Overview

Amazon has added a new performance indicator called Business Hour Delivery Rate (BHDR) that records how often seller‑fulfilled shipments to commercial addresses are delivered on the first attempt during normal business hours. The metric is calculated on a rolling 14‑day basis and is currently informational only, but it signals Amazon’s increasing emphasis on delivery quality for B2B customers. Sellers who ship directly to Amazon Business buyers should understand BHDR because it may become a health factor in the future.

Key Points

• Metric focus — BHDR measures the share of seller‑fulfilled orders that reach a commercial destination during the recipient’s regular operating hours on the first delivery try.
• B2B‑only scope — Only orders placed by Amazon Business customers and shipped to non‑residential (commercial) locations are counted; residential deliveries and Fulfilled‑by‑Amazon (FBA) shipments are excluded.
• 14‑day rolling window — Amazon updates the rate every day using the previous 14 days of eligible shipments, giving sellers a near‑real‑time view of their performance.
• No current program impact — At present BHDR does not affect Buy Box eligibility, account health scores, or any specific Amazon program requirements.
• First‑attempt importance — A delivery that requires a second or third attempt lowers the BHDR, even if the package is eventually received by the business.
• Potential future relevance — Amazon historically rolls out metrics as “informational” before incorporating them into performance standards, so early attention can prevent later compliance issues.

How BHDR Works

1. Identify eligible shipments — Amazon filters for seller‑fulfilled orders that are marked as Amazon Business purchases and have a commercial shipping address. For example, a vendor shipping a bulk pack of printer cartridges to a corporate office qualifies, while a same‑day order to a home address does not.
2. Track first‑attempt outcomes — The carrier’s delivery scan must show a successful hand‑off during the recipient’s standard business hours (typically 8 am–5 pm local time). If the driver leaves a notice or attempts a redelivery, that shipment is counted as a failure for BHDR.