What is the difference between Amazon Seller Central and Amazon Vendor Central?

At B2BGateway we often get asked by clients and partners ‘What is the difference between trading with Amazon Seller Central and Amazon Vendor Central?’ I came across a great blog recently by Trinity Hartman on Content 26 which lays out in simplified detail, the differences between both Amazon structures for merchants. A brief overview of the blog can be seen here:

 

If your products are selling very well on Amazon, chances are you may be contacted by an Amazon Buyer to sign up to sell your products through Amazon Vendor Central. But what is Amazon Vendor Central and how does it differ from what you are doing already on Amazon Seller Central? To answer these questions lets’ take a look at a brief description of both:

 

What is Amazon Seller Central?

 

If you are already selling on Amazon, chances are you are using Amazon Seller Central. Amazon Seller Central is the web interface used by sellers to manage and view their orders. If you sell via Seller Central, you’re considered by Amazon as a marketplace or third-party seller. As a marketplace seller, you have different options for managing your virtual storefront. Amazon has a pay-as-you-go system for individual sellers as well as a pro merchant option for high-volume sellers. Pro merchant sellers can also choose Fulfillment by Amazon where Amazon takes care of shipping, customer service, and returns.

 

What is Amazon Vendor Central?

 

Amazon Vendor Central is the web interface used by manufacturers and distributors. If you sell via Vendor Central, you’re called a first-party seller. You’re acting as a supplier, selling in bulk to Amazon. Registration on Vendor Central is by invitation only. A tell-tale sign that a company is selling through Vendor Central is the phrase “ships from and sold by Amazon.com.” Only Vendor Central allows enhanced content, which Amazon refers to as A+ content. What is enhanced content? It’s an extended version of the basic product description including scan able text that explains the features and benefits of the product as well as product images and often a comparison chart.

 

Whether you operate on Amazon Seller Central or Amazon Vendor Central, you can learn more about how B2BGateway EDI solutions can help you further improve and automate your supply chain with Amazon by calling + 1 401 491 9595 (NA) / +353 61 708533 (EU) or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net



BedBathandBeyond.com and CommerceHub introduce changes to Purchase Orders.

BedBathandBeyond.com and their OrderStream partner CommerceHub have just released this notification to all BedBathandBeyond.com suppliers:

Effective June 2, 2015, regardless of whether you currently process LTL orders, you must be prepared to receive data in the Weight and Unit of Measure (UOM) elements if they are sent on your Bed Bath & Beyond Purchase Order messages. Please review your current maps to determine whether adjustments are required to accommodate this data.

To make sure you are ready for the BedBathBeyond.com changes which take effect next month, please contact B2BGateway at +1 401 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

Managing the Omni-Channel – Hot Topic during SuiteWorld 2015.



Speaking at SuiteWorld, NetSuite’s annual client and partner conference, Branden Jenkins, General Manager for Global Retail at NetSuite, commented on disruption and change and how retailers need to adapt to the new world of omni-channel retail.

According to Jenkins "Retailers need to put systems in place that give them the omni-channel capability”. He believes that the NetSuite eco-system (combination of NetSuite product features and partner add-on features will give NetSuite users a clear lead in the omni-channel market place. NetSuite also introduced their new Point of Sale (PoS) functionality which should greatly enhance the retailers omni-channel approach.

As well getting the product visible and sold through the right channels, the NetSuite user also needs to look closely at a complete and seamless supply chain integration platform. A platform which ties in all the players in the channel from online retail to box store to shopping carts to 3PL providers to drop shippers to manufacturers and more.

The omni-channel approach by NetSuite seems to be working as they were able to announce at SuiteWorld that they have just landed international surfing and clothing company, Billabong as a major new customer. Billabong is starting with NetSuite’s eCommerce platform and says that over time it may also switch its current ERP systems as well.  According to Kadima Lonji, CTO at Billabong, the new NetSuite implementation with enhanced inventory and stock visibility has the potential to deliver Billabong cost savings of $13 million per annum.

If you would like to know more on how B2BGateway’s fully integrated EDI solutions for NetSuite can help your organization handle the disruption of the omni-channel while at the same time enhancing your business call +1 401 491 9595 (NA) / +353 61 708533 (EU) or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

B2BGateway to Exhibit and Speak at NetSuite SuiteWorld 2015.

B2BGateway, the leading cloud based EDI solution provider and NetSuite partner since 2001, will yet again be exhibiting and meeting clients, partners and colleagues at this year’s SuiteWorld which takes place May 4-7 in San Jose, CA, USA.

SuiteWorld is NetSuite’s annual conference and this year NetSuite hopes to attract 7,500 attendees consisting of clients, partners, prospects and industry analysts. During the 4 day event attendees will hear key notes from CEO, Zach Nelson and CTO and founder, Evan Goldberg as well as learning about all things NetSuite.

As in every other year, B2BGateway will yet again have a booth at SuiteWorld 2015 where attendees can learn how B2BGateway’s fully integrated NetSuite EDI solutions remove the need to re-key data and help organizations improve and automate their supply chain and omni-channel operations. Removing the need to re-key data greatly reduces potential human errors while at the same time increasing overall supply chain efficiencies.

This year B2BGateway will also host two speaking sessions, “Improve your Supply Chain: B2BGateway EDI for NetSuite” , on Tuesday May 5^th at 8am in the Expo Hall Program Stage and on Thursday May 7^th at 8.30am also in the Expo Hall Program Stage.

If you or your colleagues are attending SuiteWorld 2015, make sure to drop by booth #538 to say hello to the B2BGateway team or drop by the Expo Hall Program Stage to hear one of the B2BGateway talks.

For further information on B2BGateway’s cloud based, fully integrated EDI solutions please call +1 401 491 9595 (USA) / +353 61 708533 (EU) or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net   

Automating Orders and Inventory between your eCommerce site and ERP

As online shopping continues to gather rapid pace (Forrester predicts that over $278 Billion will be spent this year online by US consumers on products and services), many organizations are purchasing eCommerce platforms such as 3dcart, Volusion, Magento, etc., to help them operate their eCommerce online stores. An eCommerce platform is a complete online store application that includes search, navigation, user accounts, shopping cart and ordering capabilities.

Without the right tools using an eCommerce platform can be quite a cumbersome and manual process as the following steps will outline:

1.       Setup product items to sell online including pricing, imagery, inventory.

2.       Customer places order online through the shopping cart.

3.       Order details are keyed in manually into the organizations backend accounting software solution or ERP.

4.       The order is sent (email, fax, etc.) to the warehouse for fulfilment, where it is manually entered again into the warehouse’s WMS.

5.       The warehouse fulfils the order and sends the organization notice (email, fax, etc.) that the goods have been shipped with tracking details.

6.       Order information from warehouse re-keyed into organizations backend system.

7.       Product shipped to customer.

 



 

As can be seen from the steps above, the entire process is quite laborious and can be error prone. Now let’s see how the same transaction would work if the organization implemented EDI:

1.       Setup product items to sell online including pricing, imagery inventory.

2.       Customer places order online through the shopping cart.

3.       EDI 850 Purchase Order is sent directly into organizations backend accounting software or ERP (no need to re-key data). The EDI 850 triggers an EDI 940 (warehouse ship order) to be sent directly into the warehouses WMS (again full automation and no re-keying of data required).

4.       The warehouse fulfills the order and sends an EDI 945 (warehouse shipping advice) to the organization letting them know the goods have been shipped. The organization uses the EDI 945 to close out the sale in their back end system.

5.       Product shipped to customer.

As well as orders and shipping notices, organizations can use the EDI 846 Inventory Inquiry/Advice document to let their trading partners know of stock levels at all times to avoid selling out of stock goods and the EDI 856 Advance Ship Notice to let trading partners know when to expect to receive goods.

For further information on integrating your eCommerce platform with your ERP/Accounting Software system please call B2BGateway today at (401) 491 9595 or email Sales@B2BGateway.Net

Hardware Retailer B&Q to Close 60 Stores in The United Kingdom and Ireland.

According to a recent article in Supply Chain Digital, Kingfisher, Europe's biggest home improvements retailer, has today announced it will be closing 60 of its B&Q stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland, after pulling out of a takeover for French chain Mr Bricolage.

British group Kingfisher, which owns the chains B&Q and Screwfix in Britain as well as Castorama and Brico Depot in France, said it would close the stores over the next two years at a restructuring cost of £350 million. Neither the exact locations nor number of planned job losses were disclosed.

"Kingfisher has said for some time that B&Q UK & Ireland can adequately meet local customer needs from fewer stores and that some of the stores should be smaller." the group said, while revealing the departure of B&Q Chief Executive Kevin O'Byrne.

It was announced also that Kingfisher's annual profits had dropped 19 percent to £573 million.

In a statement, the company said: "The results for the year reflect a mixed picture across our markets with the UK market improving but continental Europe, particularly France, proving to be a more challenging environment."

You can read the fill article from Supply Chain Digital here.

Construction begins on new B2BGateway World Headquarters in Rhode Island, USA.

Phase 1 construction has just begun on a new 40,000+ sq.ft. purpose built office campus for B2BGateway, a leading global EDI and automated supply chain software solution provider. The offices will be built on a 9 acre site adjacent to Exit 2 of interstate I-95 and only a few miles north of the Connecticut Border.

 

 

 

According to Kevin Hoyle, CEO of B2BGateway, “The site was chosen for its proximity to both New York and Boston. The facility will  allow us to amalgamate all the offices we currently lease in Rhode Island into one. This will greatly benefit both the organization and employees alike as we move forward and continue to grow at a rapid pace”.  He added “Having the additional acreage ensures space for future buildings and will add some fun with the soccer fields and volleyball courts for the staff.”  B2BGateway is aiming to take occupancy of their new offices in late Fall 2015.