June 12, 2023
What is Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA)?
Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) is a service that lets sellers outsource order fulfilment to Amazon. Completing orders is often one of the biggest challenges for online sellers, especially as a business starts to grow.
When signing up to FBA, businesses can choose to either send items for delivery to Amazon’s owned logistics centre or to a ‘fulfilment centre’ (FC). From there, we pick up, pack up and deliver orders to customers. All goods fulfilled by Amazon are called ‘inbound’ shipments.
When signing up to FBA, businesses can choose to either send items for delivery to Amazon’s owned logistics centre or to a ‘fulfilment centre’ (FC). From there, we pick up, pack up and deliver orders to customers. All goods fulfilled by Amazon are called ‘inbound’ shipments.
Why use Amazon FBA Inbound for Freight?
Order fulfilment is at the core of a business that delivers products to customers. Most businesses prefer to handle order fulfilment first-hand at the start. As demand starts to grow, it can become harder to store inventory.
When a business lacks the infrastructure to fulfil, this can eat into precious time and resources, while added costs start to build up. In this scenario, FBA helps businesses by handling storage and delivery for customer orders, while businesses can focus on scaling through marketing, product development and other strategies.
When a business lacks the infrastructure to fulfil, this can eat into precious time and resources, while added costs start to build up. In this scenario, FBA helps businesses by handling storage and delivery for customer orders, while businesses can focus on scaling through marketing, product development and other strategies.
The benefits of FBA for freight
1. Efficient inventory management
2. Smooth customer service and returns
3. Increased scalability for your business
4. Cost-effective logistics
5. Business expansion
2. Smooth customer service and returns
3. Increased scalability for your business
4. Cost-effective logistics
5. Business expansion
FBA Inbound Shipment Requirements
For each inbound shipment, you need to fulfil some basic requirements, including a shipping plan and using the correct packaging. Sellers should carefully follow Amazon’s inbound shipping requirements. If packages are not within rules and guidelines, this can create problems, including:
1. Incorrect/missing labels
2. Missing items
3. Inaccurate box content information
4. Prohibited items
5. Unsuitable package material
6. Damaged products
Read our blog on how to prepare a pallet for shipment to learn all you need to know about getting large cargo ready for pallet transport.
1. Incorrect/missing labels
2. Missing items
3. Inaccurate box content information
4. Prohibited items
5. Unsuitable package material
6. Damaged products
Read our blog on how to prepare a pallet for shipment to learn all you need to know about getting large cargo ready for pallet transport.
Creating an Inbound Freight Shipment
Before you create your shipment, ensure you have all the information you need e.g. destination, pickup location and any special instructions.
1. Select “New Quote”
To get a new quote, enter the Freight portal by signing in to your seller account. Click on the shipments tab in the left navigation bar and select “New Quote”. The “Copy Shipment” feature lets shippers repeat previous shipments using the same lane.
2. Choose Fulfilment Centre
For inbound shipments, shippers select the Fulfilment Centre Node Codes in the dropdown. Choose your preferred FC based on your location to calculate the quote for your freight shipment. Once you have accepted this option, you can proceed to schedule your pickup.
3. Arrange a pickup
Choose your desired pickup date for our team to collect your freight shipment and transport to your chosen FC. Please note: Amazon Freight requires a 24-hour lead time for full truckload (FTL) orders. For less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, for next-day pickup all orders must be confirmed before 1pm.
4. Add driver instructions
Enter any additional pickup and delivery location details. Ensure your chosen pickup time fits with your facility’s opening hours. the hours your facility is open. Specify any custom requirements the driver will need to know.
5. Specify units and additional details
Ensure the cargo details are accurate to avoid delays or rejected loads. For FTL shipments, you should specify the handling units you need, and select preferred FTL equipment from the options listed. Please provide your reference number.
You must specify cargo pallet information for all inbound LTL shipments, along with the reference number (this can be found on the BOL and invoice). Please provide the PO and FBA to prevent any chargebacks due to mismatches with PO or ASN.
You must specify cargo pallet information for all inbound LTL shipments, along with the reference number (this can be found on the BOL and invoice). Please provide the PO and FBA to prevent any chargebacks due to mismatches with PO or ASN.
6. Book
Once you’ve completed these steps, you are ready to click “Book shipment”. To save a quote for later, click “Save Quote” to store it in the ‘Shipments’ section on the left. As a reminder, you will receive an email confirming your pickup date and time.
Amazon FBA Inbound Shipping Costs
Before you choose FBA for freight, you will need to consider the size and weight of your shipment. Our Freight Pricing guide can provide you with more insight into how we calculate freight rates which may carry over into order fulfilment when shipping inventory inbound to Amazon.
Get hassle-free third-party shipping with Amazon Freight
When you move cargo with Amazon Freight, we carry out your transportation and fulfilment needs. After you’ve sent your goods to one of our FCs, our internal freight brokerage system finds the right heavy goods carrier for your shipments. Find out more about how we can support your business logistics by reaching out to freight-uk-interest@amazon.com
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