Fulfilment by Amazon Operations

Amazon FBA Confidence

Mastering FBA is about operational rigour and foresight, not hoping for the best. We help retailers build robust processes to thrive within Amazon’s complex logistics network.

Operator-led advisory for Amazon’s global fulfilment ecosystem.

Trusted by leading retailers for operational excellence

Operating Model

FBA Operations, Simplified

Successfully navigating FBA demands a clear operating model. We guide retailers in designing and implementing structures that minimise risk and maximise efficiency.

Assess & Optimise

Evaluate current FBA workflows, identify bottlenecks, and develop strategies to improve inventory health and reduce costs.

  • FBA fee audits and recovery
  • Inventory performance index (IPI) analysis
  • Stranded inventory resolution
  • Inbound shipment process review
  • Returns and unfulfillable stock management

Architect & Connect

Design secure and scalable integrations between FBA and core retail systems to automate data flows and enhance decision-making.

  • ERP-FBA data flow mapping
  • Inventory synchronisation patterns
  • Order fulfilment orchestration
  • Reconciliation process design
  • Amazon API integration strategy

Govern & Scale

Establish the governance frameworks, team capabilities, and strategic roadmap necessary to grow FBA operations with confidence.

  • FBA policy compliance training
  • International FBA expansion strategy
  • Long-term storage fee mitigation plans
  • New product launch FBA readiness
  • Team capability development

Why Cogent2

Why Amazon FBA Operations Become Complex

FBA operational complexities stem from Amazon’s dynamic policies, inventory management nuances, and the sheer volume of data involved. Navigating these without expert guidance often leads to significant cost leakage and missed opportunities.

  • Operator-led FBA specialisation
  • Deep experience across third-party fulfilment models
  • Strategic guidance on Amazon fee structures
  • Focus on inventory performance optimisation
  • Proven framework for FBA compliance and scale
  • Independent and platform-agnostic advice

15+

Years in retail operations

FBA-First

Operating perspective

Global

Marketplace exposure

Outcome-Driven

Engagement model

Operational Intelligence

CogentAI

For Amazon FBA, CogentAI provides the deep, continuous insights necessary to pre-empt issues, optimise inventory, and ensure compliance. It transforms raw operational data into actionable intelligence.

IPI Score Anomaly Detection
Long-Term Storage Fee Projections
Stranded Inventory Alerts
Fee Discrepancy Flagging
Inbound Shipment Gap Analysis

"Running FBA without granular visibility is like driving blind. CogentAI provides the interpreted state, not just raw logs, allowing us to proactively manage inventory and costs."

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FBA Inventory Performance Index (IPI) score trend with forecast

Capabilities

Where the connection succeeds or fails

Our focus is on ensuring operational continuity and data integrity across your FBA workflows, mitigating risks associated with mismanaged inventory and payment reconciliation.

Data Governance for FBA

  • Defining data ownership for products, inventory, and orders
  • Establishing single sources of truth for FBA-related data
  • Designing reconciliation processes for FBA payouts
  • Standards for Amazon product data compliance
  • Data clean-up strategies for FBA listings

FBA Process Optimisation

  • Inbound shipment creation and tracking workflows
  • Inventory replenishment strategies
  • Optimising stranded inventory resolution paths
  • FBA returns and disposal process flows
  • Fee audit and claims management procedures

Risk Mitigation & Compliance

  • IPI score management and improvement plans
  • Long-term storage fee avoidance strategies
  • Compliance with Amazon’s prep and labelling policies
  • Preventing ASIN suspension due to FBA issues
  • International FBA tax and customs considerations

Performance Monitoring

  • Developing bespoke FBA operational dashboards
  • Monitoring key FBA metrics (e.g., IPI, sell-through)
  • Identifying performance degradation causes
  • Alerting for critical FBA operational events
  • Reporting on FBA cost of goods sold

Connected Ecosystems

Amazon FBA Never Operates Alone

FBA is part of a broader ecosystem. We connect it to your core systems, ensuring consistent inventory, order, and financial data across your retail operations.

Marketplace Front-Ends

Amazon Seller CentralAmazon Vendor CentraleBayWayfair

Core Commerce Platforms

ShopifyShopify PlusAdobe CommerceBigCommerce

ERP & Financials

NetSuiteMicrosoft Dynamics 365SAP Business OneXero

Inventory & Order Management

Brightpearl by SagePeoplevoxShipStationCentric PLM

Integration & Intelligence

PatchworksCogent AIPower BI

Operational Intelligence

Common Amazon FBA Operational Bottlenecks

Retailers frequently face specific FBA challenges that erode profitability and operational confidence. We diagnose and resolve these root causes.

Inventory Reconciliation Drift

Symptoms

  • Discrepancies between internal stock records and FBA inventory counts
  • Unexplained FBA inventory adjustments
  • Difficulty reconciling FBA reimbursements for lost/damaged stock

Root Causes

  • Inaccurate inbound shipment manifests
  • Lack of systematic reconciliation processes
  • Poor visibility into Amazon's internal inventory movements
Amazon FBAERP

Impact: Significant financial write-offs and lost sales due to inaccurate stock management, most brands realise too late.

Cogent Approach: We implement robust reconciliation workflows, automating data comparison and flagging discrepancies for investigation. This reduces manual effort and increases reimbursement recovery rates.

Long-Term Storage Fee Exposure

Symptoms

  • Unexpectedly high FBA storage fees
  • Large volumes of slow-moving inventory detected by Amazon
  • Forced removal orders to avoid punitive fees

Root Causes

  • Inadequate forecasting for FBA replenishment
  • Lack of strategic inventory liquidation planning
  • Failure to consider FBA fees in product lifecycle management
Amazon FBAOMSERP

Impact: Direct erosion of product margins and capital tied up in unsellable stock. This breaks first for growing catalogue volume.

Cogent Approach: We develop proactive inventory management strategies, including dynamic re-order points, liquidation plans, and integration of FBA fee projections into sales forecasts.

Stranded Inventory Overload

Symptoms

  • Recurring 'stranded inventory' alerts in Seller Central
  • Products stuck in unfulfillable status
  • Manual effort required to relist or resolve issues

Root Causes

  • Listing errors or missing product information
  • Compliance issues with Amazon's category or product restrictions
  • Disconnect between internal product data and FBA requirements
Amazon FBAPIMERP

Impact: Lost sales from unavailable products and increased operational overhead in resolving each instance. Customer experience degrades.

Cogent Approach: We establish clear governance for product data, integrate FBA-specific requirements into product information workflows, and automate monitoring for proactive resolution of stranded inventory.

Inbound Shipment Rejection Rates

Symptoms

  • Frequent rejections or delays of FBA inbound shipments
  • Penalties for non-compliance with FBA prep requirements
  • High costs associated with third-party prep centres

Root Causes

  • Misunderstanding of Amazon's strict packing and labelling guidelines
  • Inconsistent internal processes for FBA prep
  • Lack of quality control before shipment to Amazon
Amazon FBAWMSERP

Impact: Disruption to inventory flow, increased shipping costs, and potential impact on IPI score. This bottleneck impacts peak trading most severely.

Cogent Approach: We audit current prep processes, provide training on FBA compliance, and establish automated checklists and validation steps to ensure inbound shipments meet Amazon's exacting standards.

Deep Integration Expertise

FBA Expertise Beyond the Interface

Our FBA expertise extends beyond navigating Seller Central. We understand the commercial implications of Amazon's policies, the accounting complexities of FBA payouts, and the operational steps required to scale.

  • FBA inventory planning and optimisation
  • Amazon fee and cost analysis
  • International FBA strategy and implementation
  • IPI score improvement methodologies
  • FBA compliance and operational audits
  • Integration architecture for FBA with ERP/OMS

FBA Data Architect

Defining data structures for inventory, orders, and payments.

FBA Operations Specialist

Designing and optimising inbound, fulfilment, and reconciliation workflows.

FBA Commercial Strategist

Navigating fee structures, profitability, and growth within the FBA ecosystem.

Data Integrity

Process Automation

Predictive Visibility

Intelligent Forecasting

Future-Ready Operations

Preparing Amazon FBA for the Next Scale

Scaling FBA operations successfully requires foresight. We help retailers build the foundational data and process hygiene necessary to integrate advanced AI capabilities into their inventory and forecasting models.

The goal is not just to react to Amazon’s demands but to predict them and proactively position your inventory. This means moving beyond spreadsheets and embracing intelligent systems for FBA planning.

An AI-ready FBA operation is one where data is clean, accessible, and integrated, enabling machine learning models to provide accurate demand forecasts, optimise replenishment, and flag potential issues before they impact profitability.

Knowledge Base

Frequently Asked Questions

FBA Operational Challenges
How can Cogent2 help with my low FBA Inventory Performance Index (IPI) score?
We conduct a comprehensive audit of your FBA account to identify the root causes of your low IPI score, then develop and implement a phased improvement plan focusing on sell-through rate, in-stock inventory, and excess inventory reduction.
Can you help recover lost or damaged FBA inventory from Amazon?
Yes, we specialise in FBA inventory reconciliation and claims management. We analyse your FBA reports to identify discrepancies and build a structured case for reimbursement based on Amazon's policies.
What is the best way to avoid long-term storage fees with FBA?
Avoiding LTSF requires proactive inventory planning. We help implement strategies such as dynamic replenishment models, liquidation programmes, and accurate demand forecasting to ensure inventory moves efficiently through FBA, or is pulled back before fees accrue.
FBA Strategy & Growth
We are considering expanding FBA to other countries. How can Cogent2 assist?
We provide strategic guidance on international FBA expansion (e.g., Pan-European FBA), covering tax implications, customs compliance, local market nuances, and the operational adjustments required for cross-border fulfilment.
How can I integrate my ERP with Amazon FBA for better visibility?
Our consultants design and architect robust integrations between your ERP (e.g., NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365) and FBA. This ensures automated stock updates, order synchronisation, and streamlined financial reconciliation, providing real-time operational visibility.

Working Together

Engagement Models

Strategic Consulting

High-level advisory and roadmap development for complex FBA challenges, focusing on long-term strategy and commercial outcomes.

Operational Deep-Dive

Focused engagements to diagnose and resolve specific FBA operational bottlenecks, such as IPI recovery or reconciliation discrepancies.

FBA System Audit

Comprehensive review of FBA accounts, data flows, and processes to identify compliance gaps, cost leakages, and optimisation opportunities.

Optimise Your Amazon FBA Operations

Don't let FBA complexities diminish your profitability or confidence. Engage our operator-led consultants to transform your Amazon fulfilment strategy.

Services

Amazon FBA Services

We offer a range of services to help retailers navigate and excel in the complex Amazon FBA ecosystem.