As a third-party seller on Amazon, using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a powerful way to streamline your operations. FBA allows Amazon to handle the storage, packing, shipping, and even customer service for your products. However, once you send your inventory to Amazon’s fulfillment centers, it’s essential to track your shipments to ensure everything runs smoothly. Improperly tracked shipments can lead to stockouts, delays, or even lost inventory, which could hurt your business performance and sales.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about tracking your Amazon FBA shipments as a third-party seller, from the basics of Seller Central’s shipment tracking system to troubleshooting common issues. By following these steps, you can ensure that your inventory reaches Amazon warehouses efficiently and avoid any hiccups that could affect your business.
Understanding the FBA Shipment Process
Before diving into tracking, it’s essential to understand the FBA shipment process:
- Prepare Your Products for Shipment: Once your products are prepared according to Amazon’s FBA guidelines (labeling, packaging, etc.), you need to create a shipment in Amazon Seller Central.
- Ship to Amazon Fulfillment Centers: After creating your shipment, you send your products to the designated Amazon fulfillment center using a partnered carrier or your own shipping solution.
- Shipment Tracking and Monitoring: Once your products are in transit, you need to track them to ensure they arrive safely at Amazon’s warehouse and are successfully checked in.
Now that you have a basic understanding of the process, let’s dive into how to track your Amazon FBA shipments.
Step-by-Step Guide to Tracking Amazon FBA Shipments
Step 1: Access Your Shipments in Seller Central
Tracking your shipments begins in Amazon Seller Central—the central hub for all third-party sellers using the platform.
- Log in to your Amazon Seller Central account.
- From the top menu, navigate to the Inventory tab and click on Manage FBA Shipments.
- This page will display a list of all your FBA shipments, including their current statuses (e.g., Shipped, In Transit, Delivered, Checked-In).
Here you can see the status of each shipment and start monitoring its progress.
Step 2: Understanding Shipment Statuses
Amazon provides several key shipment statuses that help you understand where your inventory is in the process. These include:
- Working: The shipment has been created in Seller Central, but the products have not yet been sent to the fulfillment center.
- Shipped: The shipment has been sent and is currently in transit to the fulfillment center.
- In Transit: The carrier has the shipment, and it’s on its way to the fulfillment center.
- Delivered: The shipment has arrived at the Amazon fulfillment center.
- Receiving: The fulfillment center is in the process of receiving and checking in your shipment.
- Closed: The shipment has been fully received and processed.
Step 3: Use Tracking IDs for Detailed Monitoring
When you create a shipment in Seller Central, you will receive a Tracking ID or Tracking Number. This number allows you to track the shipment in real-time through your shipping carrier (e.g., UPS, FedEx, or DHL).
- Go to your Manage FBA Shipments page in Seller Central.
- Find the shipment you want to track and click on the Track Shipment button next to the shipment ID.
- You will see the Tracking ID provided by your carrier. You can use this ID to track the shipment directly on the carrier’s website.
Using this tracking number, you can monitor the exact location and status of your shipment, ensuring it reaches Amazon’s warehouse on time.
Step 4: Track Shipment Progress and Delivery
Once your shipment is marked as Shipped or In Transit, keep an eye on its progress:
- Regularly check the shipment’s status in Seller Central and with the carrier’s tracking system.
- Once the shipment is marked as Delivered, wait for Amazon to update the status to Receiving. Amazon fulfillment centers may take a few days to fully check in and process your shipment.
- If there are delays or issues during the delivery process, you can use the tracking ID to contact the carrier for more information or escalate the issue with Amazon.
Step 5: Troubleshooting Common Shipment Issues
Even with the best preparations, issues can arise during the FBA shipment process. Here are some common problems and how to resolve them:
- Delayed Shipments: If your shipment is delayed, first check with the carrier using your tracking ID. If the delay is significant, you can open a case with Amazon through Seller Support for assistance.
- Lost Shipments: If the shipment doesn’t arrive at Amazon’s warehouse after a reasonable period, and the carrier has no further information, contact Amazon to open a claim for lost inventory.
- Incomplete Check-Ins: Sometimes, Amazon marks a shipment as “Received,” but some units are missing. In such cases, use the Reconcile Shipment option in Seller Central to report any discrepancies. Amazon may ask you to provide proof of shipment (such as receipts or tracking numbers).
Step 6: Best Practices for Efficient Shipment Tracking
To ensure your Amazon FBA shipments are tracked efficiently and reach Amazon’s warehouses without issues, follow these best practices:
- Choose Reliable Carriers: When selecting a carrier for your shipments, ensure they provide reliable tracking services and meet Amazon’s delivery time expectations.
- Monitor Shipments Regularly: Don’t wait for problems to arise. Regularly check your shipments’ status in Seller Central to catch potential issues early.
- Consolidate Shipments: If possible, consolidate multiple products into a single shipment to reduce costs and make tracking easier.
- Maintain Accurate Records: Keep all shipping documents and tracking numbers organized, as you may need them to resolve issues with Amazon or your carrier.
Conclusion
Tracking your Amazon FBA shipments is a crucial part of ensuring smooth inventory management and maintaining a successful business as a third-party seller. By following the steps outlined in this guide—accessing your shipments in Seller Central, using tracking IDs, monitoring statuses, and troubleshooting issues—you can avoid costly delays and keep your FBA operations running efficiently.
At Marketplace Valet, we specialize in helping Amazon sellers streamline their fulfillment and logistics processes, ensuring that your products are tracked, delivered, and checked in without a hitch. If you’re looking for expert assistance in managing your Amazon FBA shipments, we’re here to help.
Contact us today to learn more about our FBA fulfillment and management services, and take the stress out of your e-commerce operations.
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