Amazon FBA Inventory Tracking System

As your research assistant, I’ve devised a system to manage your Amazon FBA inventory with Amazon Warehousing and Distribution (AWD). This system accounts for the complexity of tracking inventory across locations and ensures you can separate standard and oversized products, as Amazon requires separate shipments for these categories. A spreadsheet is a simple, effective starting point, and below is how you can structure it.

1. Core Inventory Tracking Sheet

Create a master sheet with these columns:

Column

Description

SKU

Unique product identifier

Product Name

Brief description of the item

Size Category

Label as “Standard” or “Oversized”

Current Stock

Total units on hand (across all locations)

AWD Stock

Units currently in AWD

FBA Stock

Units currently at Amazon FBA fulfillment centers

Available to Send

Units available to ship (Current Stock - AWD Stock - FBA Stock)

Unit Dimensions (L x W x H)

Dimensions in inches (e.g., 18” x 14” x 8” for oversized check)

Unit Weight

In pounds, for reference

Last Updated

Date of the latest inventory update

2. Shipment Planning Sheet

Create a second sheet to plan and track shipments:

Column

Description

Shipment ID

Unique identifier (e.g., “SHP-001”)

SKU

Pulled from Core Inventory (e.g., via dropdown)

Product Name

Auto-populated based on SKU

Size Category

Auto-populated from Core Inventory

Units to Send

Number of units planned to ship

Destination

AWD or FBA

Shipment Date

When you plan to send it

Status

e.g., “Planned,” “In Transit,” “Received”

Notes

Special instructions (e.g., “Split due to size”)

3. Automation Features

  • Filters: Filter by “Size Category” to separate Standard and Oversized items.
  • Conditional Formatting: Highlight low stock (e.g., Available to Send < 10) or overdue shipments.
  • Formulas: Auto-calculate “Available to Send” (e.g., =Current Stock - AWD Stock - FBA Stock).

Workflow

  1. Update Inventory: Input stock levels regularly.
  2. Plan Shipments: List SKUs in the Shipment Planning sheet, filter by size, and split shipments.
  3. Generate Packing Lists: Copy filtered lists for each shipment type.
  4. Track Progress: Update Status as shipments move forward.

Why a Spreadsheet Works

  • Simplicity: Quick to set up with familiar tools.
  • Cost: Free (Google Sheets) or low-cost (Excel).
  • Customization: Easily adaptable to your needs.
  • Visibility: Filter by Size Category to see shipment groups.

Scaling and Alternatives

If your business grows, consider:

  • Inventory Software: Inventory Lab, RestockPro, or Sellbrite ($50–$200/month).
  • Custom Database: Airtable or Notion for better organization.
  • Amazon Tools: Use Amazon’s Inventory Health reports alongside your system.

Recommendation

Start with a Google Sheets setup as outlined. It’s free, accessible, and sufficient for now. Test it, refine it, and upgrade to software if needed later.