What Is an ANSI X12 EDI 860 Message?

An ANSI X12 EDI 860 is a purchase order change message used to update, amend, or cancel a previously sent EDI 850 purchase order. It references the original purchase order number and communicates the required changes, such as item, quantity, date, delivery, customs, transport, or cancellation details. SEEBURGER supports EDI 860 and related purchase order processes with B2B/EDI software, cloud service, managed service, and on-premises operating options.

Key takeaways

An EDI 860 is used after an EDI 850 purchase order when the buyer needs to change or cancel order information.
EDI 860 messages follow the ANSI X12 standard and contain buyer, seller, order, item, change, and delivery details.
Reliable EDI 860 processing depends on accurate master data, accepted specifications, and connected ERP and EDI systems.

No time to read?

Watch our video!

A buying organization first sends an EDI 850 purchase order to place the initial request with a supplier. If the order needs to change, the buyer can send an ANSI X12 EDI 860 to change or cancel one or more goods or items from that previous order. The message can also relate to one or more delivery schedules and can provide order-specific details that were not yet known, including customs, transport, and delivery information.

The supplier can respond with an ANSI X12 EDI 855 purchase order acknowledgement. In the source process, this acknowledgement can confirm receipt of the EDI 860 or indicate that the supplier is requesting changes.

The EDI 860 message is used in consumer packaged goods and retail. For grocery retail and fresh-food scenarios, a separate buyer-triggered purchase order change message, EDI 876, may be used.

ANSI X12 860 — Typical Workflow Example from the Retail Industry

Purchase order change messages follow the segment and element structure of the ANSI X12 standard. A buyer's ERP system creates the order change information, which can then be translated into the EDI 860 format by the EDI solution in place.

Typical EDI 860 content includes:

buyer and seller information
previous purchase order details
ordered material details with required quantities and dates
information showing whether material details should be added, removed, or changed
delivery details, including timing and location

ISA*00* *00* *ZZ*SENDER *01*RECEIVER *231014*1719*U*00401*000000001*0*P*:~
GS*PC*APP SENDER*APP RECEIVER*20231014*1719*0001*X*004010~
ST*860*0001~
BCH*00*CA*36579**9*20231014~
REF*CT*00049~
DTM*002*20231017*0000~
DTM*118*20231016*0000~
N9*ZZ**SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS~
N1*SU*SUPLIER NAME*ZZ*11222333~
N3*203 STREET NAME~
N4**ATLANTA*GA*30309~
N1*ST*SEEBURGER AG*ZZ*00000085~
N3*EDISONSTRASSE 1~
N4*BRETTEN**75015*DE~
POC*001*RZ*27*27*EA***IN*001234560*UP*123456789012*VN*123~
PID*F****DESCRIPTION~
CTT*1~
SE*16*0001~
GE*1*0001~
IEA*1*000000001~

After the supplier receives an EDI 860 message, the supplier's EDI solution checks the content against the EDI 860 specification. If the message follows the specification, the supplier's ERP system can update the previously stored order details using the purchase order number supplied.

A functional acknowledgement, such as an EDI 997, may be sent back to confirm that the message has arrived and has been accepted.

Common EDI 860 errors

Goods requested may not be available in the supplier's ERP system or may use a different code.
Specific location codes, such as gate, warehouse, or dock codes, may be unknown to the supplier.

UN/EDIFACT uses ORDCHG for purchase order change types. TRADACOMS, often seen in the UK consumer packaged goods retail industry, uses ORDHDR for the initial order and, when needed, subsequent order changes.

Faster updates to planning schedules can help reduce out-of-stock or over-delivery scenarios

Automating previously manual jobs can reduce costs

Delivery planning can be completed more quickly and with fewer errors

Incorrect deliveries can be avoided

More reliable processes can support improved supplier ratings

EDI processes need to be flexible, stable, and cost-effective to automate purchasing. The SEEBURGER BIS Platform supports EDI processes as a fully managed EDI Cloud Service in the SEEBURGER Cloud, in a public cloud environment, or as an on-premises software solution.

SEEBURGER Fully Managed EDI Clouds provide EDI technology and operating expertise for managing EDI solutions, helping organizations handle EDI errors and chargebacks.