Amazon is ending US FBA prep services; here's how IFGlobal has you covered

Amazon’s recently announced a major change to its Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) programme. Starting from 1st January 2026, it will no longer offer prep and labelling services for US FBA shipments. Understandably, this will leave many brands scrambling to find alternatives.

For fast-moving, growth-focused ecommerce brands, this has the potential to be a significant disruption to your fulfilment flow, customer experience and inventory planning. If you’re a brand that relies on Amazon to handle things like labelling, poly-bagging, or bundling before inventory goes live… this change probably landed like a lead balloon.

At IFGlobal, we’ve built a flexible, reliable and strategically located fulfilment network that doesn’t just cope with changes like this; it helps you capitalise on them. Whether you're already operating in the US or looking to expand stateside, our team is ready to keep your supply chain running smoothly, without compromising speed, compliance or brand standards.

In this article 

• What Amazon’s FBA prep phase-out means for ecommerce brands 

• The key risks of relying on Amazon-only infrastructure 

• How IFGlobal fills the gap (and adds strategic value) 

• The FBA prep services we provide  

• Why location matters for US fulfilment 

• How to get started with IFGlobal  

What Amazon’s FBA prep phase-out means for ecommerce brands

Amazon is shifting focus, again. As part of its ongoing effort to simplify operations and reduce internal touch points, it’s stepping away from the nitty-gritty of FBA prep: no more labelling, bagging, kitting, or other value-added services for inbound stock. 

For brands, this creates an immediate gap. These services often aren’t nice-to-haves or optional, they’re required to get inventory accepted at Amazon fulfilment centres. If products don’t meet compliance standards, they get rejected or delayed. That hits your sales, your cash flow and your customer experience. 

Amazon’s message is clear. From now on, you’re responsible for getting inventory FBA-ready before it arrives. 

The key risks of relying on Amazon-only infrastructure  

When you're scaling, it’s tempting to let Amazon handle as much as possible. Though the downside of relying too heavily on Amazon-only infrastructure is that you're at the mercy of their next policy shift. This is a perfect example! 

Without a backup plan, you could be looking at: 

• Unexpected delays in getting your stock live 

• Non-compliant inventory stuck at the dock 

• Higher costs from rushed or inefficient third-party prep

Customer impact, from poor availability or missed Prime promises. Instead of pointing fingers, proactive ecommerce brands will need to quickly build resilience. The brands that win on Amazon aren’t just the ones with great products... They’re the ones with bulletproof operations behind the scenes.

How IFGlobal fills the gap (and adds strategic value) 

We’re not just filling a hole left by Amazon. We’re giving you an opportunity to level up. At IFGlobal, our FBA prep services are designed not only to keep your stock moving, but to give you greater control, visibility and confidence over your supply chain. 

Full-service FBA prep 

We handle everything you used to rely on Amazon for, and then some. That includes labelling, poly-bagging, shrink-wrapping, bundling, kitting, insert placement, carton forwarding, and Amazon-specific compliance checks. It’s all done to spec, every time. 

We provide a comprehensive suite of FBA prep services that go far beyond the minimum required. Everything is handled by trained teams who understand Amazon’s specific inbound requirements, down to the smallest detail. 

• FNSKU and warning label application or re-labelling   

• Poly-bagging, shrink-wrapping, and taping (in line with Amazon safety standards) 

• Kitting and bundling (multi-SKU, promotional, or subscription-based) 

• Insert placement and packaging enhancements 

• Box content labelling, carton forwarding and freight booking 

• Palletisation to Amazon specs 

• Amazon-specific QA and compliance checks 

We stay up to date with Amazon’s ever-changing inbound requirements, so you don’t have to. Every unit is prepared to exacting standards, protecting your inventory, account health, and your customer experience. You won’t lose sleep wondering if your inbound is going to be delayed or rejected. 

Fast, reliable turnaround 

In ecommerce, timing is everything. Delays getting stock live on Amazon can cost thousands... in lost sales, lower visibility or broken Prime promises. That’s why our entire fulfilment model is built around speed and consistency. 

Once your stock lands at IFGlobal, we move fast. Standard FBA prep turnaround is 24–48 hours. You’ll receive transparent time estimates and real-time status updates via your Client Portal, so you’re never left guessing. 

We align with your shipment schedule, adapt to your peak periods, and communicate clearly every step of the way. When Amazon moves fast, you can too - because you’ve got a fulfilment partner that’s right there with you. No more chasing updates or sitting in limbo wondering if your inventory made the cut. 

Tailored support as you scale 

We work with start-up disruptors and established scale-ups alike, and we’ve designed our operations to flex around your business, not force you into a one-size-fits-all model. 

Whether you're shipping 500 units a week or 50,000 a month, we adapt our prep workflows to your forecast, your SKU profile and your channel mix. Need seasonal scale-up? No problem. Launching a new product range with bespoke packaging? We’ll build the SOPs together. 

We don’t just process your inventory; we also learn your brand. That means fewer mistakes, faster turnaround, and the ability to make proactive suggestions that improve efficiency over time. 

Smart fulfilment centre location strategy  

You shouldn’t have to compromise between location and service. Our US fulfilment centres are based on the East and West Coasts, meaning we’re strategically positioned to: 

• Receive faster from global manufacturing hubs (Europe, UK, Asia) 

• Route more efficiently into major Amazon fulfilment centres 

• Split inventory for FBA, DTC, and retail without added complexity 

This geographical coverage gives you more flexibility in how you ship, store, and scale. It also reduces freight costs and delivery times... two things your CFOs and Ops Leads care deeply about. 

Scalable fulfilment for every channel and stage of growth 

Most FBA prep providers operate in a silo. They’ll label, bag and ship to Amazon... And that’s the end of the conversation. At IFGlobal, we take a broader, more strategic view. 

We’re built for brands that are growing across channels, regions, and customer types. That means we support not just FBA prep, but multi-channel fulfilment from a single stockholding. Whether you’re selling DTC, retail, wholesale, or through marketplaces, we can split, prep, and dispatch inventory from one centralised workflow. 

Nearly 75% of businesses say outsourcing logistics to 3PLs has helped reduce overall logistics costs, thanks to improved routing, optimised loads, and better carrier access. 

Want to send part of a shipment to Amazon, part to your Shopify customers, and hold the rest for an upcoming retail drop? We’ll handle that in one effortless, compliant process without added complexity. 

And as you grow, we grow with you. No system rip-outs. No retraining. Simply, a fulfilment partner that scales alongside your ambitions. We’ll help you: 

• Build SOPs and workflows that scale with your volume 

• Standardise packaging and kitting across channels 

• Expand into new facilities or markets without disruption 

• Layer in DTC or B2B fulfilment whenever the time is right 

Sure, we can plug an Amazon prep gap. But we’d rather create a fulfilment infrastructure that supports who you are now, and who you’re becoming. 

Actual humans who care 

When something’s urgent, you don’t want to be stuck in a queue or chasing updates. That’s why we combine a structured ticketing system with a hands-on, human approach that makes sure issues are monitored, actioned, and resolved quickly. 

You’ll have access to our dedicated Client Portal, where every ticket is tracked and triaged by our experienced support team, not lost in the void. Each query is routed to the right operational lead, and you’ll always know what’s happening and when to expect a resolution. 

And if something’s genuinely time-sensitive? You won’t get bounced around. Our operations and account management teams work closely with you to make fast, informed decisions. You’re not just another inbound number. We treat your business like it’s our own. 

“As your brand grows, we grow with you. We don’t do ‘just keeping up’. We’re here to help you get ahead. Unlocking economies of scale, fine-tuning your workflows, and constantly looking for ways to make your fulfilment sharper, faster and more efficient. It’s a true partnership, and we take that seriously.” - Paul Lavin, Operations and Transformation Director.

The FBA prep services we provide 

We work to Amazon’s FBA inbound standards and keep ahead of changes so you don’t have to. Most FBA prep jobs are turned around within 24–48 hours. 

Here’s a breakdown of the FBA prep services we offer. 

Built-in Amazon expertise, not just fulfilment 

Prepping your stock is only part of the equation. Growing on Amazon takes strategy, and we’ve built that into our offer. Through Amplifi, our in-house Amazon growth agency, we help brands optimise listings, boost performance and scale smarter within the marketplace. 

This means that alongside getting your products FBA-ready, we can also support you with: 

• Listing optimisation and keyword strategy 

• Advertising campaigns (PPC and DSP) 

• Brand Store development and A+ content 

• Insights and analytics to drive ongoing growth 

Most 3PLs stop at the warehouse door. We go further, combining fulfilment excellence with marketplace expertise so you can grow faster, with less guesswork and fewer partners to manage. 

Why location matters for US fulfilment   

Speed and flexibility don’t just come from our fulfilment software and processes; they also come from our strategically located fulfilment centres. That’s why we’ve built a bi-coastal model with facilities on the East Coast and West Coast of the US. 

• Faster inbound from Europe, the UK, and Asia 

• Lower domestic transit costs 

• Easier inventory split across FBA, DTC, and B2B 

• Redundancy if disruption hits one region 

In short, you’re not bottlenecked by one fulfilment centre. You’re set up to move faster, serve more regions, and adapt on the fly. 

Already in the US? Expanding into the US? We’ve got you 

If you're already selling in the US, we can step in immediately to handle your FBA prep, without disrupting your current setup. Think of us as an extension of your operations team; one that just happens to have infrastructure, staff, and compliance expertise on speed dial. 

If you're expanding into the US, we’ll act as your boots-on-the-ground launch partner. From receiving containers to splitting stock across FBA, DTC and retail, we’ll help you launch clean and scale smart. You don’t need a US office to act like you have one. 

In 2025, approximately 37% of ecommerce brands fully outsource fulfilment, while 60% outsource at least part of it to 3PL providers. 

91% of shippers report that working with a 3PL significantly improved their supply chain effectiveness, customer satisfaction, or cost structure. 

How to get started with IFGlobal 

Speed is important when Amazon makes a huge change, especially if your next shipment’s already in motion. While we can’t promise overnight activation (and honestly, you shouldn’t trust anyone who does), we can get you fully onboarded and operational in a matter of weeks, not months. 

Our onboarding process is structured but flexible, built to move as quickly as your team can. We’ll work closely with you to map SKUs, align SOPs, and get your stock flowing through our network with clarity and control. 

You can expect a solid, transparent setup that gets you live and keeps you growing. 

This Amazon shift might feel frustrating. But it’s also a chance to build something better. When you bring FBA prep into a fulfilment partner model, you gain more than just a workaround. 

• You gain control over your stock 

• You build confidence in your compliance 

• You get visibility across channels 

• You have a team on your side, that adapts as your grow 

That’s what we offer at IFGlobal. Not just fulfilment, but a long-term partner invested in helping your brand scale smarter. 

"With Amazon US discontinuing all FBA prep services, brands now face greater responsibility to make sure their products meet FBA requirements before reaching Amazon distribution centres. At IFGlobal, we bring over 15 years of expertise in preparing inventory for Amazon FBA, offering end-to-end support for both pre- and post-FBA shipments. This is complemented by our in-house Amazon agency, Amplifi, which helps brands navigate the complexities and maximise sales through selling on Amazon.

"If you're an experienced Amazon FBA seller looking to outsource your prep operations, or a new seller seeking guidance to successfully launch on the world's largest marketplace, we're here to help." - Troy Kniveton, Senior Business Development Manager.