Understanding Draft Shipments

What Are Draft Shipments?

Draft shipments are shipments you’re preparing but haven’t finalized yet. Think of them as a workspace or staging area where you can plan, organize, and modify shipments before committing them to the system. Unlike finalized shipments which are locked and tracked through Amazon’s systems, draft shipments are flexible and can be changed, edited, or deleted at any time.

Key Characteristics of Draft Shipments

Flexibility - Draft shipments can be edited anytime, products can be added or removed, quantities can be adjusted, details can be modified, and there’s no commitment until finalized.

Planning Tool - Drafts allow you to plan shipments in advance, organize products before shipping, coordinate multiple shipments, prepare without pressure, and make changes easily.

Work in Progress - Drafts are not active shipments, not tracked by Amazon, not affecting inventory, can be abandoned, and have no consequences for changes.

Draft vs. Finalized Shipments

Draft Shipments have status DRAFT, can be edited, can be deleted, are not active in Amazon, are in planning stage, and are flexible.

Finalized Shipments have active status (Working, In Transit, etc.), cannot be edited easily, cannot be deleted, are active in Amazon system, are in production stage, and are fixed.

Why Draft Shipments Exist

Planning Benefits - Drafts let you plan shipments without commitment, organize products logically, coordinate timing, prepare documentation, and reduce errors.

Workflow Benefits - Drafts let you work at your own pace, make changes easily, have no pressure to finalize, can be abandoned if needed, and allow you to iterate and improve.

Error Prevention - Drafts help you catch mistakes before finalizing, verify all information, ensure completeness, double-check details, and reduce problems.

When to Use Draft Shipments

Planning Scenarios

Future Shipments - Use drafts to plan shipments weeks in advance, organize products for future shipping, prepare for upcoming needs, coordinate with suppliers, and schedule shipments.

Complex Shipments - Use drafts for multiple products, multiple purchase orders, complex allocations, when you need time to organize, and when detailed planning is required.

Coordination Needs - Use drafts to coordinate with team, get approvals, review before finalizing, share for feedback, and enable collaborative planning.

Workflow Scenarios

Waiting for Information - Use drafts when waiting for product availability, supplier confirmation, cost information, approval, or when information is incomplete.

Iterative Planning - Use drafts when you need to make changes, are adjusting quantities, modifying products, changing destinations, or refining details.

Testing and Learning - Use drafts for learning the system, testing workflows, experimenting with options, understanding features, and practice runs.

Business Scenarios

Seasonal Planning - Use drafts to plan for busy seasons, prepare holiday shipments, organize promotional shipments, coordinate large volumes, and enable strategic planning.

Multi-Order Shipments - Use drafts to combine multiple orders, consolidate shipments, optimize shipping, reduce costs, and enable efficient organization.

Quality Control - Use drafts to review before finalizing, verify all details, check for errors, ensure completeness, and maintain quality assurance.

Creating Your First Draft Shipment

Accessing Draft Creation

From Draft Shipment Tab - Navigate to Shipments section, click “Draft Shipment” tab, see list of existing drafts (or empty list), click “Draft Shipment” button (top right), and the draft creation page opens.

From Other Locations - You may have “Create Draft” buttons elsewhere, quick create options, contextual creation, and various entry points.

Step-by-Step Creation Process

Step 1: Basic Information - Enter a Shipment Name that must start with “DRAFT-” (example: “DRAFT-2024-03-US-SupplierA”). A descriptive name helps identification and can include date, marketplace, supplier. Select Destination marketplace/country from the dropdown, select target marketplace, which determines fulfillment center. Click “Next” or continue.

Step 2: Add Products - There are two ways to add products: from Product Catalog or from Purchase Orders. You can use both methods, mix products from different sources, and add all needed products.

Step 3: Set Quantities - For each product, set quantity. You can adjust quantities, verify totals, and ensure accuracy.

Step 4: Review - Review all information, check product list, verify quantities, confirm destination, and ensure completeness.

Step 5: Create - Click “Create Shipment” button, the draft is saved, appears in Draft Shipment tab, can be edited later, and is ready for further work.

Naming Your Draft Shipment

Naming Requirements - Names must start with “DRAFT-”, cannot start with anything else, the system enforces this rule, which prevents confusion and provides clear identification.

Naming Best Practices - Include date (e.g., “DRAFT-2024-03-15”), include marketplace (e.g., “DRAFT-US-2024-03”), include supplier (e.g., “DRAFT-SupplierA-Q1”), include purpose (e.g., “DRAFT-Holiday-2024”), and be descriptive and consistent.

Naming Examples include “DRAFT-2024-03-US-SupplierA”, “DRAFT-Q1-2024-UK-Warehouse”, “DRAFT-Holiday-Promotion-US”, “DRAFT-Emergency-Replenishment”, and “DRAFT-Test-Shipment-001”.

Why Good Names Matter - Good names make drafts easy to find in list, help you understand purpose quickly, organize multiple drafts, improve team communication, and provide professional appearance.

Draft Shipment Interface Overview

Page Layout

Header Section shows page title “Create Draft Shipment” or “Edit Draft Shipment”, back button to return to list, context information, and action buttons.

Main Content Area includes basic information section, product addition section, product list section, with organized layout and clear sections.

Footer Section is fixed at bottom with action buttons including Save/Create button and Cancel button, always visible.

Key Sections

Shipment Details Card includes shipment name input, destination selector, basic information, required fields, and clear labels.

Add Products Section displays two methods: catalog addition and purchase order addition, with clear instructions and easy to use.

Product List Table shows all added products with product details, quantity inputs, actions column, and organized display.

Action Footer includes Create/Update button, Cancel button (disabled when invalid), clear actions, and always accessible.

Adding Products to Draft Shipments

Two Methods Available

Method 1: From Product Catalog - Browse your product catalog, select products directly, set quantities, add to shipment, with flexible selection.

Method 2: From Purchase Orders - Select purchase orders, products from orders are added automatically with quantities from orders, link orders to shipment, providing order-based addition.

Choosing the Right Method

Use Catalog When - Adding products not in orders, need specific quantities, products from inventory, custom product selection, or flexible quantities.

Use Purchase Orders When - Products are in orders, want order linkage, use order quantities, track order fulfillment, or order-based workflow.

Use Both When - Mixing sources, some from catalog and some from orders, complex shipments, multiple sources, or comprehensive addition.

Adding Products from Catalog

Catalog Product Selector

Accessing Catalog

• “From Catalog” section
• Product selector component
• Browse available products
• Search functionality
• Filter options

Product Display

• Product images
• Product names
• ASIN and SKU
• Product details
• Easy identification

Selection Process

1. Open product selector
2. Browse or search products
3. Select products to add
4. Set quantity for each
5. Add to shipment

Setting Quantities

Quantity Input

• Input field per product
• Enter desired quantity
• Can be any number
• No restrictions (for catalog products)
• Flexible amounts

Quantity Validation

• Must be positive number
• Cannot be zero
• Cannot be negative
• Decimal numbers allowed (if applicable)
• Clear validation

Batch Quantity

• Can set same quantity for all
• Or individual quantities
• Flexible options
• Efficient entry
• Customizable

Product Information Display

In Product List

• Product image thumbnail
• Product name/display name
• ASIN badge
• SKU badge (if available)
• “Catalog Product” badge
• Quantity input
• Remove button

Product Details

• Click to see more
• Full product information
• Specifications
• Images
• Complete details

Adding Products from Purchase Orders

Purchase Order Selector

Accessing Purchase Orders

• “From Purchase Order” section
• Purchase order multi-select
• Browse available orders
• Search functionality
• Filter options

Order Display

• Order names
• Order IDs
• Order status
• Order dates
• Supplier information

Selection Process

1. Open purchase order selector
2. Browse or search orders
3. Select one or multiple orders
4. Products added automatically
5. Quantities from orders

Automatic Product Addition

How It Works

• Select purchase orders
• System finds all products in orders
• Adds products to shipment
• Uses quantities from orders
• Links orders to shipment

Product Information

• Products appear in list
• Quantities from orders
• Order name shown per product
• “Order: [OrderName]” badge
• Order linkage maintained

Quantity Handling

• Initial quantity from order
• Can be adjusted (up to order quantity)
• Cannot exceed order quantity
• Shows available quantity
• Flexible within limits

Multiple Order Selection

Selecting Multiple Orders

• Can select several orders
• Products from all orders added
• Combined product list
• All orders linked
• Comprehensive addition

Order Linking

• Selected orders linked to shipment
• Maintains relationships
• Tracks order fulfillment
• Enables cost allocation
• Data integrity

Product Consolidation

• Same product from multiple orders
• May appear multiple times
• Or consolidated (depending on system)
• Check how system handles
• Understand behavior

Managing Product Quantities

Understanding Quantity Limits

Catalog Products

• No maximum limit
• Can set any quantity
• Flexible amounts
• No restrictions
• Full control

Purchase Order Products

• Maximum = order quantity
• Cannot exceed order amount
• Shows available quantity
• “+X available” indicator
• Limited by order

Quantity Display

• Current quantity input
• Available quantity shown
• Maximum indicated
• Clear limits
• Visual feedback

Adjusting Quantities

Increasing Quantities

• Enter higher number
• For PO products: up to maximum
• For catalog: any amount
• Updates immediately
• Recalculates totals

Decreasing Quantities

• Enter lower number
• Can reduce to minimum (1)
• Cannot go to zero
• Updates immediately
• Recalculates totals

Quantity Validation

• Real-time validation
• Error messages for invalid
• Prevents invalid entries
• Clear feedback
• User-friendly

Quantity Indicators

Available Quantity

• Shows for PO products
• “+X available” text
• Green color
• Indicates remaining
• Helpful information

Maximum Reached

• When at maximum
• Visual indicator
• Cannot increase further
• Clear limitation
• Prevents errors

Quantity Totals

• Total units in shipment
• Updates automatically
• Shows in summary
• Useful metric
• Quick reference

Resolving Product Conflicts

Understanding Conflicts

What Are Conflicts - These occur when the same product is added from multiple sources (Catalog + Purchase Order, Multiple Purchase Orders), creating duplicate products that need to be resolved.

Conflict Detection - The system detects conflicts automatically, shows a conflict dialog, lists conflicting products, explains the situation, and requires resolution.

Conflict Resolution Dialog

Dialog Display appears when conflicts are detected, lists all conflicts, shows both versions, provides resolution options, and has a clear interface.

Conflict Information includes product details, source information, quantities from each source, side-by-side comparison, and is easy to understand.

Resolution Options include Keep Catalog Version, Keep Purchase Order Version, Keep Both (combined), choose per conflict, and flexible resolution.

Resolution Process

Step 1: Review Conflicts - See all conflicts, understand differences, check quantities, review sources, and make decisions.

Step 2: Choose Resolution - Select option per conflict, you can choose differently, flexible choices match your needs, and resolve all conflicts.

Step 3: Apply Resolution - Click resolve button, system applies choices, updates product list, removes duplicates, and finalizes resolution.

Step 4: Continue - Once conflicts are resolved, you can continue working, add more products, adjust quantities, and complete shipment.

Resolution Strategies

Keep Catalog Version - Use when catalog is source of truth, has more up-to-date information, preferred product details, or you want to use catalog data.

Keep Purchase Order Version - Use when order is authoritative, you want order linkage, need to track order fulfillment, or maintain relationships.

Keep Both - Use when you need quantities from both, want combined total, both sources are important, or need maximum flexibility.

Setting Shipment Details

Shipment Name

Name Requirements - Must start with “DRAFT-”, cannot be empty, cannot be just “DRAFT-”, must have additional text, and the system validates.

Name Input uses a text input field where you type shipment name, with real-time validation, error messages, and clear feedback.

Name Best Practices - Use descriptive and meaningful names, include key information, consistent format, easy to identify, and professional naming.

Destination Selection

Marketplace Selector uses dropdown or search to select target marketplace, shows countries/flags, provides visual selection, and is easy to use.

Destination Importance - Destination determines fulfillment center, affects shipping, influences costs, is important for routing, and must be accurate.

Changing Destination - You can change before finalizing, it updates automatically, may affect products, so verify compatibility and check requirements.

Additional Details

Optional Fields may have additional fields for notes or comments, reference numbers, custom information, and flexible data.

Field Management - Fill optional fields, add relevant information, which is helpful for organization, useful for team, and creates complete records.

Linking Purchase Orders

Why Link Purchase Orders

Relationship Tracking - Linking lets you know which orders feed shipment, maintain data relationships, track order fulfillment, enable cost allocation, and maintain data integrity.

Workflow Benefits - Linking provides order-based workflow, automatic product addition, quantity management, cost tracking, and simplified process.

Linking Process

Selecting Orders - Use purchase order selector to browse available orders, search for specific orders, select one or multiple, and add to shipment.

Automatic Linking - Selected orders are linked automatically, products are added from orders, quantities are set from orders, relationships are maintained, and the system handles details.

Viewing Linked Orders - Shows in shipment details with list of linked orders, order information, quick access, and easy reference.

Managing Links

Adding More Orders - You can add orders later by selecting additional orders. Products are added, orders are linked, providing flexible addition.

Removing Orders - You can unlink orders, which removes order products and breaks relationship. Confirmation may be required, so use carefully.

Order Information - See order details, click to view order, opens order page, return easily, and see full context.

Editing Draft Shipments

Accessing Edit Mode

From Draft List - Go to Draft Shipment tab, find draft to edit, click Edit button (pencil icon), opens edit page, and make changes.

From Draft Detail - If viewing draft details, you may have an Edit button that opens the editor where you can make modifications and save changes.

What Can Be Edited

Shipment Name - You can change name but must keep “DRAFT-” prefix. Update to better name, improve organization, and easy modification.

Destination - You can change marketplace by selecting different destination. It updates automatically, but verify compatibility and check requirements.

Products - You can add more products, remove products, adjust quantities, change allocations, and have full product control.

Purchase Orders - You can add more orders, remove orders, change order links, update relationships, and have flexible management.

Editing Process

Step 1: Open Editor - Click edit button, page loads with current data, all fields populated, ready to edit, and current state visible.

Step 2: Make Changes - Modify any fields, add or remove products, adjust quantities, change details, and update information.

Step 3: Review Changes - Check all modifications, verify accuracy, ensure completeness, review totals, and confirm changes.

Step 4: Save - Click “Update Shipment” button, changes are saved, draft is updated, returns to list or detail, and changes are applied.

Saving Changes

Auto-Save - May auto-save some changes, reduces data loss, convenient feature. Check if available and understand behavior.

Manual Save - Click save button for explicit save action, confirms changes, updates draft, and finalizes modifications.

Save Validation - Validates before saving, checks for errors, prevents invalid saves, shows error messages, and is user-friendly.

Viewing Draft Shipments

Draft List View

Draft Shipment Tab shows all draft shipments in table format with key information visible, sortable and filterable, and easy browsing.

List Columns include Shipment Name, Destination (marketplace), Product count, Status (DRAFT), Actions (Edit, Delete), and key metrics.

List Features include search functionality, filter options, sort capabilities, pagination, and export options.

Draft Detail View

Opening Details - Click draft name or row to open detail page showing complete information, all products visible, and full context.

Detail Information includes complete shipment details, all products listed, quantities shown, linked orders, and status information.

Detail Actions include Edit button, Delete button, other actions that are context-sensitive, and available options.

Viewing Options

Table View shows compact information with many drafts visible, quick scanning, efficient browsing, and list format.

Detail View shows complete information one draft at a time with full context, detailed view, and comprehensive.

Deleting Draft Shipments

When to Delete

No Longer Needed - Delete when draft was temporary, planning changed, replaced by another, no longer relevant, or for cleanup.

Created by Mistake - Delete when accidental creation, wrong information, cannot fix easily, start over, or delete and recreate.

Cleanup - Delete old drafts, completed planning, no longer useful drafts, regular cleanup, and maintain organization.

Deletion Process

Step 1: Find Draft - Go to Draft Shipment tab, locate draft to delete, identify correctly, verify it’s the right one, and be certain.

Step 2: Initiate Deletion - Click Delete button (trash icon), confirmation dialog appears, asks to confirm, prevents accidents, and is a safety measure.

Step 3: Confirm - Read confirmation message, understand consequences, confirm deletion or cancel if unsure, and make final decision.

Step 4: Deletion Complete - Draft is removed, no longer in list, cannot be recovered, permanent action, and done.

Deletion Considerations

Permanent Action - Cannot undo deletion, data is lost, no recovery, so be certain. This is an important consideration.

Impact - No impact on other data, doesn’t affect orders, doesn’t affect products, isolated deletion, and safe operation.

Before Deleting - Export data if needed, save important information, verify not needed, check dependencies, and be sure.

Converting Drafts to Final Shipments

Conversion Concept

What Is Conversion - This is turning draft into active shipment, finalizing the shipment, making it live, no longer editable, and moving to production stage.

When Conversion Happens - May be automatic, may require action, depends on workflow, so check your process and understand system.

Conversion Process

Automatic Conversion - May happen automatically when certain conditions are met, system-triggered, no manual action, and seamless process.

Manual Conversion - May require button click, “Finalize” or “Create Shipment” action, explicit conversion, user-initiated, and controlled process.

Conversion Requirements - All required fields filled, products added, valid information, no errors, and complete draft.

After Conversion

Status Change - Status changes from DRAFT to active status (Working, In Transit, etc.), tracked by Amazon, and becomes live shipment.

Edit Restrictions - Limited editing, cannot delete easily, fixed information, production stage, and different rules.

Tracking Begins - Amazon tracking starts, status updates begin, monitoring active, fulfillment process, and real shipment.

Draft Shipment Status Management

Draft Status

DRAFT Status is the default status for drafts, indicates not finalized, can be edited, planning stage, and flexible state.

Status Display shows in draft list with status badge, color-coded, visual indicator, and clear identification.

Status Changes

Updating Status - You may be able to change status before finalizing. Different statuses available, so check options and understand workflow.

Status Options - DRAFT is default, but you may have other options. Check available statuses, understand meanings, and choose appropriately.

Status Effects - Status may affect workflow, may trigger actions, may change capabilities, so understand impacts and use appropriately.

Best Practices for Draft Shipments

Organization

Naming Conventions - Use consistent naming, include key information (date, marketplace, supplier), easy to identify, and professional appearance.

Regular Cleanup - Delete old drafts, remove unused drafts, keep list manageable, maintain organization, and regular maintenance.

Grouping - Group related drafts, use naming to group, organize logically, easy to find, and better management.

Planning

Plan Ahead - Create drafts early, plan shipments in advance, organize products, coordinate timing, and strategic planning.

Review Before Finalizing - Always review drafts, check all information, verify products, confirm quantities, and ensure accuracy.

Get Approvals - Share drafts for review, get team input, approve before finalizing, quality control, and reduce errors.

Data Quality

Complete Information - Fill all fields, add all products, set accurate quantities, include notes if helpful, and complete records.

Accurate Quantities - Verify quantities, check against orders, ensure accuracy, double-check totals, and correct data.

Valid Destinations - Select correct marketplace, verify compatibility, check requirements, ensure accuracy, and right destination.

Common Workflows

Workflow 1: Simple Catalog Shipment

Scenario - Adding products from catalog, no purchase orders, simple shipment, and quick creation.

Steps - Create draft shipment, set name and destination, add products from catalog, set quantities, and review and create.

Use Case - Inventory shipments, stock transfers, simple replenishment, and catalog-based workflow.

Workflow 2: Purchase Order Shipment

Scenario - Products from purchase orders, order-based workflow, link orders to shipment, and track fulfillment.

Steps - Create draft shipment, set name and destination, select purchase orders, products added automatically, adjust quantities if needed, and review and create.

Use Case - Order fulfillment, supplier shipments, order-based workflow, and fulfillment tracking.

Workflow 3: Mixed Source Shipment

Scenario - Products from both sources (catalog and purchase orders), complex shipment, and multiple sources.

Steps - Create draft shipment, set name and destination, add products from catalog, add products from orders, resolve any conflicts, adjust quantities, and review and create.

Use Case - Complex shipments, multiple sources, comprehensive planning, and flexible workflow.

Workflow 4: Iterative Planning

Scenario - Need to make changes, adjusting over time, refining shipment, and multiple edits.

Steps - Create initial draft, add products, save draft, return later, edit and adjust, make changes, and finalize when ready.

Use Case - Long-term planning, changing requirements, iterative refinement, and flexible planning.

Troubleshooting Draft Issues

Common Issues

Cannot Create Draft - Check name starts with “DRAFT-”, verify destination selected, ensure required fields filled, check for errors, and try again.

Products Not Adding - Verify product selection, check for conflicts, resolve conflicts first, try adding again, and check system status.

Cannot Save Changes - Verify all required fields, check for validation errors, ensure valid quantities, review error messages, and fix issues.

Draft Not Appearing - Refresh page, check filters, verify creation succeeded, check different view, and contact support if needed.

Error Messages

Understanding Errors - Read error messages carefully, understand what’s wrong, fix indicated issues, try again, and learn from errors.

Common Errors include name must start with “DRAFT-”, destination required, products required, invalid quantities, and system errors.

Resolving Errors - Fix indicated problems, correct invalid data, complete required fields, retry operation, and contact support if persists.

Advanced Draft Features

Bulk Operations

Bulk Product Addition allows you to add multiple products at once, providing efficient entry, time-saving, batch operations, and productivity feature.

Bulk Quantity Setting lets you set same quantity for multiple products, providing quick adjustment, efficient editing, time-saving, and convenient feature.

Templates

Draft Templates allow you to save drafts as templates, reuse common setups, enable quick creation, ensure consistency, and improve efficiency.

Template Usage - Create from template, modify as needed, enables faster creation, standardized approach, and time-saving.

Integrations

External Systems may integrate with other systems, import data, export data, provide synchronization, and enable advanced usage.

API Access provides programmatic access for custom integrations, automated processes, advanced workflows, and technical usage.

Conclusion

Draft shipments are powerful planning and organization tools that give you flexibility and control over your shipment preparation process. By understanding how to create, edit, and manage draft shipments effectively, you can improve your workflow efficiency, reduce errors, and better organize your shipping operations.

Remember that drafts are flexible and can be changed anytime. Use descriptive names for easy identification, add products from catalog or purchase orders (or both), resolve conflicts when they occur, review before finalizing, keep drafts organized and clean up regularly, and use drafts for planning and coordination.

The more you use draft shipments, the more valuable they become for managing your shipping operations. Start with simple drafts, learn the features, and develop workflows that work for your business needs. Draft shipments are your workspace for perfecting shipments before they go live - use them effectively to improve your supply chain management.