Dive Brief:
- EasyPost now offers Amazon Shipping as a delivery option for its users, the shipping software provider announced last week.
- Shippers must be Amazon sellers to access Amazon Shipping rates, but they can use the service for orders placed outside of the e-commerce giant's marketplace, said Lori Boyer, senior marketing communications manager at EasyPost, in an email to Supply Chain Dive.
- Amazon Shipping has grown its roster of third-party partnerships since its relaunch in 2023, making it easier for brands to access the service through platforms they already use. Besides EasyPost, the service also integrates with ShipStation, Veeqo, Sellercloud, Descartes ShipRush and more.
Dive Insight:
Amazon Shipping has the potential to challenge leading parcel carriers like FedEx and UPS by leveraging Amazon's sprawling fulfillment network and transportation infrastructure. The service delivers packages in two to five days, including on the weekends. It also features free pickup seven days a week in 15 major U.S. cities, according to EasyPost.
However, Amazon Shipping still has some limitations as it looks to gain traction. The service is available only for Amazon.com sellers, solely serves shipments within the contiguous U.S. and hasn't expanded its pickup coverage since last year.
Where Amazon Shipping picks up in the U.S.
Amazon plans to address the limited pickup coverage in the future, Amazon Shipping Worldwide GM Michael Cox said during a seller conference last year.
“Anywhere Amazon has a facility, we want to be there, so it’s just a matter of when,” Cox said of pickup locations.
The 2024 peak season could present Amazon Shipping with an opportunity to snatch more volume from other carriers as it looks to grow further. EasyPost said the service could be particularly handy for shippers during the holidays to tap into additional capacity and avoid other carriers' surcharges. Amazon Shipping does not have residential delivery fees or weekend delivery charges.
