Fulfilled By Merchant (FBM) is a mode of fulfilling Amazon orders by way of involving the seller's own independent resources. Amazon charges a shipping and handling fee for every order that the seller makes on the platform. While this mode of order fulfillment is considered more convenient by some merchants, others take the control into their own hands and use their resources to fulfill orders, instead of relying on the e-commerce giant platform.
But this is not all about the Amazon Fulfilled By Merchant. There is a lot more that goes into Amazon FBM orders than you might think. And in this blog, I am going to talk about the same.
According to the Amazon FBM method, the seller is responsible for order fulfillment themself, they can partner with third-party logistics service providers that offer order fulfillment services. This mode of order fulfillment often ends up being more reliable and more cost-effective in the long run. You can also alternatively self-fulfill the order by using your personal resources for the same cause.
Here is the step-by-step breakdown of how to fulfill orders as per the FBM method -
Create and list your products on the Amazon Seller account. Fill out the relevant information, proper product description, and price. Navigating the Amazon Seller account even as an independent seller is quite easy. However, if you are selling on a big scale, take the help of a team for proper product photography, descriptions, marketing, and more.
Based on the orders you receive on a periodic basis, and the key locations from where you receive them, you can get a warehouse nearby the areas. Warehouses act like fulfillment centers, where you can store, pack, and dispatch your orders from. As an independent seller, you will require a warehouse for order fulfillment processes.
Strategizing while getting warehouses is the key. You cannot build warehouses at random locations. Warehouses or fulfillment centers are supposed to make the other process of order fulfillment and last-mile logistics easier for you. AWL India is a logistics and warehousing solutions provider which has a vast network of strategically-located warehouses. You can fulfill your warehousing requirements by partnering with the company conveniently.
So, now you have a working warehouse, an inflow of orders, and are managing them efficiently. Ship the order after packing it appropriately and dispatching them on time. For this part, you will require a reliable logistics partner to help you with the last-mile delivery. AWL India has a fleet of vehicles well equipped with devices and equipment to keep the shipments safe throughout the duration of the transit.
Amazon Fulfilled By Merchant is a choice mode of order fulfillment for not only sellers on Amazon but for other e-commerce traders. The benefits of the method are plenty, and here are some of them -
Amazon FBM is a cost-effective method of order fulfillment. The shipping and handling fee that otherwise Amazon would have cut is saved. You can pick a third-party logistics service, or fulfill orders independently, based on your personal budget.
When you are fulfilling orders you got through Amazon independently, you are still able to access Amazon’s high audience. For a budding e-commerce store or an aspiring independent seller, this can help with the sales and the motivation to keep up the business.
You will have end-to-end control over all of your business operations. This can be both - a pro and a con. You can ship the order in the type of packaging you want, by using methods that suit your budget, according to the route you think is best suited. While greater control might appear good, it can also be overwhelming.
The Amazon Fulfilled By Merchant can be a beneficial method for businesses operating across industries and different scales, provided you have the warehousing and logistics aspects taken care of. And if you don’t, partnering with a third-party logistics service provider like AWL India can help take away much of the burden that comes with the individual responsibility of controlling the order fulfillment operations.