Amazon Vendor Central is a powerful platform that empowers suppliers to efficiently manage their orders, whether it's through Amazon Seller Central, Fulfilled by Amazon, or Vendor Central. Let me break down these channels for you:
Seller Central: Suppliers take control of managing their listings, while Amazon provides a platform for displaying and selling products. In this highly competitive space, prices are determined by the suppliers, who often find themselves competing with other sellers of the same product. Suppliers are responsible for shipping their products on time.
Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA): Utilizing the Seller Central platform, sellers set the prices for their products. However, the key difference is that Amazon handles inventory management. Suppliers are required to ship their products to Amazon's Distribution Centers. Once an order is placed, Amazon takes care of shipping the products from its warehouses, relieving the sellers of this task.
Vendor Central: This exclusive purchasing platform is by invitation only. Amazon holds the reins here, selling products under its own name. Suppliers receive bulk purchase orders on a weekly basis, and it's their responsibility to ship the orders to Amazon's Distribution Centers. While Amazon determines the product prices and retains a margin, suppliers can enjoy the benefits of consistent bulk orders. However, it's important to note that the prices offered by Amazon may be lower than market value. This program presents suppliers with a tradeoff between price and volume.
Vendor Central Direct Fulfillment: Also an invitation-only program, this option allows suppliers to sell products under Amazon's name without the need for Amazon to stock them. Suppliers maintain their own stock in their locations and must frequently update their inventory availability. When an order is placed by an online shopper, Amazon promptly sends a purchase order directly to the supplier. The supplier then ships the items under Amazon's name, bypassing the need for the material to go through an Amazon Warehouse.
Experience the benefits of the Direct Fulfillment process as a supplier. Joining Amazon's Direct Fulfillment program opens up a world of advantages for you. With Direct Fulfillment, you have the power to add your complete selection to Amazon's extensive catalog, giving our customers the opportunity to shop online for your products.
By adding your products to the Direct Fulfillment catalog, you gain out-of-stock protection without any impact on your current purchase orders. Furthermore, your products will be showcased as "Ships and Sold by Amazon," solidifying your brand's trustworthiness.
The benefits don't stop there. With Direct Fulfillment, you can increase the number of ASINs (Amazon Standard Identification Numbers) and instantly make your entire catalog available to customers. No need to wait for a purchase order to start selling - seize the opportunity to add your selection to the marketplace.
Enjoy hassle-free returns as Amazon handles all customer service and return processes for you. And the best part? You won't have to worry about outbound shipping costs, as Amazon takes care of all the shipping fees.
Amazon Order Processing with EDI: Enhancing Speed and Accuracy
Doing business with Amazon isn't a walk in the park, but the rewards are worth it. When it comes to fulfilling orders, both speed and accuracy are paramount. Not only should suppliers ship products quickly and precisely, but they also need to provide frequent updates on order statuses.
Let's break down the order processing steps:
Order Confirmation: The moment an order is received, suppliers must promptly confirm it. This confirmation must include crucial details such as fill or kill options, partial shipments, or any delays.
Routing Request: As Amazon takes care of most inbound shipments, suppliers must contact Amazon to assign the freight forwarder responsible for transporting the goods. This is known as a routing request.
Advance Ship Notice: As soon as the material is shipped, suppliers should share comprehensive details, including the contents, packing information, quantity, and tracking number. This notice ensures transparency throughout the shipping process.
Invoice Submission: Finally, suppliers are required to submit an invoice via the vendor central portal to receive payment for the fulfilled order.
Admittedly, this entire process can be daunting and time-consuming. However, the integration of Electronic Document Interchange (EDI) revolutionizes this workflow by reducing manual intervention and enhancing accuracy.
Implementing a system like TPSynergy (https://www.tpsynergy.com/integration) brings automation to the table. This means that transactions are seamlessly executed within the system, labels can be printed directly, and the EDI process is efficiently handled, eliminating the need for additional manual work.
Welcome to the future of Amazon order processing – streamlined, automated, and error-free.
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