Selling on Amazon FBA in 2023. Exciting or Scary?
Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
Bruce Lee
Heading into 2023 as a Seller means flowing like water from the Bruce Lee quote.
With laser sharp focus.
Rising costs, inflation, and talks of a recession means looking at all areas in the business on where you can be more efficient and save money, to help retain those profit margins.
Some areas to look at where potential savings can be made:
- Packaging. Can it be smaller, weigh less?
- Look regularly at your Reports and Analytics, where can you refine your spending, are some products performing better than others, how is your PPC looking? ACOS / ACOTS blowing out? What do your Returns reports tell you, and how can you minimise any money being wasted.
- Check Amazon Fees and Charges regularly. It’s not uncommon for Amazon to mistakenly overcharge you for something.
- Look at alternative options at Shipping and Storing your product. Is your current freight forwarder the most competitive? Is your current 3PL, warehouse, or Amazon solution the most cost effective?
Bid for More Storage Space
The big news on everyone’s lips at the moment is the inventory storage changes coming in March 2023.
Amazon will introduce a new capacity management system March 1 2023 for third party sellers using its fulfillment services that features the ability to bid for additional storage space.
Sellers can request additional Fulfillment by Amazon inventory capacity based on a reservation fee they determine. The goal is to give sellers more control over their FBA capacity “while limiting unproductive use.”
The highest reservation fee per cubic foot offered by a seller is granted first, and fees are offset by “performance credits” from sales tied to the extra capacity. The credits are designed to offset up to 100% of the fee, so the added capacity won’t cost sellers as long as their products sell.
Technology & Other Trends
If you're an Amazon FBA seller, you know that the e-commerce giant is constantly evolving and innovating. More of what’s in the pipeline of the latest trends and developments in the Amazon space:
Automation and AI
One of the biggest changes we're seeing on Amazon FBA in 2023 is the increasing use of automation and AI. Amazon is investing heavily in these technologies, which will help sellers streamline their operations and improve their bottom line. For example, Amazon is developing tools that will allow sellers to automatically optimize their pricing, inventory management, and customer service.
Virtual Technology Showrooms
In 2023, Amazon is set to revolutionize the shopping experience by introducing virtual technology showrooms. These showrooms will allow customers to virtually explore and interact with products, providing a more immersive and personalized shopping experience.
Customers will be able to use virtual reality headsets or their smartphones to navigate through the showrooms and view products from all angles. They will also be able to interact with the products, such as opening drawers or turning on lights, to get a better understanding of how they work.
In addition, customers will be able to access product information and customer reviews directly within the showrooms, making it easy to compare products and make informed purchasing decisions.
Sustainability
Sustainability is also becoming increasingly important on Amazon FBA in 2023. Amazon is taking steps to reduce its environmental impact, and sellers are being encouraged to follow suit. This means using sustainable packaging materials, reducing carbon emissions, and implementing other eco-friendly practices.
Customer Experience
There's even more of a growing focus on customer experience on Amazon FBA in 2023. Amazon is working to improve the customer experience by providing more personalization, faster shipping, and more convenient return policies. As a seller, you need to make sure that you're providing an excellent customer experience in order to stay competitive.
There are many exciting changes on the horizon for Amazon FBA in 2023. By staying on top of these trends and changes and making the necessary adjustments to your business, you'll be well-positioned to flow like water for success in the years to come.