Onboarding 101

Last updated: October 8, 2026

How do I kick off onboarding?

To kick off onboarding, you'll need to request the brand <> retailer connection in RetailReady.

  1. Navigate to the Connections page and select '+ Request Connection'

  2. Select Brand — choose an existing brand or enter a new brand name

  3. Select Retailer — choose an existing retailer or enter a new retailer name

  4. Select EDI Setup

  5. Select '+ Request Connection'

For a full walkthrough of how to request a connection, see the guide for your account type:

I'm a 3PL

I'm a Brand

📄 3PL How to Request A Connection

📄 Brand How to Request a Connection

What steps do I need to complete for onboarding?

Your onboarding tile has a checklist of tasks for each party. Work through them and check each one off as you go. A go-live date can't be set until every item is checked off.

Start with the Onboarding Form, and complete it as soon as you can. It sets up the core details for the connection, so finishing it early keeps everything else moving.

In the form, you'll

  1. Enter the Brand's GS1 Prefix

    • Search for it in the GS1 Company Database, or request it directly from the brand if unavailable

    • ⚠ This prefix is used on all GS1 labels for the retailer — accuracy is critical

  2. Case Pack Required — Does the brand only ship full case packs to this retailer?

    • Yes — full case packs only

      • Do you need partial case packing optionality? Select Yes if the retailer occasionally orders a few units beyond full cases. Note: SKUs cannot be mixed in a carton if this is enabled

    • No — the brand ships mixed SKUs or varying quantities per carton

  3. Ship Collect — Select Yes if the brand has negotiated collect shipping terms with the retailer

  4. Default on Hold — Enabling this places all incoming orders on hold until the brand reviews and releases thm

Once that Onboarding Form has been completed, complete the remaining checklist.

Need help with a task? Hover over it to see the linked help article.

Optional tasks: Check these off even if you decide to skip them. A checked item tells us you've reviewed it, so we know the connection is ready to move forward.

How do I get onboarding updates?

Your onboarding specialist will leave comments in your onboarding tile throughout testing and setup. For any questions or connection-related comments, reply directly in the tile — expect a response within 4 business hours.

You can also set up weekly onboarding reports delivered to your email or Slack channel. These send every Friday with a summary of that week's comments and completed tasks. To enable, navigate to 'Settings' and select 'Weekly Reports'.

Once on the Reports page, click 'Configure Onboarding Report'

You can toggle on Slack notification and/or Email notifications to receive the weekly reports.

When will we meet?

We'll start with a kickoff call to align on integration requirements, followed by a training session ahead of your facility's first go-live. After you've completed your first few orders, we'll reconnect for a product review and check-in. Any additional meetings can be scheduled ad hoc as needed.

What does a pack out flow look like in RetailReady?

Standard Parcel Flow

Standard Freight Flow

How do I navigate through the RetailReady dashboard?

The side tabs in RetailReady are how you'll navigate the dashboard. Here's a quick overview of each:

• Tasks — Your main screen. This shows any tasks that are blocking orders from being completed. Keep an eye on this to make sure orders are processing on time. Clear all your tasks and you'll get to meet Ralph 🐰!

• Orders — All order details in one place. You can monitor orders across multiple views: Column, Planner, and Table.

• Loads — Use this page to create truckloads before freight orders ship out. You can also monitor which orders are going out together and when.

• Analytics — Helpful insights into your team's performance and a high-level overview of order data.

• EDI Transactions — If you're using RetailReady EDI, this tab shows every EDI transaction we send and receive.

• Fintech — Where your invoices live. A new invoice is generated at the start of each month.

• Connections — Your home base during onboarding. This is where you'll find your onboarding checklists and request new connections.

• Routing Guide Assistant — Chat with our AI Routing Guide Assistant for quick, retailer-specific questions.

• API Docs — Looking to pull data out of RetailReady or interact with it directly? Check out our API docs — all you need is a RetailReady login.

• Settings — Configure important settings for your setup. The help articles linked in your onboarding checklist will walk you through everything.

• Brightness Theme — Light mode or dark mode? Your call!

How do I reach out to the RetailReady team?

You've got a few options:

What if I receive an updated Routing Guide from a Retailer after onboarding is complete?

Please send your updated Routing Guide to onboarding@retailreadyai.com. Our team will review it and make any necessary changes to the compliance workflow within 2 weeks of receipt.