Attention, Amazon sellers: New shipment tracking requirements from January!

Amazon has announced an important change for everyone who handles shipping independently (i.e. the so-called FBM sellers). As of January 15, new tracking rate guidelines will apply — and this change could affect many. Here's an overview of what you need to know to be prepared.

What is changing in practice?

The new requirements concern certain order types, which now play a role in calculating the rate of valid shipment tracking numbers:

1. Domestic shipments from 15€
   All domestic orders that exceed €15 must have a valid tracking number. These orders are included in the calculation of the shipment tracking rate.
2. orders with all shipping service providers
   Regardless of whether the service providers are directly integrated with Amazon or not — the rate is recorded for everyone. This means that all shipping partners in your process chain have an influence on your shipment tracking rate.
3. Cross-border shipments under certain conditions
   Shipments that come from a European country (including the UK) and whose order value is less than 20€ and are processed by letter are also affected by the new regulation.

Amazon requires that the rate of valid tracking numbers continues to be at least 95% amounts to. Sellers must therefore ensure that almost all relevant shipments have a valid tracking number.

What does that mean for you as a seller?

These new regulations could make it necessary for some sellers to adapt their existing processes, particularly with regard to tracking and shipping processes. If one or more of these changes apply to your sales, now is the ideal time to critically review your shipping process. Because this is the only way you can ensure that you reach the required 95% shipment tracking rate from January and continue to sell successfully on Amazon.

If you have paid little attention to shipment tracking so far, this will now have to change. Compliance with the new requirements is important to avoid sanctions or potential restrictions on your account. So prepare yourself well in advance to get off to a smooth start in January!

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