# Inventory Hero

> Your AI operations team for multi-channel Amazon selling. Inventory Hero connects your Amazon data (live today), with Gmail, Slack, Shopify, TikTok Shop, and Amazon Ads in beta: it flags reorders before they're urgent, optimizes TACoS, drafts POs and supplier replies, and you approve every move.

Inventory Hero is a web-based SaaS platform for Amazon FBA brands of every size. It syncs your full Seller Central history (orders, fees, inventory) and runs real forecasting and reorder math on it. What makes it different from a generic chatbot: it ships its own MCP server, so it works inside Claude (desktop, web, and Claude Code) as a true team member that can read your live inventory and do the work, and it keeps a persistent, per-tenant business memory called the AI Employee Handbook. The numbers are deterministic (computed from your sales history, never invented by a language model), and nothing that costs money happens without your approval. Pricing is tier-based by monthly Amazon order volume. Free trial, no credit card required.

## What makes it different

- Works inside Claude via its own MCP server (Model Context Protocol). Plug Inventory Hero into Claude desktop, web, or Claude Code and your AI can query live inventory, velocity, forecasts, and restock math, and do real work with it. More AI integrations coming.
- The AI does the work, you approve. It drafts restock orders and purchase orders (with deposits and supplier terms), flags reorders before they're urgent, and prices lost sales per SKU. You review and approve; it never places spend on its own.
- AI Employee Handbook: a permanent, team-shared business memory. Tell it once (supplier quirks, lead times, safety-stock rules, approval thresholds, COGS) and every AI session and teammate reads the same handbook. Nothing is trapped in one person's chat history.
- Real math, never AI guesses. Every quantity, date, and dollar comes from the same deterministic forecasting engine that runs the dashboards: volume-weighted prices, demand baselines, seasonality, safety stock, and reorder points computed from your actual history.

## Core capabilities

- Demand forecasting (30, 90, 365 day projections per SKU) using real sales velocity, seasonality, and configurable growth assumptions.
- Restock recommendations that respect supplier lead times, minimum order quantities, and safety stock.
- Stockout and lost-sales analysis: detect out-of-stock periods and price the missed revenue per SKU.
- Long-term storage fee mitigation: age-bucket every SKU (0-90, 91-180, 181-270, 271-365, 365+ days) and flag units approaching Amazon thresholds.
- Multi-warehouse view across FBA, Amazon Warehousing & Distribution (AWD), and third-party logistics (3PL).
- Purchase order management (grid, Kanban, Gantt) and a supplier directory the AI reads too.
- Free fee calculator at /calc that estimates Amazon FBA fulfillment fees from ASIN, weight, and dimensions.

## Marketplace coverage

US Amazon marketplace today. Other major regions rolling out. Inventory Hero is focused on Amazon FBA, AWD, and 3PL warehouses; TikTok Shop and Shopify are on the roadmap, not live.

## Key links

- [Pricing](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/pricing) — tier table, order limits, overage policy
- [FAQ](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/faq) — product capabilities, integrations, security, billing
- [Glossary](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/glossary) — Amazon FBA terminology used in the product
- [Fee Calculator](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/calc) — free Amazon FBA fee estimator
- [About](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/about) — founders and the problem we built this to solve
- [Best Amazon Inventory Software](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/best-amazon-inventory-management-software) — comparison of leading tools
- [Support](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/support) — contact channels
- [AIOS Beta: Gmail, Shopify, TikTok Shop, Slack, and Amazon Ads integrations](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/aios-beta)
- [Amazon Ads management](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/amazon-ads)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/privacy)
- [Terms of Service](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/terms)

## Alternatives comparison pages

- [vs SoStocked](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/alternatives/sostocked)
- [vs Sellerboard](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/alternatives/sellerboard)
- [vs Helium 10 Inventory](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/alternatives/helium-10-inventory)
- [vs Forecastly](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/alternatives/forecastly)

## Blog

Articles are organized into topic hubs (ADR-010 closed vocabulary):

- Plan & Forecast: [Inventory Planning](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/inventory-planning), [Forecasting](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/forecasting), [Stockouts](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/stockouts), [Metrics & IPI](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/metrics-ipi)
- Money: [Profitability](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/profitability), [Cash Flow](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/cash-flow), [FBA Fees](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/fba-fees), [Accounting](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/accounting)
- Operations: [Fulfillment & 3PL](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/fulfillment-3pl), [Sourcing & Suppliers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/sourcing-suppliers), [Operations](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/operations)
- Grow: [Marketing & Launch](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/marketing-launch), [Multichannel](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/multichannel)
- AI: [AI](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/ai), [Automation](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/automation), [MCP](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/topics/mcp)

### All articles

- [Amazon GWD vs a China 3PL: Which One Should You Use?](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-gwd-vs-china-3pl): Amazon GWD vs a China 3PL: storage ranges overlap, so the real split is Amazon integration versus channel freedom. The decision rule and cost shell.
- [How to Send Inventory to Amazon GWD: The 8-Step Setup](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/how-to-send-inventory-to-amazon-gwd): How to send inventory to Amazon GWD: AGL onboarding, importer of record, incoterms, creating the shipment, and the timeline to plan backward from.
- [Amazon GWD Eligibility: Which Products Qualify in 2026](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-gwd-eligibility): Amazon GWD eligibility by category, size, and weight, plus the account checks Amazon runs at shipment creation and how to pre-check a SKU.
- [Amazon GWD Explained: Warehousing FBA Stock in China](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-gwd): Amazon GWD stores bulk inventory near your factory in China and replenishes US FBA. What it is, what it costs, and the constraints sellers miss.
- [Amazon FBA Holiday Cutoff Dates 2026 (5-Year Trend)](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-fba-holiday-cutoff-dates): Amazon's 2026 holiday inbound cutoffs: AWD Oct 14, FBA Oct 21 or Oct 28 by split type. How the deadline moved since 2022, and the PO math behind it.
- [Amazon Q4 2026 Peak Readiness: Every Date That Matters](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-q4-2026-peak-readiness): Amazon's Q4 2026 peak readiness playbook, decoded: inbound cutoffs, peak fee window Oct 15 to Jan 14, deal costs and deadlines, and capacity moves.
- [Chinese New Year Factory Closures: The 2027 FBA Guide](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/chinese-new-year-amazon-fba): Chinese New Year closes factories for 2 to 4 weeks, not 7 days. When to commit your Q1 PO, book freight, and buffer stock as an Amazon FBA seller.
- [Is Your Amazon Product Seasonal? Run the 15% Test](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/is-my-product-seasonal): A flat business does 8.3% of annual sales per month. If one month clears 15%, your product is seasonal and your reorder math changes. Here is the test.
- [Amazon MCF TikTok Shop Discount: 35% Off Fulfillment](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-mcf-tiktok-shop-discount): Amazon is taking 35% off Standard and Expedited MCF fulfillment fees for TikTok Shop orders as of July 16, 2026. How the discount works and what you save.
- [Amazon AWD Drops Oversize and Bulky Items July 2026](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-awd-oversize-items-ending): Amazon AWD stops accepting oversize and bulky items on July 31, 2026, reverting to sortable-only. What changes and what to do with existing AWD stock.
- [Amazon FBA Quarterly Planning With an AI Assistant](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-fba-quarterly-planning-with-ai): How to run Amazon FBA quarterly planning as one AI-assisted session: look back at real sales, set cover and the order calendar, and commit the plan.
- [Claude for Amazon Sellers: Your First Week, Day by Day](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/first-week-with-claude-connected): Claude for Amazon sellers, week one: verify costs and lead times, store your rules, find profit leaks, log POs, and run your first restock review.
- [AI vs Traditional Inventory Management: Honest Guide](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/ai-vs-traditional-inventory): AI vs traditional inventory management: where machine learning wins, where spreadsheets and statistics still hold up, and how to choose.
- [ChatGPT Prompts for Amazon Sellers That Actually Help](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/chatgpt-prompts-for-amazon-sellers): Practical ChatGPT prompts for Amazon FBA sellers: listings, keyword research, reviews, PPC, and ops, plus how to keep answers accurate.
- [How to Rank in ChatGPT: Getting Cited by AI Search](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/how-to-rank-in-chatgpt): How to rank in ChatGPT and get cited by AI search: rank in Bing, let AI crawlers in, write answer-first, and earn mentions. Honest tactics.
- [MCP Use Cases for Amazon Sellers: 11 Jobs to Hand Your AI](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/mcp-use-cases-for-amazon-sellers): The top MCP use cases for Amazon sellers: restock reviews, profit leak hunting, PO logging, quarterly planning, and business memory, with real workflows.
- [AI Demand Forecasting for Sellers: An Honest Guide](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/ai-demand-forecasting): AI demand forecasting uses machine learning to predict sales, but the gains depend on your data. What the research shows works for sellers, and when.
- [How to Automate Your Amazon FBA Business the Safe Way](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-fba-automation): Amazon FBA automation means tools that handle repetitive tasks, not a done-for-you store. What is safe to automate, what is a scam, what needs you.
- [Conversational Analytics for FBA: Just Ask Your Data](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/conversational-analytics-fba): Conversational analytics lets you ask your Amazon business questions in plain language. How it works for FBA, and where it helps most.
- [AI Agent for Ecommerce: What Actually Works in 2026](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/ai-agent-for-ecommerce): An AI agent for ecommerce can research, draft, and take single actions under supervision. What agents reliably do in 2026, and where they fail.
- [The AI Employee for Your FBA Business: A Reality Check](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/ai-employee): An AI employee for your FBA business is a supervised assistant that drafts and flags work, not an autonomous hire. What it does, and what needs you.
- [PPC Inventory Planning: Don't Advertise a Stockout](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/ppc-inventory-planning): PPC inventory planning: align Amazon ad spend with your days of cover so you never pay to accelerate demand into a stockout you cannot restock from.
- [AI Inventory Management for FBA: The 2026 Playbook](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/ai-inventory-management): AI inventory management uses machine learning and AI assistants to forecast demand and flag reorders. What is real in 2026, and how to use it.
- [Amazon FBA Inventory Statistics That Actually Matter](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-fba-inventory-statistics): The FBA inventory statistics that move your business are your own: turnover, sell-through, IPI, stockouts, returns. What each tells you and how to read it.
- [FBA Sales Tax: What Sellers Need to Know in 2026](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-sales-tax): How sales tax works for Amazon FBA: nexus, marketplace facilitator laws, what Amazon collects for you, and what you may still owe. Not tax advice.
- [FBA vs FBM: Which Amazon Fulfillment Model Wins?](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-vs-fbm): FBA vs FBM compared on real 2026 fees, the Buy Box, and Prime, with two worked cost examples so you can pick the right Amazon fulfillment model per SKU.
- [MCP for Amazon Sellers: Talk to Your Inventory Data](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/mcp-for-amazon-sellers): MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets an AI assistant securely query your Amazon business data. What MCP is, how it works, and what it means for FBA.
- [Answer Engine Optimization (AEO): Complete 2026 Guide](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/answer-engine-optimization): Answer engine optimization (AEO) structures content so AI engines cite it. Core tactics, the 2026 schema reality, and how to measure it.
- [How to Find the Best AI Models for Specific Workflows](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/best-ai-models-for-workflows): Stop guessing which AI model fits your workflow. Use live leaderboards like Arena AI to pick the right model for text, image, and video, and to find cheaper near-parity alternatives.
- [Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): A 2026 Guide](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/generative-engine-optimization): Generative engine optimization (GEO) gets your content cited by AI answer engines. Proven tactics from the research, and how to measure them.
- [Manufacturing Planning for Private-Label Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/manufacturing-planning): Manufacturing planning aligns production orders with demand, MOQs, lead times, and capacity. How private-label sellers plan production without over-buying.
- [Amazon Rufus Explained: What FBA Sellers Must Know](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-rufus): Amazon Rufus is Amazon's generative AI shopping assistant, now part of Alexa for Shopping. How it works, how it surfaces products, and what sellers do.
- [The Apparel Supply Chain: Inventory Challenges and Fixes](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/apparel-supply-chain): The apparel supply chain is uniquely hard: size variants multiply SKUs, seasons compress the window, returns distort demand. The challenges and the fixes.
- [TikTok Shop Inventory: Managing It Alongside Amazon](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/tiktok-shop-inventory): TikTok Shop adds a channel where demand can spike overnight. How to manage its inventory, sync it with your Amazon stock, and plan for viral volatility.
- [Inventory Turnover Benchmarks by Industry, Explained](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-turnover-benchmarks-by-industry): Inventory turnover benchmarks vary widely by category. Rough ranges by product type, why they differ, and how to set your own target as an FBA seller.
- [Multichannel Inventory Management for Amazon Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/multichannel-inventory-management): Multichannel inventory management keeps one stock pool honest across Amazon and other channels. The overselling risk, syncing, and buffer allocation.
- [Connect Claude to Your Amazon FBA Business with Inventory Hero's MCP](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/connect-claude-to-amazon-fba-with-mcp): Connect Claude to your Inventory Hero account with our MCP server and ask about your live Amazon FBA inventory, sales, suppliers, and restock plan in plain English. Here's how to set it up in about a minute.
- [Inventory Metrics: Leading vs Lagging Indicators](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-metrics): Not all inventory metrics are equal. Which ones warn you before a stockout (leading) and which grade you after (lagging), for FBA sellers.
- [Physical Counts of Inventory: Methods and Reconciliation](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/physical-counts-of-inventory): A physical count verifies what you have against your records. Full counts vs cycle counting, how to reconcile, and how it works with FBA stock.
- [Inventory Labeling: SKUs, Barcodes, and FBA Rules](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-labeling): Inventory labeling gives every unit an identity you can track. SKUs, UPC vs FNSKU, lot and location labels, and the FBA rules that prevent stranded stock.
- [The Benefits of Inventory Management for FBA Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/benefits-of-inventory-management): The benefits of inventory management for FBA sellers: freed cash, protected revenue, lower costs, sharper decisions, and what poor management costs.
- [Stock Management: The Day-to-Day Inventory Control Loop](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/stock-management): Stock management is the ongoing practice of keeping the right amount of inventory. The control loop, the two failures it prevents, and how to run it.
- [Inventory Management Techniques Every Seller Should Know](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-management-techniques): The core inventory management techniques, from ABC analysis and reorder points to JIT and cycle counting, and when each earns its place.
- [How to Get Your Trump Tariff Refund: An Amazon Seller's Step-by-Step Guide to the IEEPA CAPE Process](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/how-to-get-trump-tariff-refund): The Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs. CBP is now refunding them through the CAPE tool in ACE. Here is exactly who is eligible, who is not, and how I got $25,242 back (with interest), with the forms, links, and pitfalls in one place.
- [Bulk Upload Inventory to Amazon: Files and Best Practices](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/bulk-upload-inventory): Bulk uploading inventory to Amazon uses flat files to create or update many listings at once. How the files work, common errors, and how to upload cleanly.
- [Inventory Audit: How to Verify What You Actually Have](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-audit): An inventory audit verifies your records against reality, catching shrinkage and valuation errors. What it covers, how to run one, and how often.
- [Amazon FBA Stockout Prevention: A Seller's Playbook for Never Going to Zero](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-fba-stockout-prevention): A complete system for preventing Amazon FBA stockouts: how to calculate sales velocity, safety stock, reorder points, and reorder quantities, with the exact formulas and a weekly process you can run today.
- [Amazon Inventory Alerts: Never Get Surprised Again](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-inventory-alerts): Amazon inventory alerts warn you before you stock out, age into fees, or strand stock. What to alert on, how to set them up, and how to set thresholds.
- [Managing Amazon Inventory in Excel: A Practical Setup](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-inventory-excel): How to track Amazon FBA inventory in Excel: the columns, the formulas for days of supply and reorder points, and when to graduate to software.
- [Replenishment Planning: Keeping Stock at the Right Level](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/replenishment-planning): Replenishment planning is the process of restocking to hold target levels without stocking out or overbuying. The inputs, the cadence, and how to run it.
- [Inventory Reduction: Freeing Cash Without Stocking Out](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-reduction): Inventory reduction frees the cash trapped in excess stock without causing stockouts. How to find what to cut, clear it, and reorder tighter going forward.
- [Product Segmentation: Managing Your Catalog by Tiers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/product-segmentation): Product segmentation groups your SKUs so you can manage them differently. ABC and XYZ analysis, margin and lifecycle cuts, and why it matters.
- [Open to Buy Software: What It Does and When You Need It](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/open-to-buy-software): Open to buy software automates your inventory buying budget from live sales and stock data. What it does, spreadsheet vs software, and what to look for.
- [Merchandise Financial Planning for Ecommerce Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/merchandise-financial-planning): Merchandise financial planning connects sales, inventory, margin, and buying into one period plan. The core components and how sellers apply it.
- [Calculating Ending Inventory: Formula, Methods, Mistakes](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/calculating-ending-inventory): Calculating ending inventory: beginning inventory plus purchases minus COGS, or a physical count. The formula, methods, and why it drives your COGS.
- [Consignment Inventory: How It Works and the Trade-offs](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/consignment-inventory): Consignment inventory means the supplier owns the stock until it sells. How it works, the cash-flow upside, the accounting, and where it fits.
- [Overhead Cost for Amazon Sellers: What Counts and Why](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/overhead-cost): Overhead cost is the indirect expense not tied to a unit: software, salaries, rent. Why it is separate from COGS, and how to fold it into true net margin.
- [Amazon Seller Accounting: What Makes It Different](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-seller-accounting): Amazon seller accounting has quirks: settlements, fees, inventory as an asset, and COGS timing. What to track, cash vs accrual, and when to get a pro.
- [Inventory Journal Entries: Debits, Credits, Examples](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-journal-entries): Inventory journal entries record buying, selling, and adjusting stock. The standard debits and credits for each, with worked examples for Amazon sellers.
- [Inventory Valuation: FIFO, LIFO, and Weighted Average](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-valuation): Inventory valuation decides which cost flows to COGS: FIFO, LIFO, or weighted average. What each means, how it moves profit, and which fits FBA.
- [Inventory Accounting for FBA: Assets, COGS, and Timing](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-accounting): Inventory accounting treats stock as an asset until it sells, then expenses it as COGS. The core flow, perpetual vs periodic, and why timing matters.
- [Amazon Inbound Shipment: The Workflow and Pitfalls](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-inbound-shipment): An Amazon inbound shipment sends inventory into FBA. The workflow step by step, placement and fees, and the receiving problems that cost sellers units.
- [How to Liquidate Amazon Inventory: Options and Trade-offs](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/liquidate-amazon-inventory): Liquidating Amazon inventory clears dead stock for a small recovery. Amazon's Liquidations program, third-party options, and when each beats removal.
- [Amazon Return Rate: How to Measure and Reduce It](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-return-rate): Your Amazon return rate is returns divided by orders. How to find it, what is normal by category, and the levers that actually bring it down.
- [Commingled Inventory on Amazon: The Risks Explained](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/commingled-inventory-amazon): Commingled (stickerless) inventory pools your units with other sellers. What it is, the counterfeit and quality risks, and why most brands avoid it.
- [FBA Inventory Report: Which One Tells You What You Need](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-inventory-report): Amazon has several FBA inventory reports. What Manage FBA Inventory, the Inventory Ledger, age, and restock reports each show, and which to use for what.
- [FBA Removal Order: When and How to Clear Inventory](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-removal-order): An FBA removal order returns, disposes of, or liquidates your inventory at Amazon. When to use one, the fees, and how to choose the disposition.
- [Prep Center vs 3PL: Which One Does Your FBA Business Need?](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/prep-center-vs-3pl): Prep center vs 3PL: a prep center gets inventory FBA-ready; a 3PL also stores and fulfills across channels. What each does and which fits your needs.
- [When to Use a 3PL as an Amazon FBA Seller (and When Not)](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/when-to-use-a-3pl): When to use a 3PL as an FBA seller: multi-channel, FBA overflow, custom prep, and bulk buys are the clear signals. And when to skip it.
- [Multi-Location Inventory Tracking for FBA Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/multi-location-inventory-tracking): Multi-location inventory tracking for FBA: what to track across FBA, AWD, and a 3PL, why total position drives reordering, and how to keep it accurate.
- [3PL Costs: The Fee Structure and How to Compare Quotes](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/3pl-costs): 3PL costs break into receiving, storage, pick-and-pack, shipping, and returns fees. What each covers, the hidden ones, and how to compare quotes.
- [How to Choose a 3PL: A Checklist for Amazon Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/how-to-choose-a-3pl): How to choose a 3PL for your Amazon business: the criteria that matter, from FBA experience and integration to pricing transparency, services, and minimums.
- [AWD vs 3PL: Which Upstream Storage Fits Your Business?](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/awd-vs-3pl): AWD vs 3PL: Amazon's warehousing feeds FBA automatically and stays in-ecosystem; a 3PL is flexible and multi-channel. How to choose for your catalog.
- [Amazon AWD: What Warehousing and Distribution Is For](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-awd): Amazon AWD is low-cost bulk storage upstream of FBA that auto-replenishes fulfillment stock. What it is, when it helps, and its trade-offs.
- [FOB vs EXW: Which Incoterm Should FBA Sellers Use?](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fob-vs-exw): FOB vs EXW: FOB puts the supplier in charge to the origin port, EXW leaves everything to you from the factory door. What each means and which fits FBA.
- [Importing from China to Amazon FBA: The Full Process](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/importing-from-china): The end-to-end process of importing from China to Amazon FBA: sourcing, incoterms, freight, customs and duties, prep, and into the fulfillment center.
- [FBA Reorder Date Calculation: When to Place the PO](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/reorder-date-calculation): How to calculate your reorder date: the day to place a PO so stock arrives before you run out. The formula, a worked example, and the inputs that matter.
- [PO Payment Terms: Structures That Protect Your Cash](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/po-payment-terms): PO payment terms decide how much of your inventory the supplier finances. Deposit splits, net terms, and how each affects your FBA cash flow.
- [Purchase Order Tracking for FBA: Stages and Checklist](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/purchase-order-tracking): Purchase order tracking for FBA: follow each PO through placed, shipped, received, and reconciled, so nothing slips and every shortfall gets claimed.
- [Managing Inventory Across Multiple Suppliers on FBA](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/multiple-suppliers-inventory): Why and how to run multiple suppliers for a SKU: dual-sourcing for risk and leverage, and how to manage inventory across them.
- [MOQ: How Minimum Order Quantity Affects Your FBA Cash](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/moq-minimum-order-quantity): MOQ is the smallest order a supplier will accept. Why it exists, how it forces overstock and ties up cash, and how to negotiate it, for Amazon FBA sellers.
- [Supplier Lead Time for FBA: How to Measure and Reduce It](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/supplier-lead-time): Supplier lead time is how long from PO to goods ready or delivered. How to measure quoted vs actual, track it per supplier, and reduce it, for FBA sellers.
- [Purchase Order Template for Amazon FBA: What to Include](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/purchase-order-template): A purchase order template for Amazon FBA: the fields that prevent supplier disputes, plus the FBA-specific labeling and carton lines most templates miss.
- [The Inventory Cash-Flow Problem (and How to Fix It)](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-cash-flow-problem): The inventory cash-flow problem is cash trapped in stock so you cannot fund the next reorder. The symptoms, the causes, and how to break the cycle on FBA.
- [TACoS vs ACoS: Which Amazon Ad Metric Actually Matters](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/tacos-vs-acos): TACoS vs ACoS: ACoS measures campaign efficiency, TACoS measures ad reliance against total sales. The formulas, a worked example, and when to use each.
- [Amazon Gross Margin: What It Is and What It Hides From You](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-gross-margin): Amazon gross margin is revenue minus cost of goods, over revenue. The formula, a worked example, and why it overstates FBA profit if you stop there.
- [Amazon Net Profit Margin: What Good Looks Like on FBA](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-net-profit-margin): Amazon net profit margin is what you keep after every cost. The formula, an account-level example, a realistic FBA benchmark, and how to raise it.
- [FBA Cash Reserve: How Much Working Capital to Keep](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-cash-reserve): How much cash reserve an Amazon FBA seller should keep: sizing it to one reorder cycle, a worked example, and why lead time and season change the number.
- [Amazon Payout Schedule: When You Actually Get Paid](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-payout-schedule): How Amazon's payout schedule works: the ~14-day disbursement cycle, the reserve, and why new accounts wait longer, plus how to plan cash around it.
- [Inventory-to-Sales Ratio: Formula and How to Read It](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-to-sales-ratio): The inventory-to-sales ratio is inventory value divided by sales: a fast read on whether you carry too much stock. Formula, example, and FBA context.
- [Inventory Accuracy: How to Measure and Improve It](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-accuracy): Inventory accuracy is the share of your records that match reality. The formula, benchmarks, what breaks it, and how to improve it on Amazon FBA.
- [The Inventory KPIs That Matter Most for Amazon FBA](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-kpis): The inventory KPIs FBA sellers should track: sell-through, turnover, days of supply, GMROI, and DSI, with the formula and benchmark for each.
- [Product Launch Inventory: How Much to Stage for FBA](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/product-launch-inventory): How much inventory to bring for an Amazon product launch, how to stage it across FBA and a 3PL, and how to protect against a launch that flops.
- [2026 Amazon Seller Calendar: Inventory Order Dates](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-seller-calendar-2026): A 2026 Amazon seller calendar built for inventory planning: the events that move demand and the lead-time-back dates to order for each.
- [Inventory Forecasting Methods Compared for Amazon FBA](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-forecasting-methods): Inventory forecasting methods compared: moving average, weighted average, and exponential smoothing, and which one fits an Amazon FBA SKU.
- [New Product Demand Forecasting With No Sales History](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/new-product-demand-forecast): How to forecast demand for a new Amazon product with no sales history: use analogs, a conservative first order, and a fast first reorder.
- [How to Model Amazon Sales Seasonality for FBA Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-sales-seasonality): How to model Amazon sales seasonality: build seasonal indices from a year of history, forecast a baseline, and apply the index ahead of your lead time.
- [Demand Planning for Amazon Sellers: A Practical Loop](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/demand-planning-amazon): Demand planning for Amazon sellers turns a forecast into purchase orders, reconciled with cash, capacity, and your marketing and sourcing plans.
- [Prime Day Inventory Planning for Amazon FBA Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/prime-day-inventory-planning): Prime Day inventory planning: forecast the deal spike, order a full lead time early, cover the event without overbuying, and plan the post-event drawdown.
- [Overstocking Inventory: The Cost and How to Fix It](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/overstocking-inventory): Overstocking ties up cash, racks up storage fees, and drags your IPI. How to spot overstock, what it really costs, and how to clear it, for Amazon FBA.
- [Stockout Days: What They Are and Why They Matter on FBA](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/stockout-days): Stockout days are the days a SKU was unavailable. Why they quietly distort your velocity and IPI, how to find them, and how to exclude them from your math.
- [Out of Stock and Amazon Ranking: What Really Happens](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/out-of-stock-amazon-ranking): Running out of stock hurts your Amazon ranking because velocity drives rank. What happens while you are out, how much you lose, and how to recover.
- [How to Calculate Lost Sales from an Amazon Stockout](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/calculate-lost-sales): Lost sales equal your stockout days times the velocity you would have had. The formula, a worked example, and how to adjust for trend and season.
- [The Real Cost of a Stockout on Amazon FBA, Fully Priced](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/cost-of-stockout-amazon): A stockout costs far more than the missed sales: lost rank, a lower IPI, wasted ad spend, and a slow recovery. How to add up the true cost for FBA.
- [FBA Capacity Limits: How the Cubic-Feet System Works](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-capacity-limits): FBA capacity limits set a monthly cubic-feet allowance for your inventory. How the limit is set, how Capacity Manager works, and how to plan around it.
- [Excess Inventory on Amazon: How It Is Flagged and Cleared](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/excess-inventory-amazon): Amazon flags excess inventory as stock beyond your near-term demand. How the designation works, why it costs you, and how to find and clear it in FBA.
- [Stranded Inventory on Amazon: Find It, Fix It, Prevent It](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/stranded-inventory-amazon): Stranded inventory is stock in an Amazon warehouse with no active listing. Why it happens, what it costs you, and how to find, fix, and prevent it.
- [Amazon Restock Limits: Why You Are Capped and What to Do](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-restock-limits): Amazon restock limits cap how much inventory you can send to FBA. Why they happen, how IPI and sales drive them, and how to work within or lift them.
- [How to Improve Your IPI Score: A Component Playbook](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/how-to-improve-ipi-score): Improve your Amazon IPI score by fixing its four inputs: clear excess and stranded stock, raise sell-through, hold in-stock rate. A step-by-step guide.
- [Landed Cost vs COGS: The Difference for FBA Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/landed-cost-vs-cogs): Landed cost vs COGS: landed cost is the full cost to get a unit to the warehouse; COGS is the cost of what you sold. Why FBA sellers must not confuse them.
- [Inventory Carrying Cost: The True Cost of Holding Stock](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-carrying-cost): Inventory carrying cost is the full cost of holding stock: capital, storage, risk, and handling. How to estimate the rate and use it in FBA decisions.
- [FBA Storage Utilization Surcharge: What Triggers It](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/storage-utilization-surcharge): The FBA storage utilization surcharge targets overstock: holding too much inventory relative to your sales. What triggers it and how to avoid it.
- [Amazon Low-Inventory-Level Fee Explained (2026)](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/low-inventory-level-fee): The Amazon low-inventory-level fee hits standard-size items when your days of supply runs too thin. How the 28-day threshold works and how to avoid it.
- [FBA Inbound Placement Fee: How to Reduce It (2026)](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-inbound-placement-fee): The FBA inbound placement fee in 2026: what it is, how shipment splits change it, and how to decide between paying the fee or shipping to more locations.
- [FBA Fulfillment Fees by Size Tier: 2026 Rate Guide](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-fulfillment-fees): How FBA fulfillment fees work in 2026: size tiers, dimensional weight, the per-pound surcharges, and how to keep packaging from jumping a tier.
- [Amazon Referral Fees by Category: 2026 Rates Guide](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-referral-fees): How Amazon referral fees work in 2026: the 15 percent standard rate, how categories vary, the per-item minimum, and how the fee hits your margin.
- [FBA Long-Term Storage Fee: What Replaced It in 2026](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-long-term-storage-fee): The FBA long-term storage fee was replaced by the monthly aged-inventory surcharge. What changed, why it costs more now, and how to avoid it.
- [Amazon Aged Inventory Surcharge in 2026: How It Works](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/aged-inventory-surcharge): The Amazon aged-inventory surcharge in 2026: when it kicks in (181+ days), how it stacks on storage, and how to clear stock before it costs you.
- [Min/Max Inventory Levels for Amazon FBA: How to Set](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/min-max-inventory-levels): Min/max inventory levels set the floor that triggers a reorder and the ceiling you restock to. How to set both on Amazon FBA, with a worked example.
- [Lead Time Variability: Why It Drives Safety Stock](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/lead-time-variability): Lead time variability, not just average lead time, is what your safety stock pays for. How inconsistent lead times change reorder math on Amazon FBA.
- [How Much Safety Stock to Hold on Amazon FBA (Formula)](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/how-much-safety-stock): How much safety stock to hold on Amazon FBA: size it to demand and lead-time variability per SKU, not a flat number of weeks. Formula and worked example.
- [Days of Supply vs Days of Inventory on Amazon FBA](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/days-of-supply-vs-days-of-inventory): Days of supply vs days of inventory: what each measures, how to calculate them, and which one tells an Amazon FBA seller when to reorder.
- [When to Reorder Inventory: The Signals Sellers Miss](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/when-to-reorder-inventory): When to reorder inventory on Amazon FBA: the reorder point fires earlier than you think. The signals that mean order now, and the ones sellers miss.
- [How to Calculate Reorder Quantity for Amazon FBA](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/reorder-quantity): How to calculate reorder quantity for Amazon FBA: cover demand to your next cycle plus safety stock, within your MOQ and cash. With a worked example.
- [Inventory Lead Time: The Multi-Leg View for FBA](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-lead-time): Inventory lead time on Amazon FBA is multi-leg: production, freight, customs, and check-in. Why the number your supplier quotes is not the one to plan on.
- [How to Forecast Q4 Inventory for Amazon FBA Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/q4-inventory-forecast-amazon): How to forecast Q4 inventory for Amazon FBA: build from last year's seasonal index, order a full lead time early, and plan the January drawdown.
- [FBA Storage Fees 2026: Monthly Rates and Surcharges](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-storage-fees-2026): FBA storage fees in 2026: the monthly per-cubic-foot rates, the Q4 peak increase, the aged-inventory surcharge, and how to keep storage costs down.
- [The Bullwhip Effect: Why Small Demand Swings Blow Up](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/bullwhip-effect): The bullwhip effect amplifies small demand changes into big order swings up the supply chain. Its causes, why it hits FBA sellers, and how to dampen it.
- [Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO): Formula and Meaning](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/days-inventory-outstanding): Days inventory outstanding measures how many days it takes to sell your stock, at cost. The formula, a worked example, and how DIO drives your cash cycle.
- [Cash Conversion Cycle for FBA: Formula and Example](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/cash-conversion-cycle): The cash conversion cycle is how many days your cash is tied up from paying suppliers to collecting from Amazon. Formula, example, and how to shorten it.
- [DDP Shipping: What Delivered Duty Paid Means for Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/ddp-shipping): DDP shipping means the supplier delivers to your door with duties paid. The upside, the cautions on customs and control, and when it fits importers.
- [Amazon AWD vs FBA: Storage Costs and When to Use Each](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/awd-vs-fba): Amazon AWD vs FBA is not either/or. AWD is low-cost bulk storage that auto-replenishes FBA. The storage cost math and when to use each.
- [Amazon IPI Score: What It Is and Why It Governs Capacity](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-ipi-score): The Amazon IPI score is a 0 to 1000 inventory health rating from four factors. What it measures, why it controls your FBA capacity, and how to read it.
- [Incoterms Explained: The Shipping Terms Importers Need](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/incoterms): Incoterms define who pays and who bears risk at each step of a shipment. The key terms (EXW, FOB, DDP) and what they mean for Amazon importers.
- [Is Inventory an Asset? FBA Accounting Explained](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/is-inventory-an-asset): Is inventory an asset? Yes, a current asset on your balance sheet. How it works for Amazon FBA sellers, when it becomes COGS, and the cash trap to avoid.
- [FBA Cash Flow Management: Complete Operator's Guide](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-cash-flow-management): Cash flow, not profit, is what kills growing FBA businesses. The cash gap, the levers that close it, and how to build a reserve, for Amazon sellers.
- [What Is Dunnage? A Practical Guide for FBA Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/what-is-dunnage): Dunnage is the cheap, often disposable material that protects goods in transit. What it is, the common types, and how it protects your FBA shipments.
- [Amazon Inventory Forecasting: The Complete FBA Guide](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-inventory-forecasting): A complete guide to Amazon inventory forecasting: the methods, how to handle seasonality and new products, and how to forecast around FBA lead times.
- [Amazon FBA Fees in 2026: The Complete Cost Breakdown](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-fba-fees-2026): Every Amazon FBA fee in 2026: referral, fulfillment, storage, and the situational fees, with current rates, a worked example, and which ones you control.
- [Amazon FBA Restock Planning: The Complete 2026 Guide](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-fba-restock-planning): A complete system for Amazon FBA restock planning: when to reorder, how much, which SKUs to fund first, and how to plan around long lead times.
- [FBA Contribution Margin: Formula, Example, Decisions](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/contribution-margin): Contribution margin is what each unit contributes after all variable costs. The formula, a worked FBA example, and why it drives which SKUs to fund or cut.
- [Inventory Turnover Ratio: Formula, Example, Benchmarks](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/inventory-turnover-ratio): The inventory turnover ratio is COGS divided by average inventory value. The formula, a worked example, and what good looks like for FBA.
- [Weeks of Supply Formula: How Long Your Stock Lasts](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/weeks-of-supply-formula): The weeks of supply formula is inventory on hand divided by average weekly sales. How to calculate it, read it, and use it to time reorders.
- [Economic Order Quantity (EOQ): FBA Formula and Use](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/economic-order-quantity): Economic order quantity (EOQ) is the order size that minimizes ordering plus holding cost. The formula, a worked FBA example, and where MOQ overrides it.
- [Days Sales in Inventory (DSI): Formula and Meaning](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/days-sales-in-inventory): Days sales in inventory (DSI) is how many days your stock sits before it sells. The formula, a worked example, and how it relates to turnover for FBA.
- [GMROI Explained: Gross Margin Return on Investment](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/gmroi): GMROI is gross margin divided by average inventory cost: the margin each inventory dollar returns. The formula, an example, and why it beats turnover.
- [FBA Reimbursements: How to Recover Money Amazon Owes](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/fba-reimbursements): FBA reimbursements: how to recover money Amazon owes for lost and damaged inventory. The discrepancy types to audit, the claim windows, and how to file.
- [Sell-Through Rate: The Formula and Why It Drives IPI](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/sell-through-rate): Sell-through rate is units sold divided by average units on hand. The formula, a worked example, and why it drives your Amazon IPI and restock timing.
- [Sales Velocity: How to Calculate and Use It on FBA](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/amazon-sales-velocity): Sales velocity is units sold per day, the engine of every restock decision. How to calculate it, why the window matters, and how to use it on Amazon FBA.
- [JIT Inventory Management: Does It Fit Amazon FBA?](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/jit-inventory-management): JIT inventory management minimizes held stock to free cash. How it works, its trade-offs for FBA, and the hybrid that survives long lead times.
- [Open to Buy: The Inventory Budget That Prevents Overbuying](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/open-to-buy): Open to buy (OTB) is the dollar budget you have left to spend on inventory this period. The formula, a worked example, and how sellers use it.
- [What Is a Backorder? What It Means for Amazon Sellers](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/backorder): A backorder is an order for an out-of-stock item, filled when you restock. What it means on Amazon, and why FBA cannot do it while FBM can.
- [COGS Formula: How to Calculate Cost of Goods Sold](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/blog/cogs-formula): The COGS formula is beginning inventory plus purchases minus ending inventory. What counts, what does not, and a worked example for Amazon FBA sellers.

## Full content

For the complete glossary, FAQ, and pricing detail in one document, see [/llms-full.txt](https://www.inventoryhero.ai/llms-full.txt).