Multichannel ecommerce is no longer optional; it's the new standard for growth. However, with greater reach comes greater complexity, especially when fulfilling orders across platforms like Shopify, Walmart, and eBay. Managing separate systems and workflows can slow operations and hurt customer experience.
That’s where leveraging Amazon’s Multichannel Fulfillment (MCF) alongside StoreAutomator’s automation tools can make all the difference. Together, they provide a robust, unified solution that helps sellers scale efficiently without the logistical chaos.
What is Multichannel Fulfillment (MCF) and Why You Should Care?
MCF is an Amazon service that lets sellers fulfill orders from non-Amazon sales channels, like Shopify, Walmart, and eBay, using Amazon's vast fulfillment network. Amazon stores your inventory and takes care of picking, packing, and shipping when orders come in from any connected channel.
It’s also part of a broader logistics initiative called Supply Chain by Amazon, which includes services like inbound freight, storage, and last-mile delivery. These are designed to support sellers across multiple supply chain stages. MCF specifically focuses on fulfilling off-Amazon orders using the same infrastructure that powers Amazon Prime.
Why care? Using Amazon's fulfillment network, MCF offers fast, reliable delivery without the headaches of managing your warehouse or third-party logistics (3PL) partners. Amazon stores your inventory and takes care of picking, packing, and shipping when orders come in from any connected channel.
One Inventory, Multiple Channels: How MCF Streamlines Fulfillment
One of the biggest challenges in multichannel selling is inventory management. With MCF, you maintain a single inventory pool in Amazon's fulfillment centers. You can serve all your sales channels from one centralized stock, reducing overselling risks and improving operational efficiency.
Amazon Boxes or Unbranded Packaging? Your Brand, Your Choice
MCF allows you to choose between Amazon-branded and unbranded packaging (for an extra fee). This flexibility is especially valuable for brand-conscious sellers or those fulfilling orders on marketplaces that discourage Amazon branding.
MCF Worth It? Comparing Costs with 3PL and In-House Fulfillment
While MCF isn’t the cheapest option for every scenario, it offers competitive rates when factoring in speed, reliability, and the lack of overhead. For many sellers, it eliminates the need for warehousing staff, packing supplies, and shipping integrations.
A quick comparison:
- MCF: Pay-per-order, scalable, no setup costs. You can find sample MCF pricing here
- 3PL: Monthly fees, variable service quality
- In-house: High startup costs, complex to scale
When to Use MCF: Scenarios That Maximize ROI
MCF is ideal if:
- You’re already using FBA and want to unify fulfillment
- Your order volume fluctuates seasonally
- You want to expand into new channels without adding infrastructure
- You need 1- to 2-day shipping without building your logistics network
In a recent update, Walmart allowed sellers to use MCF if they used unbranded packaging and Amazon logistics were not visible to customers. This change enables even more sellers to take advantage of MCF without violating Walmart's marketplace policies.
MCF + StoreAutomator: A Seamless Fulfillment Workflow
StoreAutomator enhances the MCF experience by connecting all your channels into a single dashboard. With StoreAutomator, you can:
- Automatically route non-Amazon orders to MCF
- Configure packaging preferences, including unbranded packaging and shipment without Amazon logistics options, directly within your fulfillment workflow
- Sync inventory levels across platforms
- Track shipments and statuses in real-time
- Avoid manual data entry and reduce fulfillment errors
- Eliminate the need for separate MCF apps or plugins for each sales channel
While every sales channel typically requires its plugin or app to enable MCF, StoreAutomator removes this complexity. With a single integration, sellers can manage MCF across all platforms without relying on fragmented tools.
Why MCF Feels Effortless with StoreAutomator
What makes MCF truly easy to use isn’t just Amazon’s logistics. Instead of juggling apps, plugins, and manual updates for each channel, StoreAutomator gives you a single, intuitive platform to manage your entire fulfillment operation.
From syncing inventory to customizing packaging rules and routing orders automatically, StoreAutomator makes tapping into Amazon’s MCF network as simple as flipping a switch. The result? Faster fulfillment, fewer errors, and more time to focus on growth.
If you’re ready to streamline multichannel fulfillment without reinventing your backend, StoreAutomator + Amazon MCF is the smart, scalable way forward. With StoreAutomator’s robust multichannel automation, sellers can create a highly efficient and scalable fulfillment system. Whether expanding to new marketplaces or trying to simplify your operations, MCF and StoreAutomator give you the tools to grow without friction.
Ready to take control of your multichannel fulfillment? Let StoreAutomator + Amazon MCF do the heavy lifting.