In the dynamic and competitive world of Amazon selling, inventory management is a critical pillar of success. Effective inventory management strikes a delicate balance between understocking and overstocking, crucial to avoid losing sales due to stockouts and incurring excessive storage fees.
Since March 2023, Amazon has introduced FBA capacity limits, replacing previous restock and quarterly storage volume limits. This modification offers sellers enhanced inventory capacity and control, setting monthly capacity limits to enable up to three months of forward planning. For sellers with professional accounts older than 39 weeks, their capacity limits are determined by their Inventory Performance Index (IPI) score.
The importance of robust Amazon inventory management is amplified in a consumer market that demands rapid delivery. Inadequate inventory management can lead to sales loss to competitors and potential long-term storage fees when utilizing FBA services. Factors such as supplier lead times, customs delays, FBA storage capacity, fees, and the sell-through rate are critical to consider.
To adeptly manage inventory, Ailumia suggests several strategies:
- Building and Maintaining Supplier Relationships: Strong ties with suppliers ensure priority treatment and a clearer understanding of lead times.
- Maintaining Approximately 60 Days of Supply: This approach balances the risks of overstocking and stockouts, with the sell-through rate as a vital metric to monitor.
- Reducing Excess Inventory: Tactics include running promotions, increasing keyword bids, creating removal orders, liquidating, or donating excess stock.
- Planning for Unforeseen Delays: This involves having backup units and possibly leveraging third-party storage or fulfillment centers.
- Managing Demand During Low Inventory Periods: Adjusting prices and pausing advertising can help preserve existing stock levels.
- Utilizing Inventory Management Software: Tools like those offered by Ailumia can significantly assist in effective inventory management.
Understanding Key Inventory Management Concepts
Reorder Point (ROP): ROP is the inventory level that signals when it’s time to reorder stock. This critical measure prevents stockouts by accounting for the time to receive new stock and a buffer of safety stock. Calculated as ROP = (Daily Unit Sales × Delivery Lead Time) + Safety Stock, it ensures you have sufficient inventory before the next batch arrives.
Reorder Quantity (ROQ): ROQ determines how many units to order during replenishment. It balances having enough stock with minimizing capital tied up in inventory. Calculated as ROQ = Average Daily Units Sold × Average Lead Time, this metric helps maintain the right inventory levels without incurring high warehousing costs.
Safety Stock: This additional stock acts as a buffer against unforeseen delays or demand spikes. Determining safety stock involves considering average daily sales and extra demand, typically accounting for around two weeks of additional sales.
Ailumia’s Replenishment Algorithm
Our replenishment algorithm represents a pivotal aspect of Ailumia’s functionality. Sellers need only input lead time data, and our tool utilizes past sales data and seasonal trends to accurately calculate ROQ and Safety Stock. This eliminates the need for complex calculations and spreadsheet management, providing sellers with a one-click solution to generate comprehensive replenishment plans.
Ailumia’s Inventory Scheduling
Ailumia’s advanced logistic planning tool significantly enhances inventory management by allowing users to select both the shipping warehouse and the receiving Amazon marketplace. Upon entering relevant lead times, our sophisticated algorithm calculates the optimal inventory distribution quantity. It thoroughly considers various factors such as peak and off-peak seasons, safety stock levels, and the entire production and logistics cycle. This tool not only streamlines the process across multiple markets but also drastically reduces the manual workload involved in inventory comparison and planning. By integrating these comprehensive factors, Ailumia ensures efficient and effective management of inventory flow.
By integrating these critical inventory management concepts with Ailumia’s advanced algorithms, Amazon sellers can master their supply chain complexities. Ailumia not only simplifies the process but also ensures optimized inventory levels, thereby enhancing sellers’ ability to stay competitive and responsive in the dynamic e-commerce landscape.
