Context
After you've put everything into boxes and tracked all that box content information, you still have one final step: submitting the final box content information to Amazon.
There are two main ways to do that:
2D barcode method. AccelerList helps you print 2D barcodes in a single click that you can tape to the side of your box. You finish the rest of the Send to Amazon workflow inside Seller Central.
API method. You submit the information via the API, and complete the rest of the Send to Amazon workflow inside AccelerList (selecting placement and transportation, printing shipping labels).
In our experience, the 2D barcode workflow is simpler and has fewer steps, and that's our default recommendation.
Use Cases for 2D Barcodes Method
Here's when I'd choose to submit box contents via the 2D barcodes method:
Do you ship via the "1-box" method? In almost one cases, 2D barcodes are going to be simpler and faster. Just click "Add All" to add all items to your box, print one 2D barcode, a few more clicks on Seller Central, and you're ready to get those boxes out the door.
Do you build a pallet, one box at a time, and value being able to easily move boxes from one shipment to another? Since 2D barcodes are self contained and contain all the information you need, you can easily move those boxes to another shipment on Seller Central without opening the box or redoing any work.
Use Cases for API Method
Here's when I'd choose to submit box contents via the API method:
Do you take advantage of the 5 box split for placement fee discounts? If you optimize your box packing strategy against Amazon's promotions, you need to use the API method so that you submit this information up-front. Otherwise, Amazon won't know that you optimized the box packing and therefore will not offer a discounted placement.
Our Recommendations
From speaking with several customers, we found a few clusters of customer personas and found the best workflow for each through customer interviews. Of course, sellers don't typically fit perfectly into a single persona (many sellers operate multiple business models at the same time), but this will hopefully help guide your thinking.
Book/media resellers: 2D barcodes preferred.
Retail arbitrage / wholesale: API method if you care about the placement discounts.