Fulfillment by Amazon can make it easier for businesses to store inventory and fulfill customer orders, but first, those products need to reach Amazon’s fulfillment network correctly.
For sellers shipping larger quantities of inventory, that can mean coordinating cartons, pallets, freight transportation, labeling, documentation, and strict receiving requirements. A mistake at any stage can potentially create delays before your inventory becomes available for sale.
Before your next Amazon FBA freight shipment leaves the warehouse, here are some of the most important factors to consider.
1. Create Your Shipment Through Seller Central
An Amazon FBA shipment should begin inside your Seller Central account.
Amazon’s Send to Amazon workflow guides sellers through preparing inventory for shipment. Sellers provide information about the products being sent, packing configurations, quantities, and shipping method before receiving the necessary shipment and labeling information.
Do not book freight based only on where you shipped inventory previously. Amazon determines where inventory should be sent as part of the inbound process, and shipment plans can vary.
Complete the current workflow first so you know what you are shipping, how it needs to be prepared, and where it needs to go.
2. Follow Amazon’s Packaging Requirements
Freight transportation is only one part of getting inventory into FBA.
Individual products may have packaging or preparation requirements based on their size, category, construction, or potential for damage. Boxes and pallets also need to meet the requirements associated with the shipment.
Amazon provides guidance for inventory preparation, packaging, barcodes, and labeling within its FBA resources.
Before shipping, verify the current requirements directly in Seller Central. FBA policies can change, and assuming that last year’s process still applies to today’s shipment can create unnecessary problems.
3. Get Your Labels Right
Incorrect or missing labels can quickly complicate an inbound FBA shipment.
Depending on how your inventory is configured, labels may be required on individual products, cartons, and pallets. The labels generated through the Amazon shipping workflow connect physical inventory with the shipment information Amazon expects to receive.
Make sure labels are printed clearly, placed correctly, and remain readable during transportation.
It may seem like a small detail compared with moving an entire pallet across the country, but labeling is one of the most important connections between your physical freight and Amazon’s receiving system.
4. Choose the Right Freight Transportation
The best transportation method depends on how much inventory you are sending, where it originates, and how quickly it needs to reach the fulfillment network.
Smaller shipments may move through parcel carriers, while larger quantities could require LTL, truckload, air freight, ocean freight, or a combination of transportation services.
For international sellers and importers, the journey can become even more complicated. Inventory may need to travel from an overseas manufacturer by ocean or air, clear customs, move through a warehouse or port, and then continue to the designated fulfillment center.
Planning the entire route rather than focusing on only one segment can help prevent bottlenecks.
5. Plan for International Shipping and Customs
Importing products into the United States for FBA requires additional preparation.
Commercial documentation, customs clearance, duties, taxes, commodity information, and other regulatory requirements may need to be handled before the inventory can continue to Amazon.
Delays at customs can disrupt carefully planned inventory schedules, particularly if sellers wait until stock is already running low before replenishing.
Working with a freight forwarder experienced in international transportation can help coordinate the different stages between the overseas origin and final domestic delivery.
6. Build Extra Time Into Inventory Planning
Running out of inventory can mean missed sales, but waiting until the last minute to replenish can also push businesses toward more expensive transportation options.
International transit, customs clearance, appointment scheduling, domestic transportation, and Amazon’s receiving process all take time.
Sellers should work backward from the date inventory needs to be available and build reasonable flexibility into the schedule.
The earlier freight is planned, the more transportation options may be available.
7. Work With a Freight Forwarder Familiar With Amazon Shipments
Amazon freight is not simply about getting a truck from Point A to Point B.
A freight forwarder can help coordinate transportation between manufacturers, ports, warehouses, and fulfillment centers while helping sellers manage the logistical details involved along the way.
Baum Shipping specifically offers Amazon freight forwarding services, including support for inbound logistics, documentation, and delivery to fulfillment centers.
For sellers importing inventory or sending larger freight shipments to Amazon, having one logistics partner coordinate multiple stages can make the process much easier to manage.
Get Your FBA Inventory Moving
Successful Amazon FBA freight shipping starts long before the truck arrives.
Accurate shipment information, proper preparation and labeling, reliable transportation, customs planning, and sufficient lead time all play a role in getting inventory where it needs to go.
At Baum Shipping, we help e-commerce businesses coordinate freight transportation and Amazon fulfillment center deliveries, including domestic and international logistics.
Planning an upcoming FBA shipment? Contact Baum Shipping to discuss your inventory, origin, destination, and freight requirements.