Before we discuss FBA alternatives, we must first understand what is Amazon FBA. Let’s face it: Amazon FBA has raised the bar for e-commerce businesses.
Amazon’s order fulfillment network possesses the resources, technology, and capabilities to provide free, fast, and flexible shipping to any location on the planet.
Same-day shipping is quickly becoming the norm, and for many e-commerce businesses, the only way to meet customer expectations is to outsource fulfillment and customer service to Amazon. However, FBA isn’t for everyone, prompting many brands to look for Amazon FBA alternatives.
E-commerce businesses must “pay to play” in the market created by Amazon, and an increasing number of online merchants are choosing to outsource their processes to third-party fulfillment services to reduce their reliance on Amazon.
Alternatives to Amazon FBA
Outsourcing your order fulfillment operations to a third party other than Amazon has the advantages of lower costs, inventory flexibility, increased visibility, and greater control over your order fulfillment operations.
Choosing a third-party logistics provider other than FBA can be one of the best decisions an eCommerce brand can make.
Redesign Logistics
By rethinking their current logistics strategy, e-commerce businesses can eliminate the need to sell on Amazon Marketplace.
Modern logistics solutions, such as automated warehouses, make it easier for e-commerce companies to scale their networks as product demand grows.
In fact, with the right logistics strategy and a little help from digital logistics platforms and variable data storage, e-commerce businesses can create end-to-end supply chain visibility and seize control of the customer experience from Amazon entirely.
Seller Fulfilled Prime
Seller Fulfilled Prime is an Amazon FBA alternative that allows qualified Amazon sellers to display the Amazon PRIME badge on orders fulfilled in-house or through a third-party service provider.
SFP is similar to Amazon FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant), but to qualify, SFP requires the use of preferred carriers and matching FBA service levels.
SFP charges a higher fulfillment fee for larger and heavier items, with additional storage fees charged depending on the time of year – SFP is more expensive during the holidays because it is Amazon’s busiest shopping season.
Furthermore, Amazon considers anything larger than 18 inches to be a large item, so the fees paid under FBA would be higher than those paid under SFP for larger items.
These fees are frequently the deciding factor for e-commerce businesses deciding whether FBA or SFP is the more viable option.
Warehousing on Demand
On-Demand Warehousing, a warehousing and distribution model that connects available warehousing space with e-commerce businesses in need of a small amount of space for a short period, is swimming against the tide of Amazon.
Unlike FBA, On-Demand Warehousing allows retailers to rapidly deploy different inventory volumes to various warehouses across the country.
Because there are no space minimums, e-commerce businesses can avoid overpaying for unnecessary space, allowing them to expand previous distribution networks into a comprehensive and responsive supply chain.
Using a 3PL Fulfillment Company
Most e-commerce businesses have little room for the exorbitant fees associated with Amazon Fulfillment. When the rising costs of Amazon warehousing are combined with a lack of affordable warehousing space across the country, e-commerce businesses are faced with a choice: work with Amazon or gamble on traditional warehousing.
Flowspace meets a critical need for e-commerce businesses by allowing sellers to quickly respond to demand without incurring the additional cost, time, and effort of complying with Amazon’s strict rules and exorbitant fees.
Flowspace provides businesses with the storage, transportation, and warehousing services they require every month. Furthermore, our service is fully integrated with Amazon, so we handle the picking, packing, and shipping of Amazon orders directly from our fulfillment center.
There are no space minimums, so e-commerce businesses can avoid overpaying for unnecessary space, improve their logistics network, and even avoid selling on Amazon entirely.
Flowspace, with 500+ warehouses nationwide, is the ideal fulfillment partner solution for e-commerce businesses looking for Amazon FBA alternatives. Begin right away.
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