Overview

Amazon has added a suite of guides, videos and diagnostic tools aimed at helping Fulfilled‑by‑Merchant (FBM) sellers raise their Valid Tracking Rate (VTR). The resources launched this week target the metric that flags the percentage of seller‑fulfilled orders that contain a working tracking number uploaded within the promised handling window. Maintaining a healthy VTR is essential because a sustained dip can trigger warnings, limits on new listings, or even temporary account suspensions.

Key Points

• VTR definition — The metric reflects the share of FBM orders that include a tracking ID that matches the selected carrier, follows the carrier’s format and shows at least one scan event before the delivery deadline.
• Minimum health threshold — Each marketplace sets its own baseline (typically in the low‑90s percent range); falling below that level for consecutive weeks can prompt Amazon to place a performance warning on the seller’s account.
• New learning hub — Amazon now hosts a dedicated VTR center in Seller Central that bundles step‑by‑step PDFs, short video tutorials and an interactive “track‑issue” wizard for quick diagnosis.
• Top error categories — The most common sources of invalid tracking are (1) malformed tracking numbers, (2) mismatched carrier selection, (3) placeholder IDs entered to meet deadlines, and (4) late uploads that miss the handling‑time window.
• Carrier‑specific format rules — For example, USPS tracking numbers must be 22 digits long and begin with “9”; FedEx Ground IDs use a 12‑digit numeric pattern, while UPS numbers start with “1Z” followed by a 16‑character alphanumeric string.
• Impact on shipping methods — Only shipments using a carrier that provides real‑time tracking count toward VTR; orders shipped via “Standard Mail” or other untracked services are excluded and can lower the overall rate if mistakenly reported as tracked.
• Automation advantage – Sellers who integrate their order‑management system with carrier APIs see a 30% reduction in format‑related rejections because the tracking data is pulled directly from the carrier’s system.