The Problem
A new Walmart supplier came to OCM overwhelmed and behind schedule, with just 9 weeks until their modular launch date meaning that Walmart would begin ordering product in as little as 5 weeks to have it in distribution centers 3 weeks ahead of launch. Without an experienced Walmart broker in their corner, the supplier was at serious risk of missing their launch window entirely.
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When OCM stepped in, four critical gaps were immediately identified:
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No ship point created — a process that typically takes 30 days to approve
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No case labels verified against Walmart's routing guide requirements
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No initial order forecast confirmed to plan for production
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No EDI setup or way to receive purchase orders
The Solution
OCM's first priority was cutting through the overwhelm. New Walmart suppliers in high-pressure launch situations often try to tackle everything at once — and rarely do it efficiently or correctly without expert guidance. OCM immediately outlined the most business-critical steps and built a clear action plan.
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Within the first week OCM executed on all four fronts:
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Ship Point Creation: OCM initiated the ship point creation process immediately, navigating Walmart's separate WMT Transportation portal on the supplier's behalf, a common point of confusion for new vendors.
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Case Label Compliance: After studying Walmart's routing guide and comparing it against the supplier's existing labels, OCM identified several missing required items and had them corrected and submitted to WMT for verification.
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Order Forecast Confirmation: OCM contacted the replenishment manager to verify initial cases per store and anticipated U/S/W volumes. The initial order came in lower than the supplier expected, which actually eased production concerns significantly.
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EDI Setup: OCM set up WebEDI through Retail Link, a free EDI solution available to small and mid-size Walmart vendors that don't yet use a third-party EDI system ensuring the supplier could receive purchase orders from day one.
The Result
In just one week OCM had stabilized a supplier that was days away from a potential launch failure. The following was achieved:
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Ship point creation initiated and submitted to Walmart for verification
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Initial order estimates and USW projections confirmed
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WebEDI set up and tested through Retail Link
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Case labels corrected and submitted to WMT for verification
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OCM's ability to immediately identify gaps, prioritize the right steps, and execute across all Walmart systems gave this supplier a clear path to a successful modular launch in one of the tightest timelines possible.