Amazon has launched a new pan-European fulfillment programme that it says will help its marketplace sellers to export their goods across the EU more efficiently.
Sellers who opt to use the service will be able to deliver their inventory to a local fulfillment centre. The retailer, ranked Elite in IRUK Top500 research, will then ship across its European network when a sale is made, handling picking, packing and shipping while also answering customer service enquiries. Currently Amazon has 29 fulfillment centres in seven European countries. Customer service centres operate in the languages of the five EU Amazon marketplaces.
Sellers using the service pay fees for storage of their inventory, service fees for using the marketplace and fees for fulfillment.
In 2015, Amazon’s UK sellers exported goods worth nearly £1.4bn, and in the first quarter of this year more than 50% of EU sellers sold on more than EU Amazon marketplace.
Francois Saugier, director of EU Seller Services at Amazon , said: “Amazon’s Pan-European FBA [Fulfilled by Amazon] programme will help sellers export to customers across the EU more efficiently than ever before, whilst allowing customers to benefit from faster delivery times and lower shipping costs. By gaining access to millions of new international customers, SMEs are given the opportunity to boost exports and successfully grow their business abroad.”
