Retail & Customer Compliance

Glossary

MABD, chargeback penalties, routing guides, and vendor requirements explained. Navigate the retail compliance terms that protect your margins.

ASN Compliance
Meeting a retailer's specific requirements for Advance Ship Notice content, format, and transmission timing - typically via EDI 856 - to avoid chargebacks and receiving delays.
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Branded Tracking
Shipment tracking links and pages customized with the shipper's own branding - logo, colors, and domain - shared directly with customers to provide delivery visibility under the shipper's identity.
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Collect / Prepaid Shipping
The freight payment arrangement determining whether the shipper (prepaid) or the receiver/retailer (collect) selects and pays for the carrier - directly affecting routing control, cost visibility, and compliance obligations.
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Customer Portal (Logistics)
A branded, self-service web interface that gives a shipper's customers real-time access to shipment tracking, order status, quotes, and delivery documentation - without calling or emailing the logistics team.
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Fine-Free Shipping
The operational goal of shipping to retail customers without incurring any compliance-related chargebacks, OTIF fines, or deductions - achieved through consistent execution and proactive exception management.
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GS1 Standards
A global framework of standards for product identification, labeling, and data exchange - including barcodes (UPC/EAN), SSCC codes, and GS1-128 shipping labels - required by most major retailers.
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Must Arrive By Date (MABD)
The retailer-specified deadline by which a shipment must be delivered to the designated facility - the anchor date for OTIF compliance and delivery window calculations.
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OTIF Fines / OTIF Penalties
Financial penalties charged by retailers when suppliers fail to deliver orders on time and in full, with major retailers like Walmart enforcing strict thresholds and per-case fees.
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Purchase Order (PO) Management
The process of receiving, validating, organizing, and fulfilling retailer purchase orders - ensuring every PO is shipped accurately, on time, and with complete documentation.
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Retailer Chargebacks / Vendor Chargebacks
Financial penalties imposed by retailers on suppliers for non-compliance with shipping, labeling, documentation, or delivery requirements - often deducted directly from remittance payments.
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Retailer Scorecard
A periodic performance report issued by a retailer grading its suppliers on metrics like OTIF, fill rate, ASN accuracy, and compliance - directly influencing future shelf placement and order volume.
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Routing Guide Compliance (Retail)
Adherence to a retailer's mandatory instructions for how freight must be shipped to their facilities - including designated carriers, service levels, and booking procedures.
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Ship Window / Delivery Window
The retailer-defined timeframe during which a shipment must be picked up (ship window) or delivered (delivery window) to avoid compliance penalties.
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Supply Chain Deductions
Broad category of retailer-imposed financial penalties deducted from supplier payments for logistics failures, compliance violations, or operational shortfalls across the supply chain.
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Vendor Compliance
The full set of requirements a retailer imposes on suppliers governing how goods must be shipped, labeled, documented, and delivered - with financial penalties for non-conformance.
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