ASNs are required for every shipment. They enable planning and increase efficiency at Amazon fulfillment centers. ASNs ensure a smooth delivery process.
ASNs provide:
Shipment Visibility: Quantities, weights, dimensions, and packaging details are clear and easily referenced.
Delivery Coordination: Estimated arrival times are known, allowing Amazon to schedule dock appointments and allocate labor at Fulfillment Centers.
Order Verification: With ASNs, Amazon can match incoming goods against purchase orders, reducing errors and returns.
Inventory Management: As with delivery coordination, ASNs allow Amazon to plan inventory intake and manage storage space efficiently.
Compliance & Documentation: Part of the error-prevention process, things like bills of lading (BOLs), carrier info, and regulatory data for customs or internal audits help smooth the flow of goods.
Enabling Planning and Efficiency at Fulfillment Centers
By following ASN guidelines, you help ensure faster turnaround times, allowing goods to be received, scanned, and stocked more quickly. Additionally, accurate ASNs avoid compliance violations and costly deduction claims, thus reducing chargebacks.
ASNs also provide real-time updates that reduce stockouts and overages, with data from ASNs assisting with enhanced inventory forecasting and demand planning.
In short, the ASN system is designed to deliver a faster, more efficient shipping and receiving system between Amazon and its vendors.
Required for Every Shipment
ASNs are required for every vendor shipment to Amazon, regardless of shipment size, freight terms, or carrier type.
This includes:
Small Parcel Shipments
Less-than-Truckload (LTL)
Full Truckload (FTL)
The ASN system means accuracy in receiving, efficient warehouse management, and other benefits. For this reason, Amazon mandates its usage. Whether you’re using Vendor Central or EDI 856 (see that upcoming section) to create and submit ASNs, they must be submitted within the required timeframe — typically within 24 hours of carrier handoff or at least 4 hours before arrival, whichever is earlier.
Let's first look at how to create an ASN in Vendor Central.
