Walmart Marketplace Glossary

Navigating Walmart Marketplace requires a good understanding of the unique terms, acronyms, and processes that drive its ecosystem. Whether you are a new seller setting up your store, a seasoned vendor managing supply chains, or a global brand exploring cross-border opportunities, having quick access to these definitions will save time and prevent costly mistakes. This glossary provides an A–Z guide to Walmart Marketplace terminology, covering retail operations, logistics, fulfillment, compliance, and cross-border imports—helping you decode Walmart’s language and run your business more effectively.

A

AUR (Average Unit Retail)

The average selling price per unit of an item over a specified time period. Used to analyze sales performance and pricing strategy.

ASN (Advanced Ship Notice)

An electronic notification sent before a shipment arrives. It includes details such as items, quantities, carrier, and expected delivery date, helping Walmart track and prepare for incoming inventory.

B

BOL (Bill of Lading

A legal document issued by a carrier acknowledging the receipt of goods for shipment. It acts as a contract between the shipper and carrier and includes details about the freight.

BOP (Beginning of Period)

Refers to the starting point of a financial or reporting period, often used in inventory, sales, or accounting analysis.

BTS (Back to School)

A key seasonal retail period at Walmart (late summer) focused on school supplies, apparel, and electronics, driving significant promotional activity and sales.

C

CFO (Chief Financial Officer)

The senior executive responsible for managing a company’s financial actions, including planning, risk management, recordkeeping, and reporting.

CCS (Cost Change Scenario)

A Walmart planning tool used to evaluate the financial impact when costs such as materials, freight, or packaging change.

CPFR (Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment)

A business practice where Walmart and suppliers share data and work together to improve demand forecasting and inventory replenishment.

CSAs (Customer Service Adjustments)

Credits, refunds, or adjustments made to resolve customer issues and maintain service satisfaction in Walmart’s ecosystem.

D

DC (Distribution Center)

A Walmart facility where products are received, stored, and redistributed to stores or customers. Distribution Centers are critical to Walmart’s supply chain efficiency.

DC Dwell (Distribution Center Dwell)

The amount of time inventory remains in a Walmart Distribution Center before being moved further along the supply chain. Reducing dwell time improves efficiency and on-shelf availability.

DSD (Direct Store Delivery)

A fulfillment method where suppliers deliver products directly to Walmart stores, bypassing the Distribution Center network. Common for items like beverages and baked goods.

DSV (Direct Ship Vendor)

A vendor that ships products directly to Walmart customers on behalf of Walmart. DSV sellers operate differently from Marketplace sellers, as Walmart manages pricing and customer experience.

E

EAN (European Article Number)

A unique 13-digit barcode standard used globally to identify retail products. Walmart accepts EANs (along with UPCs and GTINs) for product identification.

EDD (Expected Delivery Date)

The scheduled date on which a shipment or customer order is expected to arrive at its destination.

EIN (Employer Identification Number)

A unique number issued by the IRS to identify a business entity. Required for Walmart Marketplace sellers operating in the U.S. for tax purposes.

EOQ (Economic Order Quantity)

An inventory management formula used to determine the optimal order quantity that minimizes total inventory costs, including holding and ordering costs.

ESD (Expected Ship Date)

The date on which an order or shipment is expected to leave the supplier’s or warehouse’s facility.

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)

A standardized system for the electronic exchange of business documents (such as purchase orders, invoices, and ASNs) between Walmart and its suppliers.

F

FDC (Fashion Distribution Center)

A specialized Walmart Distribution Center focused on handling apparel, footwear, and other fashion-related merchandise to streamline storage and fulfillment.

FIFO (First In, First Out)

An inventory management method where the oldest stock (first in) is sold or shipped before newer stock. Used to reduce spoilage and ensure proper stock rotation.

FISH (First In, Still Here)

A supply chain term referring to older inventory that has not yet sold or moved, signaling potential overstock or slow-moving items.

FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods)

Products with high turnover and relatively low cost, such as groceries, toiletries, and packaged goods. A major category in Walmart’s business model.

G

GM (General Merchandise)

A broad category at Walmart covering non-grocery items such as electronics, home goods, apparel, and seasonal products.

GMROII (Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment)

A profitability metric measuring how much gross margin is earned for every dollar invested in inventory. Helps Walmart and suppliers evaluate product performance.

GO (General Order)

A U.S. Customs designation for imported goods that have not been properly entered within the required timeframe. Such goods may be moved to a bonded warehouse at the importer’s expense.

GLN (Global Location Number)

A GS1 standard number used to uniquely identify locations such as warehouses, facilities, or distribution points in Walmart’s supply chain.

GOOS (Global Out-of-Stock Report)

A report tracking Walmart’s worldwide inventory availability, highlighting out-of-stock products across different regions and categories.

GRS (Global Replenishment Solution)

Walmart’s system designed to manage global inventory replenishment by integrating demand forecasts, supply chain data, and vendor collaboration.

H

HTS Code (Harmonized Tariff Schedule Code)

A standardized numerical code used to classify traded products for customs purposes. Required for importing goods into the U.S., it determines applicable duties and regulations for Walmart cross-border shipments.

HVDC (High Velocity Distribution Center)

A Walmart Distribution Center designed for fast-moving, high-demand products. These facilities are optimized for quick throughput, ensuring popular items are replenished rapidly in stores or fulfillment channels.

I

IED (Item Effective Date)

The official date when a change to an item (such as cost, retail price, or pack size) becomes effective in Walmart’s systems.

IOR (Importer of Record)

The party legally responsible for ensuring imported goods comply with all customs laws, paying duties and taxes, and filing the necessary paperwork. For Walmart cross-border sellers, designating the correct IOR is crucial.

ISB (Instant Savings Bulletin)

A Walmart communication tool that highlights temporary price reductions or promotional savings available on specific products.

L

LCL (Less than Container Load)

A shipping method where multiple shippers share space in one container. Common in Walmart cross-border imports when a supplier does not fill an entire container.

LIFO (Last In, First Out)

An inventory management method where the most recently received stock (last in) is sold or shipped out first. Sometimes used for accounting or stock rotation strategies.

LTL (Less Than Truckload)

A shipping option where freight occupies only part of a truck, sharing space with other shippers’ goods. Often used for smaller Walmart shipments that don’t require a full truckload.

LTO (Limited Time Offer)

A promotional strategy where products are sold at a special price or bundle for a short duration. Frequently used in Walmart’s seasonal and marketing campaigns.

M

MABD (Must Arrive By Date)

The latest date by which a supplier’s shipment must arrive at a Walmart Distribution Center or store to meet supply chain and sales commitments. Missing MABD can affect OTIF (On-Time, In-Full) performance scores.

MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price)

The recommended selling price provided by the manufacturer. At Walmart, MSRP is often displayed alongside Walmart’s everyday low price to highlight savings.

N

NRA (Negotiated Rate Arrangement)

An agreement between a shipper and an ocean carrier (or NVOCC) that sets specific freight rates and service conditions for shipping goods. In Walmart’s cross-border logistics, NRAs are often used to manage import costs.

NOVA (New Order Validation and Approval)

A Walmart system used to review, validate, and approve new orders before they move forward in the supply chain. It helps ensure accuracy in order creation and processing.

O

OIF (Online Item File)

Walmart’s digital database that contains product details, attributes, and listing information for items sold online. Accurate OIF setup is essential for visibility and compliance on Walmart Marketplace.

OGP (Online Grocery Pickup)

A Walmart program allowing customers to order groceries online and pick them up at a local store, often through designated pickup areas.

OTF (On-Time Fulfillment)

A supply chain metric that measures whether orders are fulfilled and shipped by the promised date. Similar to OTIF, but focused specifically on fulfillment speed and reliability.

P

PDQ (Pallet Display Quality / Pretty Darn Quick)

A Walmart merchandising and supply chain term. It refers either to special pallet displays used for promotions or to the quick-turn programs where inventory must reach stores rapidly.

PIM (Product Information Management)

A system that centralizes and manages product data (descriptions, images, attributes) for consistent listings across Walmart Marketplace and other sales channels.

POD (Proof of Delivery)

A document or electronic confirmation provided by the carrier showing that goods were successfully delivered to Walmart or the end customer.

POS (Point of Sale)

The place or system where a retail transaction is completed, such as Walmart’s checkout registers or online cart systems. POS data is key to tracking real-time sales.

PO (Purchase Order)

A formal document issued by Walmart to a vendor, authorizing the purchase of specific goods under agreed terms, quantities, and pricing.

R

RA (Return Authorization)

A formal approval number or code issued by Walmart allowing the return of merchandise. It ensures returns are properly tracked and processed.

RDC (Regional Distribution Center)

A Walmart facility that serves a specific geographic region, consolidating and redistributing inventory to stores or fulfillment locations.

ROH (Return on Hand)

Inventory that has been returned and is currently on hand in a warehouse or store, awaiting processing, restocking, or disposal.

RTV (Return to Vendor)

The process of sending unsold, defective, or excess merchandise back from Walmart to the supplier.

ROS (Rate of Sale)

A sales metric measuring the speed at which a product sells over a given period. Walmart uses ROS to evaluate product performance and replenishment needs.

S

SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products)

An enterprise resource planning (ERP) software used by Walmart and suppliers for managing business operations such as finance, logistics, and inventory.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

The process of improving product content and listings (titles, descriptions, keywords) to increase visibility in Walmart’s search results and external search engines like Google.

SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)

A unique identifier for each product variant (size, color, style) used to track inventory within Walmart’s systems.

SFS (Ship From Store)

A fulfillment method where online orders are fulfilled directly from a Walmart store’s inventory instead of a warehouse.

SO (Sales Order)

An order generated when a customer makes a purchase, serving as the official record of items to be fulfilled.

SRO (Stop Replenishment Only)

A Walmart system action that halts the replenishment of a specific item but does not remove it from the assortment.

SQEP (Supplier Quality Excellence Program)

Walmart’s program that evaluates suppliers on performance and compliance standards to improve quality and efficiency.

STH (Ship to Home)

Walmart’s fulfillment option where items are shipped directly from a warehouse or vendor to the customer’s address.

SVIST (Supplier View Instock Tool)

A Walmart tool that allows suppliers to monitor item availability, out-of-stocks, and replenishment needs across the network.

U

UPC (Universal Product Code)

A standardized 12-digit barcode used to identify retail products. At Walmart, UPCs are essential for product tracking, inventory management, pricing, and checkout processes.

V

Vendor / Supplier

business or individual that provides products to Walmart, either through Walmart Marketplace (third-party sellers) or as a first-party supplier selling directly to Walmart. Vendors are responsible for meeting Walmart’s compliance standards, fulfilling purchase orders, and ensuring product availability, quality, and timely delivery.

W

WFS (Walmart Fulfillment Services)

Walmart’s in-house fulfillment solution where sellers can store products in Walmart warehouses and leverage Walmart’s logistics network for picking, packing, shipping, and customer service.