Overview

Amazon has promoted the Fulfillment Inbound API version 2024‑03‑20 from a preview release to full production status at the start of 2024. The upgrade introduces selectable inbound placement services, real‑time delivery‑window data, and broader shipment‑management functions. Sellers who send stock to Amazon’s fulfillment centers need to adjust their integrations to take advantage of the new automation options and to cut down on manual coordination.

Key Points

• Multiple placement services — The API now lets sellers request distinct inbound placement types such as “Standard,” “Fast‑Track,” or “Consolidated,” each tied to specific volume thresholds and speed expectations.
• Visible delivery windows — A call to the service returns a roster of open arrival slots for a chosen fulfillment center, enabling sellers to lock a concrete window, for example a 10 am – 12 pm slot at the Louisville DC.
• Editable shipment records — Existing inbound shipments can be fetched, altered, or cancelled through the same endpoint, allowing rapid response when a pallet is delayed or a SKU list changes.
• Batch “Send” operation — The new Send function accepts a bulk shipment‑plan payload, collapsing dozens of individual calls into a single request for large catalogs.
• Granular error codes — Enhanced error reporting distinguishes placement‑service mismatches from delivery‑window conflicts, giving developers clearer signals for automated retries.

How Fulfillment Inbound API v2024‑03‑20 Works

1. Request placement options — The seller invokes GetPlacementOptions with the target fulfillment‑center identifier; the response enumerates “Standard,” “Fast‑Track,” and “Consolidated” services, each accompanied by constraints such as maximum pallet counts or required lead times.
2. Reserve a delivery window — Using ListDeliveryWindows, the seller receives every open slot for the selected center; a subsequent ReserveWindow call can lock a specific interval, for instance the 2 pm – 4 pm window on March 28 for a shipment destined for the Dallas DC.