Cross-border e-commerce sellers frequently face logistical challenges: shipments disappear into transit black holes with no precise delivery estimates, warehouse schedules are disrupted, and storage fees accumulate relentlessly. Amazon has partnered with select carriers to introduce automated delivery window updates and other features designed to break down information barriers and create a more stable, transparent, and flexible logistics system.
Three Core Features Addressing Cross-Border Logistics Pain Points
In the competitive cross-border e-commerce market, logistics efficiency directly impacts sellers' profits and customer satisfaction. Amazon's latest upgrades target common challenges in FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) freight forwarding, leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency.
ShipTrack: Transparent Tracking to Eliminate Blind Spots
The ShipTrack feature automatically generates and synchronizes tracking IDs, providing sellers with end-to-end visibility from shipment to delivery.
Key Benefits:
- Automated generation: When sellers use ShipTrack-enabled carriers, the system automatically creates Amazon-specific tracking IDs and syncs them to the seller platform's shipment overview page, eliminating manual entry errors.
- Real-time updates: ShipTrack provides real-time status updates at critical milestones including departure, port arrival, and warehouse receipt, enabling better inventory planning and risk mitigation.
- Reduced manual intervention: The automated design minimizes human error, allowing sellers to focus on core business operations.
Smart Reroute (SR): Dynamic Inventory Redistribution
The Smart Reroute service uses algorithmic routing to automatically redirect shipments facing delays due to customs inspections, warehouse congestion, or carrier capacity issues.
Key Benefits:
- Intelligent rerouting: When disruptions occur, shipments are automatically redirected to alternative warehouses with available capacity or lower inventory levels.
- System integration: Approved carriers maintain deep integration with Amazon's systems, automatically updating warehouse appointments without seller intervention.
- Faster processing: By avoiding bottlenecks, SR significantly reduces warehouse cycle times, particularly during peak seasons.
Delivery Window Automation (DW): Precision Scheduling
The DW feature uses real-time carrier data to automatically update estimated delivery windows, reducing manual coordination and improving warehouse efficiency.
Key Benefits:
- Data-driven updates: Carrier APIs feed actual transit progress directly into Amazon's system, eliminating outdated estimates.
- Automated calibration: Continuous synchronization prevents missed appointments or unnecessary storage fees caused by scheduling errors.
- Operational efficiency: Sellers save time previously spent manually adjusting delivery windows.
Implementation Guide
To activate these features, sellers must select approved carriers supporting all three functions. During shipment creation:
- Navigate to the Send to Amazon page via [Catalog] > [Inventory] > [Shipments]
- Select appropriate shipping method (SPD for parcels or LTL/FTL for freight)
- Under delivery windows, check "Allow FIST carrier to update my delivery time"
- Choose "Non-Amazon partnered carrier" > "FIST carrier" and select air/sea transport
For in-transit shipments, sellers can enable DW by editing existing shipments:
- Access the shipment via [Shipments] > [Manage Shipments]
- Re-enter the Send to Amazon workflow via the shipment reference number
- Under "Tracking details," select "Edit window" and check the FIST carrier update option
Manual control can be restored by unchecking the automated update option and editing windows directly.
These technological advancements represent Amazon's ongoing efforts to optimize cross-border logistics, providing sellers with greater visibility and control over their supply chains.