price and quantity validated against the originating purchase order, so issues are flagged your side first
99.9%
Uptime SLA
Monitored around the clock, reducing compliance flags from late messages
Supply Lens — Ocado Live Flow Live
Ocado purchase order OC-2025-44821 received 48× 5060234811042 · 24× 5060234811059 · Hatfield CFC PO IN
EANs mapped · CFC GLN resolved Hatfield → GLN 5060100000021 · supplier OC-7731 matched PROCESSING
Sales order SO-13305 created ERP / IMS · 72 units · ref OC-2025-44821 CREATED
Despatch advice and invoice transmitted SSCC PAL-8812 generated · £1,188.00 · Ocado-compliant ASN + INV
Ocado-Specific Requirements

Ocado is a technology-led
retailer with standard EDI.

Despite Ocado's reputation as a technology business, its supplier trading runs on the same standard formats and message types as traditional grocery retailers. What makes Ocado distinct for suppliers is its Customer Fulfilment Centre model: all stock is received centrally, fulfilment timings are tightly managed, and compliance requirements around booking-in windows and delivery accuracy are enforced closely.

Standard formats, not a proprietary API

Ocado use the same standard message types as other large grocers, routed through a managed network. No proprietary API or additional technical layer is required, and Supply Lens holds the same connection used for other major UK grocery retailers. The pattern is well established.

Location cross-reference

All Ocado CFC codes and GLNs are pre-loaded in Supply Lens. Location cross-referencing is triggered automatically during the order workflow. despatch advice documents route to the correct Customer Fulfilment Centre without any setup from you.

Delivery slot compliance

Ocado manages inbound deliveries to its CFCs through a booking-in system. The despatch advice must be transmitted before the delivery slot. Late ASNs cause goods-in delays and compliance flags. Supply Lens fires the despatch advice on despatch confirmation, within the required window.

Product cross-reference

Your products are imported into Supply Lens once. The workflow then resolves Ocado EANs to your internal item codes on every order. Multipacks, case/unit variants, and promotional configurations are all handled automatically.

Invoice accuracy requirements

Ocado validates invoices against cost prices and shipped quantities. Price and quantity discrepancies trigger a payment hold or deduction. Supply Lens validates invoice values against the originating PO before every invoice is transmitted, flagging issues before they reach Ocado's finance team.

Document Flow

Every document.
Every direction.
Automatically.

Supply Lens automates the complete Ocado document process, removing the need for manual document creation, rekeying or intervention. This helps suppliers process every document accurately, efficiently and within Ocado’s required compliance timescales.

  • Purchase order: Ocado purchase orders received and validated
  • Despatch advice: pallet label references transmitted as goods leave your warehouse
  • Invoice: Invoice submitted and validated against PO before transmission
  • No order response or control acknowledgement in this flow
  • All messages routed through the network within Ocado's compliance windows
Ocado document cycle
Purchase Order INBOUND
Ocado network
ASN / Despatch Advice OUTBOUND
Ocado network
Invoice (pre-validated) INVOICE
Ocado network
Location & product cross-reference
Ocado reference Resolved automatically
CFC codes & GLNs
Pre-loaded · no setup needed
Product EANs
Resolved during order workflow
Multipack & case variants
Handled as separate line items
Standard formats, not a custom API: Despite Ocado's technology profile, its supplier-facing trading uses the same formats and integration pattern as traditional grocery retailers. No additional technical layers are required.
Configuration

Configured for
Ocado. Connected
to your system.

Supply Lens holds Ocado's CFC GLN structure and compliance rules so you don't have to. Your team provides credentials, product mappings and confirms fulfilment centre routing. Everything else is handled at the Supply Lens layer.

1

Ocado supplier onboarding

Your Ocado supplier number, GS1 GLN and network credentials are captured and configured as the inbound and outbound channel.

2

Product import and cross-reference

Your products are imported into Supply Lens. The workflow handles Ocado EAN to item code cross-referencing automatically, including multipacks, promotional configurations and case or unit variants.

3

Location mapping

All Ocado CFC codes and GLNs are pre-loaded. The workflow resolves the correct fulfilment centre on every incoming order, with no routing setup required from you.

4

ERP connection and go live

Your ERP or IMS is connected and invoice pre-validation enabled. Orders flow end to end, with the purchase order in and the despatch advice and invoice out, inside Ocado's compliance windows.

EAN → item code cross-reference
Ocado EAN / GTIN Your item code
5060234811042 GRN-SMTH-250G
5060234811059 GRN-CRCH-250G
5060234811066 GRN-SMTH-500G
5060234811073 GRN-MP6-250G
Order ingest
Network routed
ON
Despatch advice + labels
On despatch
ON
Invoice pre-check
Before transmission
ON
CFC routing
Per PO delivery loc.
CONFIG
Exception queue
Email + dashboard
CONFIG
Ocado Edge Cases

The situations that
catch suppliers out.

Ocado's fulfilment centre model means inbound compliance is tracked closely, covering despatch advice timing, pallet label accuracy and delivery slot adherence. Supply Lens handles the scenarios that typically generate compliance flags.

"We sent the despatch advice after the delivery arrived at the Hatfield fulfilment centre, and Ocado flagged it as a compliance failure."

Ocado's CFC goods-in process relies on the despatch advice being received before the delivery. Supply Lens sends the despatch advice as soon as despatch is confirmed in your ERP, rather than when someone remembers to send it, which helps keep it inside the window.

"The SSCC on our pallet label didn't match the Despatch advice: the CFC couldn't accept the delivery."

Ocado's automated goods-in systems match physical SSCC labels against the despatch advice electronically. Supply Lens generates the pallet label references as part of the despatch advice, and your label print run uses the same reference, so the record Ocado receive and the labels on the pallets come from one source.

"We assumed Ocado used a custom API because of how they talk about their technology platform."

Ocado's supplier-facing trading uses the same formats and integration pattern as traditional grocery retailers. The technology Ocado is known for applies to its fulfilment operations rather than its supplier trading documents, and Supply Lens handles it as a standard pairing.

"An Ocado PO came in with an EAN for a new seasonal product we hadn't mapped yet."

Unrecognised EANs go to an exception queue immediately. The purchase order is held, your team is notified with the full order context, the mapping is added and the order is re-triggered. Nothing is dropped silently, and the window is tracked from when the mapping is completed rather than when the order arrived.

Getting Set Up

What you need
to go live with Ocado.

Ocado onboarding involves their supplier trading team, network credentials and your product and fulfilment centre routing data. Supply Lens manages the connection and configuration. You provide the inputs.

  • Ocado supplier number and GS1 GLN
  • Network credentials and trading partner identifiers
  • ERP or IMS credentials (Unleashed, CIN7, Enterpryze, or other)
  • Agreed cost price list for invoice validation
  • Sample Ocado POs (real examples where available)
Typical delivery timeline
1
Scope
Ocado supplier number, GLN, network credentials and ERP credentials received.
2
Configure
Product import, EAN cross-reference, and location cross-reference verified in staging.
3
Test
Test purchase order processed over the network, with the despatch advice and invoice validated against the Ocado specification and timing requirements.
Go live
Production connection enabled, with the first live Ocado purchase order processed end to end.

Onboarding includes additional steps for network routing confirmation and live testing before go-live.

ERP & IMS Connections

Connect Ocado to your back-office system.

Supply Lens routes Ocado purchase orders directly into Unleashed, Enterpryze or other connected ERPs, with the correct item codes, document series and fulfilment centre GLN mapping for each.

Ready to automate
your Ocado EDI?

Network connection already in place. We handle the Ocado-specific setup from day one: fulfilment centre GLN routing, pallet label configuration, despatch advice timing and invoice pre-validation.