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EDI 9 min

Supplying Carrefour, Kaufland or Lidl: connecting supplier portal and EDI orders to your CRM and ERP

Many suppliers land here looking for the Carrefour supplier portal or another chain's portal. The chain runs that portal; you log in with the account the retailer gives you. This guide answers the next question: how to stop retyping what comes from the portal and through EDI into your own systems.

For a retail supplier, a chain's order passes through several hands: someone downloads it from the portal, someone else enters it in the ERP, the warehouse picks it from a printed list, and the despatch advice and invoice are sent back in the retailer's format. Every manual step costs time or triggers a penalty.

What chains usually ask of suppliers

  • Electronic orders (EDI), received automatically, not downloaded by hand.
  • An electronic despatch advice (DESADV) sent before the goods arrive, matched to what is on the pallet.
  • Pallet labels to the GS1 standard (SSCC), so receiving works by scanning.
  • An electronic invoice, through EDI and through Romania's e-Factura (SPV).
  • Dates and quantities met, with penalties for short or late deliveries.

Details differ from chain to chain and change over time, so they are confirmed during onboarding with each retailer.

What the connected flow looks like, step by step

  1. 1The order arrives on its own

    The retailer's EDI order lands directly in the OMS, on the customer record in the CRM, next to orders from reps and the B2B portal. CRMconnect has pre-mapped EDI flows with 10 retail chains.

  2. 2Stock and price check

    The order is checked against available stock and the price agreed with the chain. Differences show up before confirmation, not at the store's goods-in.

  3. 3Picking in the warehouse

    The order lands on the warehouse picking list. For goods with batches or expiry dates FEFO applies: what expires first ships first.

  4. 4Pallet label and despatch advice

    At shipping, GS1-128 labels with SSCC codes and the electronic despatch advice are generated and matched, so the retailer receives by scanning.

  5. 5The invoice, both ways

    The invoice is issued in your existing ERP and goes to the retailer through EDI and to SPV through e-Factura. CRMconnect connects to your existing ERP (18 documented integrations).

  6. 6Sales sees everything

    The key account manager sees the chain's orders, deliveries, invoices and receiving differences on one record, with no reports requested from logistics.

CRMconnect and EDIconnect

Sales, reps and orders from every channel live in CRMconnect. The full EDI flow with retailers, the messages and onboarding for each chain are described on EDIconnect.

Questions to ask any EDI provider

  • Are the chains I work with already mapped, or is the mapping built from scratch?
  • Do EDI orders land in the same place as orders from reps and the online shop?
  • Who generates pallet labels and how are they matched to the despatch advice?
  • What happens when a retailer changes a message format?

When you do not need integration yet

If you receive a few orders a month from one chain, downloading from the portal by hand can stay enough. Integration pays off with daily volume, several chains or the first labelling and delivery penalties.

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Frequently asked

Where do I find the Carrefour supplier portal?+

Carrefour runs the portal and its purchasing team gives you access. CRMconnect does not replace the portal: it takes the orders and sends documents through EDI so you no longer type them by hand.

Do I have to change my ERP to work EDI with retailers?+

No. CRMconnect connects to your existing ERP: EDI orders flow into the CRM and warehouse, and invoices are issued in the ERP.

Which chains does it work with?+

CRMconnect has pre-mapped EDI flows with 10 retail chains, including Carrefour, Kaufland, Lidl and Auchan.

Does the invoice also go through e-Factura?+

Yes. The invoice goes to the retailer through EDI and to SPV through e-Factura.

Can I try it before deciding?+

Yes, 14 days, no card required.

Where CRMconnect fits

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