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Here is what you need to know before the upcoming Amazon Selling Partner API (SP-API) updates to avoid losing access to your Amazon store data.
Amazon API updates: What’s Changing?
Amazon Selling Partner API (SP-API) is the new API that replaces the legacy Amazon MWS API (Amazon Marketplace Web Service API). Starting September 2021, all new API functionality will be built in SP-API, with updates to Amazon MWS only to support business-critical changes.
Along with the API update, the Amazon MWS data hose will be turned off and stricter data use and protection policies will be implemented. All these changes could affect the inventory, order, shipping, payment, and advertising data you use to manage your business on Amazon. In the case you are an Amazon business, this guide will inform you about everything you need to know prior to the new API update.
What is Selling Partner API (SP-API)?
Selling Partner API (SP-API) is a modernized suite of REST APIs utilizing standards that today’s developers expect. While the MWS APIs will be deprecated in the future, the SP-API update and tools provided by Amazon will make it as simple as possible for developers to support migration of existing MWS integrations.
SP-API represents the next-generation suite of API-based automation functionality for Amazon’s selling partners. Available to all new and existing developers, the Selling Partner API is deployed with the aim to further automate the flow of data and streamline key operations, analytics, and seller insights.
Why the change from Amazon MWS to the Selling Partner API?
An API (application programming interface) is software that allows applications to talk to each other. In fact, Amazon has their own APIs. If you are selling on the marketplace, Amazon’s APIs enable your business applications to get the data they need from Amazon.
The new Selling Partner API reflects a modernization of MWS APIs. While MWS has performed well, the update to a modern approach will make it easier for Amazon Selling Partner developers (i.e., third-party app developers and/or Marketplace sellers with in-house apps) to integrate the APIs to allow their apps to directly access and extract Amazon store data.
Amazon is bringing its 10-year-old APIs up to date and it includes the following added features:
- JSON-based REST API design standards
- Improved security: their selling partner authentication (OAuth2.0) takes place with LWA (Login with Amazon)
- A sandbox for testing – the most requested feature in MWS.
Plus, SP-API will support the first-ever APIs for Amazon Vendors. This means Amazon will be supporting Vendor Central directly with the new API.
What You Need to Do As An Amazon Seller
First of all, no need to panic! The transition to SP-API started in September so it’s essential to check with your third-party applications and vendors to ensure they will migrate to Selling Partner API by September 2021. Similarly, if you have in-house apps for your Amazon business, ensure your team has a plan to migrate over from Amazon MWS to SP-API.
While most Amazon sellers won’t be affected directly by these API changes, it’s recommended for business users and developers to explore SP-API functionality, review Amazon’s SP-API materials and your existing integrations and/or plan your migration.
How does the Selling Partner API benefit my business?
As MWS did, the new Selling Partner API offers direct, programmatic access to your data. This empowers you to take control of the data that fuels eCommerce operations.
The new API will allow Amazon sellers to unlock Amazon data silos securely, automate data, reduce manual processes and view insights as to when customers may be more likely to purchase, inform inventory management decisions, and much more.
If you are a business still undertaking manual processes such as report downloading, file manipulation, and processing files, then API automation will help you scale faster.
Next Steps
VL OMNI is a leading integration platform as a service (iPaaS), helping fast-growing brands connect their eCommerce platform, marketplaces, ERP, EDI trading partners, and more eCommerce applications together for a seamless experience. VL OMNI is built on cutting-edge AWS microservices technology and uses REST-based APIs and AWS tools to facilitate webhooks for agile, real-time data movement.
