EDI pre-announcement with DESADV

With a DESADV, you notify bol of the physical shipment before it arrives. The message contains the packing slip reference, the relevant orders and EANs, the number of pallets, and the exact distribution of items across the SSCCs. An SSCC is mandatory for every pallet.

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EDI pre-announcement with DESADV

In short

  • Send the DESADV once the pallet configuration is final and before the physical shipment is delivered to bol.
  • Each pallet gets its own CPS with PAC, PCI+33E and a unique SSCC in GIN+BJ (18 digits).
  • RFF+BM, the SSCCs and the quantities exactly match the packing slip, the labels and the physical shipment.

When is DESADV required?

DESADV is part of the complete message flow consisting of ORDERS, ORDRSP, DESADV and INVOIC. Send the DESADV after the pallet configuration has been finalized and before the physical shipment is delivered to bol. The message and the actual shipment must match completely.

Required content

  • A unique DESADV number and a unique packing slip reference.
  • The document date and expected arrival date.
  • The GLNs of the buyer, supplier and correct bol warehouse.
  • The number of pallets in the shipment.
  • A unique SSCC for each pallet.
  • The bol order numbers, order lines, EANs and shipped quantities.
  • A correct link between each EAN and quantity and the pallet and SSCC on which the item is delivered.
  • Serial numbers, batch numbers and expiry dates when applicable to the item or agreed process.

Distributing items across pallets

The pallet structure in the DESADV must match the physical shipment. This allows bol to determine which items and quantities are present on each SSCC.

Situation
Required registration
Single-SKU pallet
Link the EAN and total quantity to the SSCC of that pallet.
Mixed pallet
Link each EAN and its corresponding quantity to the same pallet SSCC.
Multiple pallets
Use a different SSCC for each pallet and distribute the items and quantities per SSCC.
One item across multiple pallets
Split the quantity across the relevant SSCCs. The total must equal the shipped quantity.
Multiple orders in one shipment
Link each item line to the correct bol order number using RFF+ON.

Key technical details

The table below describes the core of the bol mapping. Use the full DESADV specification for the segment order, formats and other segments.

Data
EDIFACT
Requirement
Message type and unique number
BGM+351
Unique number of the pre-notification.
Document date
DTM+137
The date on which you create the DESADV.
Expected arrival date
DTM+132
Mandatory. The date the shipment arrives at the bol warehouse. Not the despatch date and not the date of the DESADV.
Despatch date
DTM+11
Optional. The date the shipment leaves.
Packing slip reference
RFF+BM
Maximum 15 characters. Unique per shipment and exactly the same as the number on the packing slip and the SSCC label. Bol matches the delivery on this number.
Parties and warehouse
NAD+BY, NAD+SU and NAD+DP
Use the correct supplier and warehouse GLNs.
Packaging hierarchy
CPS
CPS+1 is the shipment as a whole. Below it, each pallet gets its own CPS (CPS+2+1, CPS+3+1, …) with PAC, PCI+33E and GIN+BJ.
Number and type of packages
PAC
Mandatory in every CPS with an SSCC. Without PAC the SSCC is not processed. In CPS+1, PAC gives the total number of pallets.
SSCC indication
PCI+33E
Indicates that the pallet is identified with an SSCC.
SSCC
GIN+BJ
Mandatory per pallet: 18 digits, valid GS1 check digit, without Application Identifier 00 in front. Pallet level only: an SSCC on a box below the pallet does not replace the pallet SSCC.
EAN
LIN with EN
EAN of the shipped item.
Shipped quantity
QTY+12
Quantity of the ordered EAN within the pallet structure, in the same unit as the order. For a display EAN this is the number of displays, not the items inside. Use unit PCE or no unit.
Bol order number
RFF+ON
The full bol order number, exactly as in the order. In the header if the DESADV covers one order (it then applies to all lines), per line if it covers several orders.

Example of a single pallet

This fragment only shows the key segments and is not a complete EDIFACT message:

BGM+351::9+DESADV0001+9'
DTM+137:20260916:102'
DTM+132:20260918:102'
RFF+BM:PACK0001'
CPS+1'
PAC+1+:52+PK'
CPS+2+1'
PAC+1+:52+PK'
PCI+33E'
GIN+BJ+387123450000000012'
LIN+1++8712345678906:EN'
QTY+12:10'
RFF+ON:8123456'

A price is not needed in the DESADV.

Testing and approval

Test scenarios during onboarding

Test
Required
Expected result
One order and one pallet
Yes
The packing slip reference, order, EANs, quantities and SSCC are processed correctly.
One order and multiple pallets
Yes
Each pallet has a unique SSCC and the contents are distributed correctly.
Mixed pallet
Yes, if used
Multiple EANs and quantities are linked to the correct SSCC.
Multiple orders in one shipment
If used
Each item line refers to the correct order number.
Serial number, batch or expiry date
If applicable
The additional product data is processed correctly.
Approval criteria
  • Transus receives and routes the message without any technical blocking issues.
  • Bol can link the DESADV to the correct order and the correct warehouse.
  • The specified number of pallets matches the number of unique pallet SSCCs.
  • Each SSCC has 18 digits, a valid check digit, is unique and is sent without Application Identifier.
  • The quantities per SSCC add up to the total quantity shipped for the order line.
  • The packing slip reference and SSCCs in the message match the physical labels and shipment.

Check your DESADV before sending

Avoid common mistakes by checking the points below.

  • Each pallet has a unique SSCC.
    No missing codes or the same SSCC used for multiple pallets.
  • The SSCC contains exactly 18 digits.
    Do not include Application Identifier 00 in GIN+BJ.
  • The pallet contents are correct.
    Link each EAN and quantity to the SSCC of the pallet on which the item is physically located.
  • The quantities are correct.
    The total per EAN matches the quantity actually shipped.
  • The order reference is correct.
    For each item line, check that RFF+ON refers to the correct bol order number.
  • The warehouse is correct.
    The delivery party GLN matches the warehouse specified in the order.
  • One packing slip per message.
    Use one packing slip reference in RFF+BM per DESADV.
  • The packing slip reference is visible.
    The reference in RFF+BM is also shown on the physical shipment.
  • Every pallet has a PAC.
    Without PAC in the pallet’s CPS, the SSCC is not processed.
  • The packing slip reference is 15 characters at most.
    RFF+BM matches the number on the packing slip and the label.
  • The order number is complete.
    Check that no digit is missing; otherwise you get “Purchase Order not found”.
  • The arrival date is right.
    DTM+132 is the expected arrival at bol, not the despatch date.

Error messages

If you receive one of these messages, you will find the cause and the solution here.

Message
Cause
Solution
Purchase Order not found
The bol order number in RFF+ON is incomplete or incorrect.
Use the full bol order number, exactly as in the order.
… non-numeric poNumber, blocking downstream publish
RFF+ON in your DESADV contains text instead of the bol order number, for example a description of the shipment.
Send only the bol order number in RFF+ON, digits only, exactly as in the order.
Duplicate reference for supplier
The packing slip reference (RFF+BM) in the DESADV has already been used.
Use a unique packing slip reference for every packing slip.
Packing List Reference must not exceed 15 characters
The packing slip reference (RFF+BM) is longer than 15 characters.
Use a packing slip reference of 15 characters at most.
Packing List Reference Invalid
Bol does not accept the packing slip reference in RFF+BM.
Use the number from the packing slip, at most 15 characters.
PackingList has no lines.
The DESADV contains no item lines.
Add a LIN with QTY+12 for every item under its pallet (CPS).
Invalid EAN code
An EAN in LIN is empty, all zeros or not a valid EAN.
Use exactly the EAN from the order.
Invalid Quantity
A quantity in QTY+12 is missing or not a number.
Send the shipped quantity per line as a number.
Wrong Buyer GLN
The buyer GLN in NAD+BY is not bol’s GLN.
Use 8712423020597 in NAD+BY.
Unknown Supplier
The supplier GLN is not known at bol.
Use the GLN you are registered with at bol.
Invalid BGM type
The document code in BGM is not 351.
Use BGM+351 for a despatch advice.

Documentation and support

View the full DESADV EDIFACT specification →

Read the current SSCC requirements on SSCC for EDI suppliers.

Onboarding, message scope, functional setup or activating ORDCHGedi@bol.com
Order content, GTINs, quantities, GLNs, SSCCs, order matching or a rejected messagesupplierorder@bol.com
Technical connection (AS2, certificates, sending or receiving messages, technical validation)support@transus.nl

Further reading

Back to EDI onboarding | View ORDRSP | SSCC for EDI suppliers