As 2024 comes to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect on the pivotal announcements and updates Amazon shared with its seller community over the year. These updates shaped how sellers approached their businesses and opened new avenues for growth, efficiency, and customer engagement. In this blog, we’ll take a comprehensive look at the most significant Amazon announcements from 2024, designed to empower sellers and streamline their operations.
Simplifying Seller Operations
Supply Chain by Amazon
Amazon has unveiled a fully managed, end-to-end supply chain solution that streamlines seller inventory management and logistics. By simply stating what to ship and where to pick up, sellers can rely on Amazon’s expertise to handle everything from warehousing to fulfillment. Key benefits include:
- Faster delivery speeds: Unlock an average of 20% higher sales conversion.
- Cost savings: Save 25% on Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) storage fees and 15% on transportation costs.
- Optimized cash flow: Advanced machine-learning algorithms ensure inventory is strategically placed in fulfillment centers for maximum efficiency.
This solution reduces complexity, allowing sellers to focus on growing their business while Amazon handles the logistics.
Amazon Seller App Enhancements
To improve the mobile experience, Amazon has introduced a redesigned Seller app with:
- A single-tap navigation bar for quicker access to essential features.
- A structured homepage displaying key performance indicators (KPIs) like orders and Featured Offer percentages.
- New features planned for 2024, including integrations with Project Amelia and Seller Forums, making collaboration easier.
Next Gen Selling Platform
Seller Central is getting a significant facelift with the launch of Next Gen Selling. Sellers will benefit from a modernized, intuitive interface that simplifies the way they interact with the platform. Highlights include:
- Action centers that prioritize critical tasks and alerts.
- Personalizable dashboards to highlight metrics that matter most.
- Purpose-built workspaces for streamlined navigation through listings, inventory, and orders.
Boosting Sales with New Marketing Tools
Advanced Audience Segmentation for Brand Tailored Promotions
Sellers can now align promotional campaigns with specific audience goals, such as:
- New customer acquisition.
- Retention of loyal customers.
- Re-engagement of one-time buyers.
Sellers can also create ASIN-specific promotions to target audiences based on product categories or remarketing segments. For instance, new audiences like "Cart remarketing" and "In-market customers" enable brands to engage with potential customers who haven’t yet discovered their products.
Amazon Business Bid Adjustments
Amazon is empowering sellers to reach high-value business customers by allowing bid adjustments of up to 900% for Sponsored Product ads on Amazon Business placements. This feature is particularly lucrative, as advertisers report a 2x to 3x higher return on ad spend compared to overall campaign performance. Additionally, sellers can now access performance reports to fine-tune their strategies and maximize impact.
Shoppable Videos Across Amazon Global Stores
Amazon has enhanced its shoppable videos feature, enabling sellers to:
- Automatically display videos in multiple global marketplaces, such as Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.ca.
- Share videos across related product listings, reducing returns by 40%.
Shoppable videos provide valuable product insights to customers, boosting confidence and driving conversions.
Innovations for Financial Insights
Veeqo Profit Analyzer
Managing costs across platforms like Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and Walmart can be overwhelming. The Veeqo Profit Analyzer consolidates all profit-related data into one dashboard, helping sellers make data-driven decisions confidently and efficiently.
Business Planner
This AI-powered tool revolutionizes goal setting by providing sellers with personalized action plans tailored to their objectives. Whether sellers aim to grow sales, increase conversions, or reduce costs, the Business Planner delivers prioritized recommendations and tracks progress dynamically.
Policies and Programs for Smarter Selling
Product Bundling Policy Update
Amazon has clarified its product bundling policy for consumables, requiring that all bundles be either packaged by the original manufacturer or authorized with a Letter of Authorization. This ensures that products like skincare items and pet food meet strict safety standards. Sellers have until January 1, 2025, to comply with the new guidelines.
FBA Grade and Resell
This program allows sellers to recover value from returned items by relisting them under graded conditions such as “Like New” or “Very Good.” This initiative not only reduces waste but also helps sellers enhance their reputation by offering affordable, pre-owned products.
Percentage Off Coupons Update
Sellers can now allow percentage-off coupons to apply to up to five items in a single order. This update simplifies transactions for both customers and sellers, reducing the need for multiple orders and delivery costs.
Preparing for 2025
Fee Adjustments and Simplifications
In 2025, Amazon is focusing on stability and simplicity for sellers. Key updates include:
- No increases to U.S. referral and FBA fees.
- Reduced inbound placement fees for bulky products.
- Waived fees for qualifying new ASINs in the FBA New Selection Program.
2. Enhanced Fee Tools
Amazon is improving its fee calculators and preview tools to help sellers better understand and manage costs.
Enhancing Customer Experience
Buy with Prime and PayPal Integration
Starting in 2025, Prime members can link their Amazon accounts with PayPal, enabling seamless checkout experiences with Prime shipping benefits automatically applied.
Supporting Sustainability with FBA Grade and Resell
Sellers can contribute to Amazon’s sustainability goals by participating in the Grade and Resell program, turning returns into sales while offering value to cost-conscious customers.
Closing Thoughts
2024 was a year of innovation and transformation for Amazon sellers. From AI-driven tools to enhanced promotional capabilities and sustainability initiatives, these updates reflect Amazon’s commitment to empowering its seller community. As we step into 2025, these advancements set the stage for even greater opportunities for growth and success.