Direct answer. The DESADV (Despatch Advice, or shipping notice) is a standardized EDI message by which a supplier informs its customer, before the goods physically arrive, of the precise content of a shipment: item references, quantities, batch numbers, breakdown by pallet, and sometimes SSCC codes.
Anticipating receiving with a standardized message
The DESADV is sent when the goods leave the supplier's warehouse, generally in parallel with the transport itself. The customer thus receives, even before the truck arrives, the exact detail of what will be delivered: which items, in what quantity, on how many pallets, and possibly with which batch or serial identifiers. This advance information lets the recipient prepare receiving ahead of time — allocating a dock, planning labor, and easing checks through automatic matching between the announced DESADV and the goods actually delivered.
This mechanism is particularly widespread in retail and industry, where many chains require the DESADV from their suppliers to make their receiving more reliable, especially in cross-docking operations where goods only pass through the warehouse without prolonged storage: without a reliable DESADV, this type of just-in-time flow becomes much harder to manage. In English-language professional documentation, the most common equivalent term is ASN (Advance Shipping Notice); both describe the same principle of a shipment-announcement message.
The DESADV is part of the broader family of standardized EDI messages (alongside the ORDERS purchase order or the INVOIC invoice), and often relies on standardized identifiers such as the GS1 barcode or the SSCC to enable automated, scan-in-hand matching between what was announced and what actually arrives at the dock. A reliable, complete DESADV is generally a precondition for a customer to agree to receive goods via cross-docking, without a full inspection at receiving.
FAQ
What is the difference between DESADV and ASN?
No difference in substance: DESADV (Despatch Advice) is the term used in European EDI standards, while ASN (Advance Shipping Notice) is the most common equivalent in English-language professional documentation. Both refer to the same shipping-notification message sent before delivery.
Is the DESADV mandatory?
There is no general legal requirement, but many major retailers impose it contractually on their suppliers, particularly to make cross-docking receiving more reliable. The exact requirements vary by retailer and must be checked case by case.
Related terms
EDI · SSCC · Barcode / GS1 · Cross-docking · WMS · Track & trace.
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