Amazon has services to support ecommerce businesses of all sizes. Deciding which is right for you requires an understanding of what each service offers and how it can help you meet your business goals.
Read about the important differences between two of those services—Multichannel Fulfillment and Fulfillment by Amazon—what they offer, who uses them, and how to get started.
What is Amazon Multichannel Fulfillment (MCF)?
As part of Amazon Supply Chain Services (ASCS), MCF provides fulfillment services for orders placed on sales channels beyond Amazon.com, like your own direct-to-consumer website, ecommerce marketplaces, and social commerce platforms. With MCF, you gain access to Amazon’s world-class fulfillment network.
Once your inventory is in an Amazon fulfillment center, MCF handles the picking, packing, and shipping directly to customers for orders placed on any sales channel beyond Amazon.com. Orders are fully trackable with real-time updates for packages, and tracking information is provided to you regardless of the carrier. You can also choose to have your customers’ returns sent back to an Amazon fulfillment center to be incorporated back into your inventory. MCF integrates with your existing ecommerce apps like Shopify to automate your order fulfillment process, or you can build your own integration with developer-friendly APIs.
By using MCF, you can enjoy many benefits, such as:
- Flat-rate, competitive pricing
- Fast, on-time delivery
- Easy integrations with your ecommerce apps
- White-label fulfillment with unbranded packaging
- Simplified workflow
- Fully trackable orders
What is Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)?
Also part of ASCS, FBA provides fulfillment services for orders placed on Amazon.com. FBA services include receiving, packing, shipping, customer service, and returns for those orders.
Unlike MCF, FBA is limited to the Amazon marketplace. If you have an Amazon store, this service might be right for you. FBA takes all the logistics out of selling on Amazon. You send products to Amazon fulfillment centers, and when a customer makes a purchase on Amazon.com, Amazon handles packing, shipping, customer service, and returns for those orders.
Amazon FBA vs MCF comparison
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) |
Multichannel Fulfillment (MCF) |
|
|---|---|---|
Leverage Amazon’s logistics |
Yes |
Yes |
Fulfillment for orders placed on Amazon.com |
Yes |
No |
One inventory pool |
Yes |
Yes |
Amazon branded packaging |
Yes |
No |
Fast and reliable shipping |
Yes (through Prime) |
Yes (Standard and Expedited) |
Tracking and returns handled by Amazon |
Yes |
Yes |
Best for |
Selling on Amazon.com |
Selling on multiple sales channels |
Sign up for MCF
You can use MCF, whether you sell on Amazon or not. There are two options to get started:
- Already selling on Amazon: If you already have inventory in Amazon fulfillment centers, you can use that inventory to place an MCF order—no additional registration needed. Log in to Seller Central to create an MCF order.
- New to Amazon: Create an account to sign up and get started.
Sign up for FBA
FBA is only available for orders from an Amazon store. There are two ways to register:
- Already selling on Amazon: Get started with FBA anytime.
- Signing up to sell on Amazon: During the sign-up process, you’ll be given the option of adding FBA services.
