What Is a Retail Link? Key Features & Challenges.

Published: 29 Jun 2025

A Retail Link is a supply chain management system used by Walmart and its suppliers to share real-time sales.

Inventory and
Order data.

It helps suppliers optimize stock levels, track performance, and improve supply chain efficiency.

Here’s a detailed guide about what a retail link is, what key features it offers, and most importantly, how to use it wisely for gathering highly useful information.

So, guys let’s come and explore the whole guide without wasting time.

Table of Content

What Is a Retail Link?
What Does Retail Link Offer?
How to Use Retail Link
Essential Retail Link Apps
The Challenges of Retail Link
Hey My Champs

What Is a Retail Link?

A Retail Link is Walmart’s online system that connects the retail giant with its suppliers. It’s a powerful platform that gives suppliers access to real-time data, helping them track how their products are performing in stores and online. Think of it as a digital control center where vendors can see.

What’s selling
Where it’s selling and
How to make better decisions based on that information.

Walmart created Retail Link to make things easier and faster. Instead of guessing what’s happening in stores, suppliers can log in and get the facts.

They can view sales numbers, inventory levels, and even receive alerts when items are running low. This helps suppliers stay on top of their game, restock shelves quickly, and make smart business moves.

For example, imagine a snack company that sells chips to Walmart. Using Retail Link, the company can check which flavors are popular in different states, see which stores need restocking, and even plan promotions based on trends.

In simple terms, Retail Link is a tool that helps Walmart’s suppliers work smarter. It turns numbers into insights and insights into action.

That’s said!!

What Does Retail Link Offer?

Retail Link offers plenty of helpful tools and reports that let suppliers track sales, manage inventory, and understand product performance. It gives real-time data so suppliers can make smart decisions and keep products moving.

Here’s an explanation of each benefit or feature a retail link offers.

Merchandising Tools.

Retail Link offers useful merchandising tools that help suppliers manage their products better across Walmart stores and online. One key tool is for pricing. It allows suppliers to track how price changes affect sales and adjust prices based on real-time data. This helps them stay competitive while keeping customers happy.

Another important feature is modular planning. This helps suppliers understand how their products will be placed on Walmart shelves. With this tool, they can plan the layout, make sure their items have enough space, and prepare for seasonal changes in shelf setups.

Retail Link also supports digital merchandising. This tool helps suppliers manage how their products look on Walmart’s website. They can update product images, fix descriptions, and make sure everything is accurate and appealing to online shoppers.

In addition to these, Retail Link also offers item setup and maintenance tools. These help suppliers add new products, update existing ones, and track approval status without confusion. Together, these merchandising tools make it easier for suppliers to grow their business and meet Walmart’s standards.

Replenishment and Supply Plan.

Replenishment and supply planning are key parts of working with Walmart, and Retail Link gives suppliers the tools they need to handle both smoothly. One important part of this process is managing purchase orders, also known as POs. These show what Walmart is ordering, when it’s needed, and in what quantity. Suppliers use this to plan production and shipping on time.

Another key term is MABD, which stands for Must Arrive by Date. This is the deadline for when products must be delivered to Walmart’s distribution centers. Meeting this date is very important because late deliveries can lead to penalties or out-of-stock shelves, which hurt both sales and customer experience.

Suppliers also need to plan around supplier closings. These are dates when a supplier’s warehouse or facility is not available to ship products, like during holidays or scheduled maintenance. Retail Link allows suppliers to enter these dates so Walmart can plan orders accordingly and avoid delays.

Forecasting tools in Retail Link help suppliers predict future demand. These tools use sales history and trends to show what products will be needed and when. With better forecasting, suppliers can reduce waste, avoid stockouts, and keep the right products flowing into stores.

By using these features together—purchase orders, MABD tracking, supplier closing planning, and forecasting tools—suppliers can build a strong, reliable supply plan that keeps products on shelves and customers satisfied.

Manage Transportation and Track Orders

Manage Transportation and Track Orders is another important feature that Retail Link offers to Walmart suppliers. This tool helps suppliers stay on top of their shipments from the moment the order is confirmed to the time it reaches the store or distribution center.

With this feature, suppliers can manage transportation by scheduling.

Deliveries
Selecting carriers and
Making sure products are shipped on time.

It also helps them follow Walmart’s shipping guidelines to avoid delays or penalties. The system shows if a shipment is on schedule, delayed, or completed, which helps with better planning and faster responses to issues.

Retail Link also allows suppliers to track orders in real time. They can see the;

Status of each order
View delivery updates
And check if the shipment has been received by Walmart.

This gives suppliers full visibility and helps them solve problems before they grow.

Using this feature helps suppliers improve.

Delivery performance
Reduce late shipments and
Maintain a good relationship with Walmart.

When transportation and tracking are managed well, it leads to smoother operations and better product availability for customers.

How to Use Retail Link

Using Retail Link may seem tricky at first, but once you understand the basics, it becomes a powerful daily tool for managing your Walmart business.

Whether you’re checking sales numbers or updating items, Retail Link helps you make smarter decisions with real-time data.

To get started, you’ll need access. This is usually provided once you become an approved Walmart supplier. After logging in with your user ID and password, you’ll land on your dashboard. From there, you can explore different tools, reports, and apps based on your needs.
Most suppliers begin by checking sales reports. These reports show what’s selling, in which stores, and how much inventory is left. If sales drop or certain stores run out of stock, you’ll know right away. This helps you act fast, restocking items or adjusting pricing.
You can also use Retail Link to track purchase orders and delivery performance. Tools like the OTIF Scorecard help you see if your shipments are arriving on time and in full. If there’s a delay or issue, you can catch it early and fix it before it affects your business.
Retail Link also offers item setup tools. If you’re launching a new product, apps like NOVA help you submit product details, images, and pricing. You can also use merchandising tools to plan how your product appears on Walmart shelves and online.
To make things easier, many suppliers customize their dashboards with shortcuts to apps like Supplier One, APDP, and OTIF. This saves time and helps you focus on what matters most.

In short, using Retail Link means logging in regularly, reviewing key reports, updating product info, and staying on top of shipping and payments. The more you use it, the better you’ll get at spotting trends, solving problems, and growing your success with Walmart.

That’s said!!

Essential Retail Link Apps

Here I listed some of the essential Retail Link apps that help suppliers access important tools, reports, and features all in one place.

These apps make it easy to manage sales, inventory, orders, and product setup so quickly and efficiently.

Supplier One

Supplier One is a key app within Retail Link that brings everything a Walmart supplier needs into one easy-to-use dashboard. It acts as a central hub where suppliers can;

Access sales data
Manage item setup
View purchase orders and
Track performance—all in one place.

What makes Supplier One powerful is how it combines multiple tools into a single screen. Instead of jumping between different apps or pages, suppliers can quickly check important updates, respond to issues, and take action faster. It also highlights key metrics like on-time delivery, in-stock rates, and sales trends, helping suppliers stay focused on what matters most.

Whether you’re managing new items, tracking your supply performance, or reviewing forecast data, Supplier One keeps you organized and informed. It’s designed to save time, reduce errors, and support smarter business decisions, making it one of the most essential tools in the Retail Link system.

Accounts Payable Disputes

The Accounts Payable Disputes app is also an essential tool in Retail Link that helps suppliers handle payment issues quickly and clearly. It allows suppliers to view, manage, and resolve disputes related to invoices, deductions, or payment errors with Walmart.

This app makes the process easier by showing detailed information about each dispute. Suppliers can see why a deduction was made, respond with supporting documents, and track the status of their case—all in one place. It reduces confusion and helps avoid long delays in getting paid.

By using the Accounts Payable Disputes app, suppliers can keep their

Financial records clean
Resolve problems faster and
Maintain a strong relationship with Walmart’s accounting team.

It’s a smart tool for staying in control of your payments and keeping cash flow smooth.

Portal (APDP)

Portal (APDP) is a valuable app within Retail Link that helps suppliers manage their payment and deduction details with ease. APDP stands for Accounts Payable Document Portal, and it gives suppliers access to all financial documents related to Walmart transactions.

With this app, suppliers can view;

Invoices
Remittance advice and
Deduction details in one secure place.

It helps them understand what payments have been made, what amounts were deducted, and why. This reduces the need to contact Walmart support for every question and saves time on tracking down paperwork.

Portal (APDP) also works closely with the Accounts Payable Disputes app. If a supplier spots an issue, they can quickly gather proof from the portal and submit it through the disputes tool. It’s designed to keep your financial processes organized, transparent, and efficient. For any supplier working with Walmart, the Portal (APDP) is a must-have for smooth and accurate payment management.

NOVA

NOVA is another important app within Retail Link that helps suppliers

Manage new item setup and
Item maintenance.

It stands for New Online Vendor Application, and it’s the main tool suppliers use to introduce new products into Walmart’s system.

With NOVA, suppliers can submit item details like product descriptions, pricing, packaging, and images. It guides them through each step to make sure all required information is complete and accurate. This helps speed up the approval process and ensures products are ready for shelves or online listings without delays.

The app also allows suppliers to make updates to existing items. Whether it’s a price change, new packaging, or updated product features, NOVA makes it easy to keep everything current. For suppliers looking to launch new items or manage their existing catalog at Walmart, NOVA is the go-to tool that keeps things organized, fast, and Walmart-ready.

On Time In Full (OTIF) Scorecard.

On Time In Full (OTIF) Scorecard is a key performance tool in Retail Link that helps suppliers measure how well they’re delivering products to Walmart. It shows if shipments are arriving on time and with the full quantity ordered—two things Walmart takes very seriously.

The OTIF Scorecard gives clear, easy-to-read data that shows a supplier’s delivery performance. It breaks down each shipment to highlight what was late, what was short, and what was perfect. This helps suppliers quickly spot problems and take action to fix them.

Maintaining a strong OTIF score is important because it affects your relationship with Walmart. A high score shows you’re reliable and helps you avoid fines or penalties. By using the OTIF Scorecard regularly, suppliers can improve delivery planning, strengthen supply chain performance, and build trust with Walmart’s teams.

The Challenges of Retail Link

The challenges of Retail Link often come from its complexity and the learning curve it brings, especially for new suppliers. While the platform is powerful, it can feel overwhelming at first due to the number of tools, apps, and reports available.

One common challenge is navigating the system. With so many features packed into one platform, it can be hard to know where to start or which app to use for a specific task. Without proper training, users might miss important data or make mistakes that affect performance.

Another issue is data overload. Retail Link provides a lot of information, but not all of it is easy to understand right away. Suppliers may struggle to turn that data into clear actions, especially if they’re not familiar with Walmart’s processes or terms.

Despite these challenges, the system becomes much easier to manage with practice and support. Once suppliers learn how to use it, Retail Link becomes a valuable tool for growing and improving their business with Walmart.

Hey My Champs

So in this guide, we’ve covered everything about a retail link. From what it is and how it works, to the tools, apps, and challenges that come with it. Now you know how suppliers use it to manage sales, track inventory, plan shipments, and stay in sync with Walmart.

If you’re new to it, don’t worry—just take it step by step. The more you explore, the easier it gets. And remember, mastering Retail Link can truly level up your business with Walmart.

Keep learning, keep growing, and as always—stay smart, stay ahead! 💼🚀