EDI for Amazon Vendor Central
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EDI for Amazon Vendor Central
Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, wrote a letter to shareholders in April 2019 revealing updated metrics regarding Amazon 1st and 3rd party sales in 2018. The letter discussed the astounding leaps and bounds 3rd party sellers have made since 1999, forcing Amazon to compete on its own platform. However, the growth of Amazon 1st party sales is nothing to joke about, with an impressive CAGR of 25% since 1999, starting at $1.6 billion in 1999 to $117 billion at the end of 2018.
Since the metrics were released, Amazon has tightened up 1st party seller requirements, preferring high-performing vendors selling products with high volume sales and consistent demand. 1st party vendors who didn’t make Amazon’s cut were denied purchase orders, showing Amazon’s willingness to drop sellers without a lot of notice.
For suppliers and vendors looking to capitalize on the vast opportunities presented by the platform, Amazon Vendor Central serves as a crucial gateway. However, success in this massive online marketplace requires efficient and seamless communication between suppliers and Amazon itself. That’s where Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) steps in as a game-changer. In this article, we delve into the world of EDI for Amazon Vendor Central and explore how this powerful technology empowers suppliers to optimize their supply chain collaboration, streamline operations, and stay competitive in the dynamic world of online retail. Join us as we unravel the benefits, implementation process, and best practices of using EDI to thrive on Amazon Vendor Central.
EDI for Amazon Vendor Central: What is EDI?
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is the most common method of B2B transactions. EDI is the back-and-forth translation of information communicated between two systems. EDI renders each exchange into a readable format for the receiving system. EDI requires a vendor to implement a VAN (Value-Added Network), like TrueCommerce, SPS Commerce, and B2BGateway, for EDI to work. A VAN enables a vendor to be EDI compliant. Amazon doesn’t require vendors to be EDI compliant, but the likelihood of withstanding demand or maintaining a partnership with Amazon without EDI is low.
EDI for Amazon Vendor Central: Acctivate
With a VAN in place, a 1st party seller immediately benefits from implementing an EDI for Amazon Vendor Central companion solution like Acctivate into operations. Acctivate acts as an EDI management software, automating inventory, order, and fulfillment processing, offering dynamic business intelligence, and helping vendors meet Amazon performance requirements.
EDI for Amazon Vendor Central: Order Management
Acctivate as an EDI for Amazon Vendor Central solution helps 1st party sellers reduce data re-entry and manage high-volume sales with little stress in dramatically less time. An EDI management software like Acctivate is equipped to interpret large, complex purchases orders imported from Amazon, streamlining picking, packing, and shipping processes, reducing costs, and preventing errors and inaccuracies.
Acctivate creates and streamlines workflows based on incoming orders and directs the fulfillment processes taking place within a vendor’s warehouse. Through routine task automation and centralized data, a vendor’s visibility into ongoing order operations is at an all-time high.
EDI for Amazon Vendor Central: Data Entry
One of the most immediately noticeable benefits of an EDI for Amazon Vendor Central solution like Acctivate is the near elimination of data re-entry. Acctivate’s EDI Manager is designed to work directly with a vendor’s VAN, displaying all relevant data between their system and Amazon’s, neatly, all in one place. When EDI manager is opened, all orders, related documents like ASNs (Advanced Shipping Notices), and invoices are ready for review. The automatic population of purchase orders into Acctivate negates the need for order and data re-entry, greatly reducing the risks of human errors and preventable mistakes. With Acctivate EDI for Amazon Vendor Central, vendors receive alerts regarding any changes or updates from Amazon, ensuring accuracy and preventing chargebacks. With EDI Manager, ASNs and invoices can be sent back to Amazon with just one click.
EDI for Amazon Vendor Central: QuickBooks
Acctivate is a powerful inventory and EDI management solution designed for small and mid-sized multi-channel distributors using QuickBooks. Acctivate offers advanced tools necessary for optimizing and growing a business while securely maintaining financials in QuickBooks.
EDI for Amazon Vendor Central: Inventory
Selling to Amazon through EDI is the most efficient and cost-effective option available to small and mid-sized multi-channel vendors. That said, most vendors are not working exclusively with Amazon. The average vendor not only has a general business to run, but likely sells through a variety of channels, ranging from eCommerce to face-to-face sales, with inventory to manage and multiple incoming order streams.
Without an EDI for Amazon Vendor Central solution like Acctivate, Amazon purchase orders could easily be mismanaged which could create a domino effect of errors across a vendor’s entire operation. Acctivate incorporates all areas of a vendor’s business necessary for successful multi-channel distributing – inventory, purchasing, warehousing, order management, fulfillment, business intelligence, and cost-analysis.
With a vendor continuously receiving orders, Acctivate’s inventory re-order alerts notify a vendor when stock is low and suggest re-order quantities. Acctivate updates inventory across channels in real-time, prevents lost sales and purchases of unavailable items, and overall helps a vendor consistently meet Amazon demand.
With Acctivate’s EDI for Amazon Vendor Central, 1st party sellers can foster a successful, profitable relationship with Amazon.
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