Overview

Amazon has broadened its Warehousing and Distribution (AWD) API by adding eight fresh operations that cover every phase of an inbound shipment. The new endpoints let sellers and developers move from manual entry in Seller Central to a fully automated, code‑driven workflow. This change matters because high‑volume sellers can now eliminate repetitive tasks, cut errors, and speed up replenishment cycles.

Key Points

• Eight new endpoints — The update introduces operations for eligibility checks, order creation, retrieval, updating, confirmation, cancellation, transport‑detail posting, and label download.
• Full‑cycle automation — All inbound steps, from pre‑submission validation to final label generation, can be executed programmatically without opening Seller Central.
• Draft‑order editability — Sellers can modify or cancel a draft order via API, a capability that previously required manual intervention.
• Carrier data integration — Dedicated calls allow real‑time posting of carrier names, tracking numbers, and shipping dates directly to Amazon.
• Label retrieval on demand — The get‑shipment‑labels endpoint returns printable box labels for any confirmed shipment, streamlining the packing process.
• Designed for high‑volume users — The suite targets sellers handling hundreds of AWD shipments each month, where manual steps become a bottleneck.

How the AWD API Works

1. checkEligibility — Validates that a set of packages meets AWD size, weight, and content rules before an order is opened. Example: A seller submits a batch of 120 cartons; the API returns a pass flag, confirming none exceed the 50 lb limit.
2. createInboundOrder — Generates a draft inbound order from a list of SKUs and quantities. Example: Using a spreadsheet of 2,000 units across 35 SKUs, the seller’s system sends a single request and receives a draft order ID.
3. getInboundOrder — Pulls the complete details of an existing order, including status, line items, and shipment metadata.