Vendors at Amazon have not been spoiled when it comes to the technical connection of their own systems to those of Amazon. Until now, Amazon only offered an outdated interface based on the EDI standard. For some time now, Amazon has also been providing a modern REST interface. We explain what this can do and how you can get access to it.
Scope of the Amazon Selling Partner API
Under the English designation Amazon Selling Partner API Amazon now also offers its suppliers (vendors) a RESTful interface. This covers the areas "retail" and "direct supply".
As of June 2020 the API was not yet on the same level as the EDI interface. Amazon's own overview shows which processes are currently supported in the Retail area:
| Area | Process | Vendor Central | EDI Schn. | REST API |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Management | Mark item as temporarily unavailable | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mark item as permanently unavailable | ✓ | |||
| Share stock | ✓ | |||
| Cost of Goods | EK Update Prices | ✓ | ✓ | |
| View EK prices | ✓ | |||
| Orders | Read out new orders | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Changes / Read out cancellations | ✓ | June 2020 | ||
| Read status | ✓ | June 2020 | ||
| Send Order Confirmation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Read order confirmation status | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Delivery | Create Delivery Announcement (ASN) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Update Delivery Announcement | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Read out delivery announcement status | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Confirm delivery | ✓ | |||
| Invoices and Credits | Create and Update | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Check Invoice Status | ✓ | |||
| View Invoice | ✓ | |||
| Controlling | Reports on sales data | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Reports Sales Analysis | ✓ | |||
| Payment Advice | Read out Payment Advice | ✓ | ✓ |
Both interfaces can be used simultaneously. The new REST API is therefore to be regarded as a supplement to the EDI interface. In the long run, according to Amazon, the REST API would probably get more features than the EDI interface. Therefore, it can be assumed that the EDI interface will not be further developed in the long run.
Request Vendor API access
Set up AWS User
To access the interface you need an account in Amazon's Cloud - AWS. There you create your own user with programmatic access and assign this user the necessary rights for access to the "Selling Partner API" via a so-called "IAM Policy".
{
"Version":"2012-10-17",
"Statement":[
{
"Effect":"Allow",
"Action":"execute-api:Invoke",
"Resource":"arn:aws:execute-api:*:*:*"
}
]
}
After completion you will receive an AWS Access Key with the corresponding Secret Key. Download this key and save it securely. Also note the so-called "ARN-ID", which identifies the user uniquely.
Request access
To get access to the API, you must create a case of type API Integration in Vendor Central. Enter "Register my application" as the reference and the following information:
- Name of the application
- ARN of the AWS user who should get access
- Dimension "Retail" or "Direct Fulfillment"
Amazon will now check your registration and hopefully activate it.
Get access data
As soon as the activation is done, log back into Vendor Central and go to the following page:
- https://vendorcentral.amazon.com/sellingpartner/developerconsole (opens new window) (US)
- https://vendorcentral.amazon.de/sellingpartner/developerconsole (opens new window) (DE)
There you will find an overview of the applications you have registered with the corresponding Login with Amazon (LWA) access data.
The authorization at the API works with the so-called OAuth2 procedure, i.e. you need a refresh token to request data from the API. You get this refresh token on the same page by clicking "Edit" next to the application and requesting the code there.
Amazon Vendor API Sandbox
Amazon also provides developers with a sandbox in which they can first test their application. Thus the sandbox is available for European vendors under e.g. 'https://sandbox.sellingpartnerapi-eu.amazon.com' in the AWS region 'ewest-1'.
Available methods
In version 1 the API provides the following methods:
| Area | Endpoint | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Orders API | /vendor/orders/v1/ | Read out and confirm purchase orders |
| Shipments API | /vendor/shipping/v1/ | Create Shipping Pre-Message |
| Payments API | /vendor/payments/v1/ | Send Invoices |
| Transactions API | /vendor/transactions/v1/ | Check API transactions |
Future
Amazon states that it will continue to expand the API. Thus Amazon writes:
In 2020, we will be offering APIs for Product Listing, Item Cost Updates, PO Changes & Cancelations. The API roadmap for 2020 will be published in April 2020.
Especially the API for modifying Amazon Product listings should become interesting for vendors.
Vendors can find further information under: https://vendorcentral.amazon.com/integration/getting-started/index.html (opens new window)