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Boost Sales with Amazon Inventory Reports: A Seller's Guide

Written by Denny Smolinski | Feb 11, 2025 2:42:36 PM

Amazon Inventory Report is an essential resource that provides detailed insights into your stock levels, helping you manage inventory effectively. They help sellers avoid costly storage fees, prevent stockouts, and maintain a strong reputation on Amazon. 

Are you struggling to optimize your inventory or make strategic decisions? This blog offers a step-by-step guide to accessing, interpreting, downloading, and leveraging amazon inventory Reports to enhance sales and boost business performance. We’ll also talk about the most common types of inventory reports and tips for optimizing inventory based on reports. Ready to take control of your inventory and boost your sales? Keep reading!


What is an Amazon Inventory Report?

An Amazon Inventory Report is essentially a detailed summary of all the items listed on Amazon by a seller. Accessible only to professional sellers, it includes necessary identifiers like:

  

  • SKU (Stock Keeping Unit): Unique identifier for each product.
  • ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number): Amazon's unique identifier for products listed on the platform.
  • Product Name: The title or description of the product as listed on Amazon.
  • Quantity Available: The number of units available for sale.
  • Reserved Quantity: The amount of stock held for customer orders or other reasons.
  • In-Transit Inventory: Products that are on their way to Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
  • Fulfillment Channel: Indicates whether the product is fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) or by the seller (FBM).
  • Replenishment Lead Time: The expected time it takes to replenish stock once it runs low.

Step to Access the Amazon Inventory Reports in Seller Central

Below, we have added steps to access Amazon inventory report in Seller Central. Please read. 

 Step 1:  Log in to your Amazon Seller Central account

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Go to Amazon Seller Central and enter your credentials to log in.

Step 2: Navigate to the "Reports" section

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Once logged in, locate the "Reports" or “Inventory” tab in the top navigation menu. Hover over it to view a dropdown menu.

Step 3: Select "Fulfillment" (if applicable)

From the dropdown menu under "Reports," click on "Fulfillment" to access inventory-related reports.

Step 4: Access the Inventory Reports subsection

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On the Fulfillment Reports page, find the "Inventory" section on the left sidebar or main page. Click on "Inventory Reports."

Step 5: Choose the specific inventory report type

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In the Inventory Reports section, use the dropdown menu to select the desired report type, such as:

  • Active Listings Report
  • Reserved Inventory Report
  • Manage Inventory Health Report
  • FBA Inventory Report (for Fulfilled by Amazon sellers)

How to Download the Amazon Inventory Report?

If you’re managing your Amazon business, downloading different inventory reports is crucial for monitoring stock levels, sales trends, and overall performance. Below are the detailed steps to download inventory reports from both Vendor Central and Seller Central.

Downloading Inventory Reports from Vendor Central

  1. Log into Vendor Central: Go to Vendor Central and sign in using your credentials.
  2. Navigate to Reports: In the main dashboard, locate the "Reports" tab in the navigation bar.
  3. Select Inventory Report: Under the "Analytics" section, find and click on "Inventory Reports."
  4. Customize Report Filters: Choose the date range, product categories, or specific filters you’d like to apply to narrow down the data.
  5. Download the Report: Click the "Generate Report" or "Download" button. Depending on your settings, the file will typically download in CSV format, ready for further analysis.

Downloading Inventory Reports from Seller Central

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  1. Log into Seller Central: Go to Seller Central and sign in using your credentials.
  2. Access Inventory Reports: From the dashboard, navigate to the “Reports” menu and select “Inventory Reports.”
  3. Choose Report Type: Select the type of inventory report you need (e.g., "Active Listings Report" or "Reserved Inventory").
  4. Generate the Report: Click on “Request Report.” The system will take a few moments to compile the data.
  5. Download the File: Once ready, a download link will appear in the “Download” column. Click it to save the file to your device.

By following these steps, you can access detailed inventory data tailored to your business needs, ensuring efficient stock management and smoother operations.

How to Interpret Your Amazon Inventory Report?

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Interpreting an Amazon Inventory Report requires an understanding of specific key elements within the report. These include indicators like Inventory List details, which handle product identification, pricing information to assess profitability, and Stock Status to prevent overselling or stockouts. It's important to remember that interpretation and subsequent strategy development largely depend on individual business goals, industry dynamics, and market conditions.

Inventory List

The Inventory List forms an important aspect of Amazon Inventory Reports. It serves as a comprehensive snapshot detailing all products currently in stock. Here are the main elements:

  • SKU: It's the unique identifier set by the seller for each product.
  • ASIN: Amazon's specific identifier for each product listed.
  • Quantity: It indicates the number of units of each item available in your inventory.
  • Product Description: A brief description of the product can be found accompanied by the Product ID type.

These parameters together equip sellers with a clear overview of their product range and available stock.

Price

The 'Price' section in the Amazon Inventory Report indicates the cost at which your products are listed on the Amazon marketplace. It is a critical marker influencing customer purchase decisions, profit margins, and competitive positioning. Thus, constant monitoring of the pricing information allows sellers to observe market trends, adjust prices when necessary, and maintain a competitive advantagе. Within this section, Amazon also provides information on any promotional discounts applicable to the listings, vital for strategic sales planning during promotional events and festive seasons.

Stock Status

Stock Status serves as an essential indicator of your inventory management efficiency. It gives you insights into how much of a particular product remains in stock and helps in avoiding overstocks or stockouts. Here are a few things it includes:

  • In Stock: The number of units of each product available in your inventory.
  • Out of Stock: Products that have completely sold out from your inventory.
  • Inbound: The number of units that are currently being shipped to an Amazon fulfillment center.
  • Transfer: Items that are being transferred between different fulfillment centers.

Regular assessment of the stock status aids in effective inventory planning and ensures seamless product availability.

The Most Common Types of Amazon Inventory Reports Every Seller Must Know

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Amazon provides an extensive range of inventory reports to meet various analytic requirements of sellers. These reports help track order details, sales trends, inventory health, and even customer returns, providing holistic insights into your business. 

Some commonly used ones include the Active Listings Report, Canceled Listings Report, Inventory Health Report, Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) Inventory Report, Restock Inventory Report, and Suppressed Listing and Listing Quality Report, each dedicated to providing distinct yet vital data about your inventory.

1. Active Listings Report

The Active Listings Report provides a detailed overview of all the active product listings on your Amazon Seller account. This report is a valuable resource to track the performance of individual listings. It aids in identifying top-performing products as well as listings that may require optimization or additional promotion. It also includes data like fulfillment channels indicating whether the product is fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) or the seller (FBM), helping sellers manage their inventory across different fulfillment methods.

What are the Contents of This Report?

  • Item Name: This is the name of the product being sold on Amazon.
  • Item Description: A brief description of the product and its features.
  • Listing ID: A unique identification number assigned to the product listing on Amazon.
  • Seller SKU: The stock keeping unit (SKU) assigned by the seller to track inventory.
  • Quantity Available: The number of units of the product currently in stock and available for sale.
  • Price: The listed price of the product on Amazon.
  • Fulfillment Channel (FBA or FBM): Indicates whether the product is fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) or by the seller (FBM).

2. Canceled Listings Report

To manage listings effectively, it's important to monitor the listings that were once active but got canceled. The Canceled Listings Report is crucial in this regard and can be specifically requested from Amazon. It encompasses the listings that Amazon has canceled for various reasons. By monitoring this report, sellers can identify potential issues causing cancellation and rectify them promptly. For instance, it might be due to a policy violation or poor sales performance forcing Amazon to remove the listing. The insights gathered from this report provide excellent groundwork for formulating effective marketing strategies and ensuring optimal inventory management.

What are the Contents of This Report?

  • Overview of canceled listings: Details listings that were once active but have been canceled by Amazon for various reasons, helping sellers stay informed about changes.
  • Reasons for cancellation: Highlights causes such as policy violations or poor sales performance, enabling sellers to address underlying issues.
  • Identification of potential issues: Helps sellers spot trends or patterns in cancellations to prevent future occurrences.
  • Insights for marketing strategies: Provides valuable data that can be used to refine marketing efforts and improve product visibility.
  • Guidance for inventory management: Assists in aligning inventory with market demand and reducing the likelihood of listing cancellations.
  • Actionable feedback: Offers a foundation for correcting mistakes and optimizing product listings for long-term success.

3. Inventory Health Report

The Inventory Health Report offers information on the health of your inventory at both SKU and ASIN levels. It includes details such as weeks of cover, sell-through rates, sales rank, and more, which allow you to assess product performance. Further, it includes data on long-term storage fees and stranded inventory, assisting you in making informed decisions to manage your inventory effectively and cost-efficiently.

What are the Contents of This Report?

  • Inventory health at SKU and ASIN levels: Provides a detailed view of how each product is performing, helping you identify underperforming items.
  • Weeks of cover: Estimates how long your current stock will last based on sales trends, allowing you to plan restocking effectively.
  • Sell-through rates: Measures how quickly your inventory is selling, highlighting products that may require better marketing or pricing strategies.
  • Sales rank: Indicates a product’s performance compared to others in its category, helping you gauge competitiveness.
  • Long-term storage fees data: Alerts you to potential fees for slow-moving stock, enabling you to take action before incurring costs.
  • Stranded inventory insights: Identifies items that are unsellable due to listing issues, so you can resolve them and prevent revenue loss.
  • Product performance tools: Offers metrics to evaluate individual product success, helping you make data-driven decisions.
  • Cost-efficient inventory management guidance: Provides actionable insights to optimize stock levels and reduce unnecessary expenses.

4. Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) Inventory Report

For sellers enrolled in Amazon's FBA program, the Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) Inventory Report provides comprehensive details of all the products sold under the Amazon FBA program. This analysis helps track and manage inventory at Amazon's fulfillment centers effectively. It offers real-time snapshots into inventory levels and insights into inventory movement, ensuring optimal stock levels and timely replenishment. This report aids in strategic planning for efficient inventory management, helping prevent overstocking and minimizing storage fees, thereby enhancing profitability.

What are the Contents of This Report?

  • Details of FBA products: Provides comprehensive information about all products sold through Amazon's FBA program, giving a clear overview of your inventory.
  • Inventory tracking: Offers real-time snapshots of inventory levels at Amazon’s fulfillment centers, ensuring sellers stay updated.
  • Insights into inventory movement: Tracks stock flow, helping sellers identify trends and manage inventory turnover efficiently.
  • Optimal stock level management: Ensures inventory levels are maintained to avoid stockouts or overstocking.
  • Timely replenishment planning: Provides data to help plan restocking schedules, ensuring consistent availability of products.
  • Prevention of overstocking: Reduces the risk of excess stock, which can lead to unnecessary storage fees.
  • Minimization of storage fees: Helps sellers optimize inventory to lower storage costs and maximize profitability.
  • Support for strategic planning: Enables better inventory management decisions, contributing to long-term business success.

 

5. Restock Inventory Report


The Restock Inventory Report is a valuable resource for sellers as it helps predict future demand and guide restocking schedules. Amazon generates this report based on historical sales data and active subscriptions, providing an eight-week forecast of indeed projected sales. Besides, it also includes a recommendation on what and when to replenish. Regularly monitoring this report enables businesses to optimize their inventory levels, avoid potential out-of-stock situations, and meet customer demand efficiently, which eventually leads to improved Order Defect Rate (ODR).

What are the Contents of This Report?

  • Future demand predictions: Offers insights into projected sales based on historical data and active subscriptions, helping sellers anticipate future needs.
  • Eight-week sales forecast: Provides an advanced outlook on expected sales, allowing for more accurate inventory planning.
  • Restocking recommendations: Suggests what items to replenish and the optimal timing, simplifying stock management.
  • Inventory level optimization: Helps maintain balanced stock levels to prevent overstocking or understocking.
  • Out-of-stock prevention: Alerts sellers to potential stockouts, ensuring consistent product availability.
  • Customer demand management: Ensures adequate inventory to meet demand, enhancing customer satisfaction.
  • Improved Order Defect Rate (ODR): Supports maintaining a low ODR by preventing stockouts and meeting customer expectations.

 

6. Suppressed Listing and Listing Quality Report


The Suppressed Listing and Listing Quality Report identifies listings with quality issues that prevent them from being live on Amazon. It contains all the listings suppressed or deactivated due to reasons such as missing crucial information, using prohibited words, or breaching certain listing regulations. Also, it provides the reason for suppression along with suggested actions to correct those issues and reactivate the listing. Regular review of this report helps maintain the quality of product listings, ensures compliance with Amazon’s listing policies, and optimizes the visibility of your products.

What are the Contents of This Report?

  • Identification of suppressed listings: Highlights listings that are deactivated or suppressed due to quality or compliance issues.
  • Reasons for suppression: Provides specific details, such as missing crucial information, use of prohibited words, or policy violations, that led to the suppression.
  • Suggested corrective actions: Offers actionable recommendations to resolve issues and reactivate suppressed listings.
  • Listing quality insights: Pinpoints areas for improvement to ensure listings meet Amazon’s quality standards.
  • Compliance with Amazon policies: Helps sellers maintain adherence to Amazon’s listing regulations, avoiding further suppressions.
  • Product visibility optimization: Ensures listings are live and visible, boosting the likelihood of sales.
  • Regular monitoring benefits: Encourages consistent review to maintain listing quality and avoid disruptions in sales.

Tips for Optimizing Inventory Based on Reports

Optimizing inventory relies mostly upon accurately interpreting and utilizing information from the Inventory Reports. Implement relevant adjustments based on insights from these reports, such as aligning stock levels with demand trends, adjusting pricing strategies according to market dynamics, or fixing suppressed listings. Ensuring accurate and complete listing information, managing old and slow-moving stock, and regular reviewing of various inventory reports form an integral part of a comprehensive inventory management strategy.

1. Bulk Editing Prices and Dispatch Latency


The Amazon Inventory Reports provide crucial insights that can be used to strategically adjust prices and dispatch latency. Observe the data trends in the Active Listings Report, gauge market dynamics and competitor pricing, and, accordingly, adapt your product pricing to remain competitive and profitable.

Moreover, efficient management of dispatch latency times based on observed trends from your inventory reports can help improve order fulfillment times, resulting in enhanced customer satisfaction. Successful implementation of bulk editing can be a powerful tactic to respond quickly to market changes and gain a competitive edge. Remember to adopt a data-driven approach when making these changes and measure corresponding outcomes for further optimization.

2. Managing Old and Slow-Moving Stock


Poorly performing or slow-moving stock not only ties up your financial resources but can also incur additional long-term storage costs. Using your Inventory Health Report, you can:

  • Identify slow-moving stock: Products with a low turnover rate can be identified.
  • Evaluate profitability: Assess the cost implications of holding onto older stock.
  • Plan clearance strategies: Engage in promotional activities to move older stock faster.
  • Opt for removal: Consider removing old inventory to free up warehouse space.
  • Avoid overselling: Regular updates will help maintain optimal inventory levels.

Employing these tactics based on insights from your inventory reports can significantly improve the overall health and profitability of your inventory.

3. Ensuring Accurate and Complete Listing Information


Maintaining accurate and complete listing information is vital for product visibility, conversion rates, and customer satisfaction. The Suppressed Listing and Listing Quality Report identifies any listings suppressed due to missing or incorrect information. Regularly reviewing this report allows timely rectification of such issues, and ensures that all necessary information like SKU, ASIN, product description, price, and inventory quantity is accurately represented.

Moreover, the completeness and accuracy of product listings have a direct impact on Amazon SEO, thereby improving product visibility. Thus, regular audits and timely updates of product listings based on insights from these reports are an efficient way to optimize your inventory and maximize sales.

Drive Results with beBOLD Digital: Your Verified Amazon Advertising Ally

Are you struggling to keep your inventory optimized and sales steady? At beBold Digital, we go beyond the basics and offer comprehensive inventory management solutions as part of your overall Amazon account strategy. From supply chain optimization to real-time inventory monitoring, we ensure you’re never overstocked or out of stock.

With our expertise, you can maximize the potential of Amazon Inventory Reports, avoid stockouts, and seize every sales opportunity. Ready to take control of your inventory and boost your sales? Contact us today!

Conclusion

Effectively managing inventory is a critical factor in determining the success of sellers on Amazon. With the ecommerce giant providing varied and detailed Inventory Reports inside Seller Central, sellers are better equipped than ever to make informed decisions, adjust strategies, and optimize performance. These reports offer honest, real-time snapshots and crucial insights into various inventory aspects like active and canceled listings, inventory health, restocking requirements, and more. 

Regular monitoring of these reports aligned with strategic execution can lead to improved demand forecasting, efficient stock management, higher sales, and increased profitability. Implementation of recommendations based on these reports will lead to an optimized inventory, increasing your chances of achieving business objectives and driving sustainable growth on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

1, How often should I review my Amazon Inventory Reports?


Regular review of Amazon Inventory Reports is crucial for efficient inventory management. Ideally, reports should be reviewed weekly for general oversight. However, during peak seasons or times of high demand, daily reviews may be necessary to manage stock levels effectively and prevent stockouts.

2. Can I download Amazon Inventory Reports in Excel format?


Yes, Amazon Inventory Reports can be downloaded in Microsoft Excel format or as a flat file. When requesting a report in Seller Central, select the '.csv' option. The '.csv' file format is easily imported into Excel or any other spreadsheet software for further analysis.

3. How do I set up automated inventory report notifications?


Amazon doesn't currently offer a feature to set up automated notifications for inventory reports. However, regular monitoring of your Seller Central dashboard combined with the use of Amazon MWS API can help you track changes and respond quickly to inventory-related updates.

4. Are there any tools available to help analyze Amazon Inventory Reports more efficiently?


Yes, multiple tools are available that integrate with Amazon's MWS to offer insights into inventory data. beBOLD Digital, an Amazon Advertising Agency, can provide comprehensive support with its expertise in managing and analyzing Amazon Inventory Reports and provide additional resources to drive improved business outcomes.