Wholesale Distributor Use Cases

TraceLink Roles

TraceLink API Guides group messages by application. Each API Guide contains all messages available within that application. Your company's business type (e.g. CMO, Wholesale Distributor, 3PL) and role in the TraceLink Network (Owner or Partner1) determine which of these messages to develop (i.e. not all messages within this guide may fulfill your business or compliance needs).

See below to confirm which messages you should develop based on your role in the supply chain and/or the TraceLink Network.

Configure and exchange (send or receive) each message separately as a best practice.

Serialized Operations Manager Owners

Wholesale Distributors use the Registration (XML) message to communicate the registration of serial numbers for product received from a Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Repackager, 3PL, or another Wholesale Distributor.

Wholesale Distributors use the Receipt message to communicate the receipt of:
  • Purchased goods from a Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Repackager, 3PL, or another Wholesale Distirbutor.
  • Returned goods from a Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Repackager, or another Wholesale Distributor. This message indicates a change of product ownership.
  • Transferred goods from intra-company transfers.
Wholesale Distributors use the Receipt message to communicate the receipt of:
  • Purchased goods from a Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Repackager, 3PL, or another Wholesale Distirbutor.
  • Returned goods from a Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Repackager, or another Wholesale Distributor. This message indicates a change of product ownership.
  • Transferred goods from intra-company transfers.
Wholesale Distributors use the Receipt message to communicate the receipt of:
  • Purchased goods from a Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Repackager, 3PL, or another Wholesale Distirbutor.
  • Returned goods from a Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Repackager, or another Wholesale Distributor. This message indicates a change of product ownership.
  • Transferred goods from intra-company transfers.
Wholesale Distributors use the Sales Shipment message to communicate:
  • The transfer of a shipment when the Wholesale Distributor transfers product from one facility to another. There are two types of transfers:
    • If the Wholesale Distributor is tracking internal warehouse transfers between two facilities/warehouses that are owned by that Wholesale Distributor.
    • If the Wholesale Distributor is tracking the transfer of goods to a 3PL.
  • The sale of goods when the Wholesale Distributor sells product to a Repackager, 3PL, or another Wholesale Distributor. This message indicates a change of ownership.
  • The return of the goods back to the original Pharmaceutical Manufacturer.
Wholesale Distributors use the Sales Shipment message to communicate:
  • The transfer of a shipment when the Wholesale Distributor transfers product from one facility to another. There are two types of transfers:
    • If the Wholesale Distributor is tracking internal warehouse transfers between two facilities/warehouses that are owned by that Wholesale Distributor.
    • If the Wholesale Distributor is tracking the transfer of goods to a 3PL.
  • The sale of goods when the Wholesale Distributor sells product to a Repackager, 3PL, or another Wholesale Distributor. This message indicates a change of ownership.
  • The return of the goods back to the original Pharmaceutical Manufacturer.
Wholesale Distributors use the Sales Shipment message to communicate:
  • The transfer of a shipment when the Wholesale Distributor transfers product from one facility to another. There are two types of transfers:
    • If the Wholesale Distributor is tracking internal warehouse transfers between two facilities/warehouses that are owned by that Wholesale Distributor.
    • If the Wholesale Distributor is tracking the transfer of goods to a 3PL.
  • The sale of goods when the Wholesale Distributor sells product to a Repackager, 3PL, or another Wholesale Distributor. This message indicates a change of ownership.
  • The return of the goods back to the original Pharmaceutical Manufacturer.
The Wholesale Distributor use the Void Shipment message to void a completed delivery. They void a shipment for two possible reasons:
  • The Wholesale Distributor does not accept the delivery because of a desire to completely cancel the order.
  • The Wholesale Distributor accepts the delivery but the delivery contains incorrect information. They then void this delivery and create a new one to replace and correct the inaccurate information.
The Wholesale Distributor use the Void Shipment message to void a completed delivery. They void a shipment for two possible reasons:
  • The Wholesale Distributor does not accept the delivery because of a desire to completely cancel the order.
  • The Wholesale Distributor accepts the delivery but the delivery contains incorrect information. They then void this delivery and create a new one to replace and correct the inaccurate information.