Amazon Opens Prime Delivery to External Sites, Boosts Sales for Independent Brands

Amazon is making it easier for independent online stores to offer fast and free Prime shipping to their customers. As part of this new logistics update, sellers using Amazon's back-end fulfillment network can now list Prime delivery as a standard shipping option at checkout.

This means that shoppers don't need to log in to an Amazon account or click on the 'Buy with Prime' widget to get fast and free shipping. They can simply check out using their preferred payment method, such as Apple Pay or Shop Pay, and their Prime membership will be verified after they place the order.

This update is a major upgrade for small online businesses, as getting the Prime badge gives shoppers instant peace of mind and trust in the seller's delivery speeds. According to Amazon, early merchant adopters saw over 40% of eligible orders ship via Prime, with some brands reporting a nearly 10% bump in overall sales.

As an added incentive for merchants, Amazon is offering a 15% to 25% discount on fulfillment fees when they use its shipping network. This could be especially beneficial for sellers during the holiday rush.