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Amazon Vendor Central Glossary: Essential Terms Every Supplier Needs to Know for Success

20 January 2025 11:05

Updated Jan 2025

Understanding Amazon Vendor Central's terminology is essential for any supplier aiming to navigate this competitive marketplace effectively. From managing purchase orders (POs) and shipments to understanding unique identifiers like GS1 and SSCC, vendors need a clear grasp of these specialised terms to optimise their Amazon operations. This glossary breaks down complex Amazon Vendor Central and Direct Fulfilment terms into simple, actionable insights. With examples for each term, this guide is designed to help vendors manage inventory, streamline logistics, and communicate smoothly with Amazon’s systems, making it a must-read for those working within Amazon’s vendor ecosystem.

General Terms:

Term

Meaning

EDI

(Electronic Data Interchange):A standardised digital format for exchanging documents like purchase orders and invoices between Amazon and its vendors.
Example: When Amazon places an order with a vendor, EDI allows the order details to be automatically shared to and from the vendor’s system, speeding up the order process.

See also: Amazon Vendor EDI vs API.

ERP

(Enterprise Resource Planning): Software that helps vendors manage essential business functions like inventory, ordering, and accounting.
Example: A vendor might use SAP ERP to track inventory levels, making sure they’re stocked up on items Amazon orders frequently.See also: Integrate your ERP to Amazon Vendor
.

WMS

(Warehouse Management System): Software managing daily operations in a warehouse, from receiving stock to order picking and packing.
Example: Using a WMS, a vendor can easily see where a product is stored and have it packed and ready when Amazon places an order.

See also: Shipping to Amazon Vendor - Streamlining the Warehouse.

API

(Application Programming Interface): A set of rules enabling different software systems to communicate, allowing automation and data sharing.
Example: Amazon’s APIs let vendors automatically update inventory levels directly from their own systems. See also: Amazon Vendor EDI vs API.

Vendor Central

Amazon’s platform where first-party vendors manage orders, pricing, and stock directly with Amazon.
Example: Suppliers use Vendor Central to track orders and adjust stock availability, letting Amazon know when to reorder.

Seller Central

Amazon’s platform for third-party sellers to list and sell items directly to consumers on the Amazon marketplace.
Example: A business selling on Seller Central controls its product listings, prices, and fulfilment methods.

Vendor Code

A five-character code Amazon assigns to each vendor account to uniquely identify it within a region.
Example: Vendor Code ABC1D allows Amazon to distinguish this vendor’s account from others when placing orders.

AVS

(Amazon Vendor Services): A paid programme providing vendors with a dedicated Amazon contact for support on orders, catalogue updates, and account management.
Example: A vendor enrolled in AVS can get tailored advice from their Amazon account manager on improving product listings.

CRaP

(Can’t Realise a Profit): Refers to products Amazon cannot sell profitably, often due to low prices or high shipping costs.
Example: Heavy, low-priced items like bottled water might fall under CRaP, as they cost more to ship than Amazon can profitably sell them for.

MAP

(Minimum Advertised Price): The lowest price a manufacturer allows a product to be advertised for, ensuring market consistency.
Example: A vendor must follow the MAP guidelines for electronics to avoid underpricing other resellers.

OTB

(Open-to-Buy): A budgeting concept for managing funds available for new inventory purchases.
Example: A retailer monitors their OTB to ensure they don’t overspend on new products, keeping within budget.

Direct Fulfilment

Vendors ship products directly to customers, reducing stock in Amazon warehouses and speeding up delivery. 
Example: For oversized items like furniture, vendors use Direct Fulfilment, shipping directly to buyers from their warehouses

Vendor Flex

A programme where vendors store Amazon products in their own warehouses but allow Amazon to manage orders and shipping.
Example: A vendor with large warehouse space might use Vendor Flex, letting Amazon ship orders directly from their facility.

PICS 

(Pan-European Inbound Consolidation Service): This service helps European vendors streamline shipments by consolidating them across fewer fulfilment centres, providing cost efficiencies by allowing Amazon to cross-dock the goods upon arrival.
Example: Rather than shipping to 25 or 50 fulfilment centres, you can offer a discounted rate to Amazon and the goods only need to be shipped to Select FCs in their network.

SSCC

(Serial Shipping Container Code): A barcode used to identify and track shipping containers across the supply chain.
Example: Each pallet shipped to Amazon is marked with an SSCC barcode, ensuring it reaches the right fulfilment centre.

AMZNCC

(Amazon Container Code): Amazon’s internally generated barcode when a vendor manually submits carton level information.
Example: When preparing an ASN, a Vendor enters in the carton information into Amazon and then Amazon generates the relevant AMZNCC labels for the shipment

GS1 

(Global Standards 1): A non-profit global organisation setting standards for product barcodes, widely used across Amazon’s platforms for product tracking. Common GS1 Identifiers include GTINs, SSCCs and GLNs.
Example: GS1 barcodes ensure each product has a unique identifier, helping Amazon and other retailers track products accurately.

 GLN

(Global Location Number): This is a GS1 term and rather than a Zip or Postal code, is a number that refers to a unique location in the world.
Example: Amazon’s FCs in Europe all have unique GLN codes to help coordinate where POs should be shipped to. 

GDSN

(Global Data Synchronisation Network): This enables a vendor to upload their product information and catalogue to a centralised repository where a trading partner can connect to import all their information, easing data flow between trading partners.
Example: A vendor supplies all their product information to a GDSN data pool provider, and then shares their company tag with a trading partner. This enables the trading partner to match incoming shipments and data against a known list of products

 

Order Management: 

Term

Meaning

PO(s)

(Purchase Order): Amazon’s official request for products from a vendor, usually issued on scheduled days (e.g., Mondays and Wednesdays).
Example: Amazon sends a PO to a vendor for 1,000 units of a top-selling product, specifying the delivery date.See also: Amazon Vendor PO management made easy.

POA

(Purchase Order Acknowledgement): Vendors confirm receipt and acceptance of Amazon’s purchase order.
Example: A vendor sends back a POA to Amazon confirming they can fulfil the requested order quantity.

Shipping Window

The specified delivery timeframe for a PO, including start and end dates.
Example: A vendor’s PO includes a shipping window of three days, requiring delivery by the end date. See also: PO management Analysis and Automation

DC/FC

(Distribution centre/Fulfilment Centre): Amazon’s warehouses where products are stored, packed, and shipped to customers.
Example: Orders are routed through an FC closest to the customer’s location to reduce shipping times.

Price Discrepancy / Purchase price variance

The difference between the expected and actual price paid by Amazon.
Example: Amazon expects a price of $10 per unit but is charged $12, creating a price discrepancy.

B2R

(Born to Run): A programme where vendors can request an initial PO for new products to test demand. The vendor should forecast the total demand for a 10-week period and send in the stock to launch that product.
Example: A vendor launching a new product requests B2R to have Amazon place an initial test order

LTSF

(Long-Term Storage Fee): Fees Amazon charges for inventory stored over 365 days in its fulfilment centres.
Example: To avoid LTSF, a vendor might run a discount to clear older stock from Amazon’s warehouse.

 

Shipments: 

Term

Meaning

ASN

(Advance Shipment Notification): A pre-shipment alert sent to Amazon detailing an order’s contents and estimated arrival.
Example: An ASN includes the items and quantities in a shipment, helping Amazon prepare to receive it.See also: ASN creation made easy.

R-ASN

(Retail Advance Shipment Notification): An alert sent to Amazon about a shipment, listing items and estimated delivery time.
Example: Vendors send R-ASNs to give Amazon a preview of incoming inventory, improving receiving efficiency.

ARN

(Advance Routing Notification): A mechanism used by WePay vendors where a Vendor submits shipment information and Amazon assigns the carrier to the collection. Comprises both a request and a response.
Example: The Vendor tells Amazon a PO will be shipped in 3 pallets, comprising 85 boxes and totalling 45 cubic feet and 600lbs of goods. Amazon then responds by assigning a carrier to that pickup.

Collect

Amazon handles the pickup and transport of goods from the vendor, commonly used in North America. Also called “WePay”
Example: A vendor based in the U.S. uses Collect, with Amazon managing pickup and delivery logistics. Read more: USA Vendor uses EDI integration to streamline operations for Collect Shipments

PrePaid

Vendors cover all shipping costs and deliver goods to Amazon’s designated warehouse. Also called “TheyPay”. Example: A vendor in the UK uses PrePaid, handling delivery to Amazon’s fulfilment centre. Read more: UK company using PrePaid shipments uses EDI to save hours each week in manual data entry.

MCF

(Multi-Channel Fulfilment): Amazon fulfils orders placed outside its marketplace, using Amazon-stored inventory and leveraging Amazon’s existing fulfilment capabilities.
Example: A vendor selling on their own website uses MCF to fulfil these orders, shipping from Amazon’s warehouses.

LTL

(Less Than Truckload): Shipments that are palletised, but don’t fill a whole truck, shared with other shipments to lower costs.
Example: A vendor shipping 3 pallets  opts for LTL, as it doesn’t require an entire truck.

FTL

(Full Truckload): A large shipment filling an entire truck, reducing per-unit shipping costs. This is typically 26-33 pallets depending on the pallet footprint size. Full truckload shipments must have seal numbers  sent in the ASN.
Example: High-demand or bulky products might be shipped as a TL, utilising the full truck space.

FCL

(Full Container Load): A shipment that occupies an entire container, commonly for overseas freight. Used for Direct Import shipments.
Example: An FCL shipment ensures that a container arrives directly at Amazon’s port destination.

LCL

(Less Than Container Load): A shipment not filling a whole container, sharing space with other shipments.
Example: A vendor with smaller volumes uses LCL, sharing the container with other shipments.

FBA

(Fulfilment by Amazon): Amazon manages storage, packing, and shipping for a vendor’s products, streamlining fulfilment.
Example: A vendor with seasonal products uses FBA, letting Amazon handle logistics and returns.

FBM

(Fulfilment by Merchant): Vendors handle their own inventory and shipping, while Amazon manages listings and transactions.
Example: Vendors using FBM manage the entire shipping process but leverage Amazon’s marketplace for sales.

SFP

(Seller Fulfilled Prime): Vendors ship directly to Prime customers while meeting Amazon’s delivery standards.
Example: A vendor offering SFP can reach Prime members with their own shipping processes.

FC Direct

Shipping directly from Amazon’s fulfilment centres to customers, bypassing intermediaries.
Example: FC Direct ensures faster deliveries by shipping directly to the customer from Amazon’s nearest FC.

Direct Import

Amazon buys directly from international vendors, skipping intermediaries and reducing import costs.
Example: A European supplier uses Direct Import to deliver products straight to Amazon’s U.S. fulfilment centres.

 

Chargebacks: 

Term

Meaning

Chargeback

A catch-all term referring to any deduction that Amazon makes to a supplier for non-compliance with standards pertaining to shipments, orders, invoices or other operational defect that incurred Amazon a loss. Deducted from Payments due to a vendor.

Shortage Claim

A claim by Amazon that what arrived at a FC was less than what the supplier claimed. This is usually seen as a “SC” suffix on the invoice remittance. Shortage claims can be disputed but this can be a lengthy process. Often prevention is better than cure. There are agencies that dispute these claims for companies. KhooCommerce helps to mitigate the root causes of shortages through high ASN accuracy compliance.

PO On Time Accuracy

A chargeback when a vendor makes mistakes on the PO management process. Subtypes:

1. Not on Time: shipment arrived outside of delivery window

2. Not filled: goods did not arrive at all and Amazon closed the order for the vendor. (typically 30 days after delivery window ends).

3. Down Confirmed: goods to deliver were adjusted down too late after the delivery window started. Typically any adjustment >5 days after the delivery window opens.

Carton Information Compliance

A chargeback related to mismatch of carton contents and label descriptor, or lack of label descriptor. Usually £0.12 or $0.20 per unit in the affected cartons.  

No Carton Content Label 

 A carton was shipped to amazon with no label on it all - missing License Plate (LP) label. See also: ASN options - what you need to know.

 

ASN Accuracy 

Covers a range of issues with the ASN including: a shipment arrives at an Amazon FC with no ASN sent; PRO/BOL mismatch; missing expiry date; invalid expiry date; unit count mismatch.

Overweight Carton

Cartons weighing in excess of that allowed at the FC. Usually the limit for what one worker is legally allowed to lift in that country, eg 50lbs in USA. 

Oversized Carton

Cartons in excess dimension allowed at the FC shipped to. Typically 25 inches for any dimension. 

 

Mastering Amazon Vendor Central terminology empowers suppliers to handle their business with precision, reducing costly errors and improving order fulfilment efficiency. By familiarising yourself with terms like EDI, ERP, and Vendor Flex, you can optimise your operations and maximise your success in Amazon’s marketplace. As Amazon continues to grow, understanding these essential terms and concepts will keep you competitive and ensure your business thrives. For more Amazon Vendor Central resources and strategies, refer to our comprehensive guides and take your Amazon vendor operations to the next level.