Amazon Vendor API vs EDI - What's the difference?
Amazon Vendor - or Amazon Retail - have released a new API (Application Programming Interface) that allows Vendors to interact with Amazon in new way. But in reality - not much has changed.
RETAIL
| Business Process | Sub-function | Vendor Portal | EDI | API |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item Inventory/Availability Management | Update items as temporarily unavailable |
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| Update items as permanently unavailable |
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| Share item inventory |
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| Item Cost Management | Update Item cost |
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| View Item cost |
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| Purchase Order Management | Get new purchase orders |
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| Get purchase order changes/cancellations |
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Jun 2020 | ||
| Check purchase order status |
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Jun 2020 | ||
| Submit purchase order confirmation |
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| Check purchase order confirmation status |
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| Shipment Confirmations | Submit/create shipment confirmation (ASN) |
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| Update shipment confirmation |
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| Check shipment confirmation status |
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| View shipment information |
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| Invoices & Credit Notes | Submit/update invoice or credit note |
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| Check invoice status |
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| View invoice |
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| Sales Data (ARA) | Get Sales Data Reports |
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Get Sales Analytics Reports
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| Remittance Advice | Get Remittance Advices |
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Source: Amazon Vendor Central
DIRECT FULFILMENT
| Business Process | Sub-function | Vendor Portal | EDI | API |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item Inventory/Availability Management | Update items inventory |
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| Synchronise warehouse inventory |
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Get item inventory
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| Item Cost Management | Update Item cost |
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| View Item cost |
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| Purchase Order Management | Get new purchase orders |
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| Check purchase order status |
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Q3 2020 | ||
| Submit purchase order confirmation |
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| Check purchase order confirmation status |
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| Packing Slips | Get Packing Slips |
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Q3 2020 | |
| Shipping Labels | Provide Shipment Information to generate ship labels |
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Get Shipping Labels
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| Shipment Confirmations | Submit/create shipment confirmation (ASN) |
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| Update Shipment confirmation |
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Check shipment confirmation status
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View shipment confirmation
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| Shipment Status |
Submit shipment status for vendor owned carrier shipments
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Q3 2020 |
| Invoices | Get Invoice Draft or Auto Invoice |
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| Submit/update Invoice |
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| Check Invoice Status |
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| View Invoice |
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| Reports | ASIN Suppression |
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Q3 2020 | |
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Suspended Warehouse
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Q3 2020 |
Source: Amazon Vendor Central
Key takeaways:
- Direct Fulfilment -> EDI or API essential
- API -> Mainly benefit vs EDI is checking status
- EDI -> Broader Functionality than API, Better established
- Not all Integrations equally suited to your business
Discussion
The introduction of an API for Amazon Retail will be welcomed by many. For a long time there has been a perception that the EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) method used by Amazon Vendor for many years was outdated and clunky to interact with. The API will make integration to Amazon Retail more accessible for brands to connect their stores.
'Integration' can mean many things - not all integrations are equal.
However, this lands back at the usual chestnut and real heart of the issue. "Integration" can mean many things - not all integrations are equal. An Amazon Vendor API or EDI is a bit like installing a motorway from your warehouse to Amazon. A "standard" connection would pick up orders and import them into your system for you. But a smart system would, and could, do so much more than that.
The reality is that Amazon Retail poses a huge challenge in terms of paperwork, logistics and operations to fulfil the orders that Amazon demands. "Getting EDI" - or an API for that matter - will not be a magic bullet and solve all your problems. What you need is to assess your entire operational process and find a system that works with you and for you to automate order processing in the cleanest way possible.
KhooCommerce is so much more than an EDI integration. It is a whole new way to approach Amazon Vendor order processing that will save your operations hours of paperwork and delays each week. We look forward to seeing the increased functionality that the API will bring in terms of reporting and analytics to brands.
If you made it this far, you're probably considering if API or EDI could help your business. The short answer is: almost certainly! If you'd like to find out more why not get a demo? If you'd like to spend 30 minutes investigating how we could work with you to save you time and money, fill out the form below.