What is FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant)?
FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) is a fulfillment method where Hive helps you ship Amazon B2C orders directly from the inventory store in Hive’s fulfillment centers.
How does Amazon measure success of FBM?
Your Amazon account health depends on the following metrics. Please monitor them in Seller Central — responsibility for account health stays with you:
On-Time Delivery Rate (OTDR): at least 90%.
Applies in the US, UK, DE, FR, IT and ES. Since September 1, 2026, Amazon enforces this — listings that consistently miss it can be deactivated.
Late Shipment Rate (LSR): below 4% (measured over 10 and 30 days).
Note that Amazon counts an order as shipped at the carrier's first hub scan, not when it's marked "Shipped" in the Hive App.
Valid Tracking Rate (VTR): at least 95% within 30 days.
Important: letter products (e.g. Deutsche Post "Brief") carry no valid tracking and will lower your VTR — use a tracked replacement service such as DHL Kleinpaket or DHL Warenpost.
- Cancellation Rate: below 2.5%.
How can Hive help you fulfill FBM orders?
At Hive, we prioritize processing FBM orders over the rest of your B2C shipments to maintain a high level of fulfillment punctuality — targeting 96% over a 30-day period.
While we strive to achieve this target whenever possible, we are not obligated to meet it, and punctuality may vary during periods of high volume or due to external factors beyond our control.
We recommend monitoring your results in Amazon Seller Central and adjusting your handling times and shipping options as needed.
How do I set up FBM with Hive?
1. Request the integration in the Hive App
In the Hive App, go to Settings → Sales channels (under Integrations), type "Amazon FBM" into the "Looking for a specific integration?" field, and click Request.
Please also let your Growth Manager know your expected weekly FBM order volume before launch:
- Two weeks in advance if the volume is below 300 weekly FBM orders
- One month in advance if the expected volume exceeds 300 weekly FBM orders
Provide the email domain(s) or order tags that identify your FBM orders no later than 48 hours before launch — without them, your Amazon orders cannot be recognized and prioritized.
2. Connect your orders
Hive identifies FBM orders via the customer email domain. Supported integration paths:
- OrderDesk
- Shopify Marketplace Connect (formerly Codisto)
⚠️ Amazon orders must flow through one channel only — OrderDesk or Marketplace Connect, never both at the same time, as this creates duplicate orders.
3. Configure Seller Central
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Handling time | 1 day |
| Operating days | Monday–Friday |
| Default ship-from address | Your Hive fulfillment center |
Note on handling time: since July 15, 2026, Amazon UK and DE only support 0-day and 1-day account-level defaults (2-day settings were automatically reduced).
Other marketplaces still allow 2-day defaults, but since September 1, 2026 Amazon automatically corrects SKU-level handling times that are set higher than your actual shipping performance (Automated Handling Time).
Order cut-off times by fulfillment center:
| FC | Cut-off |
|---|---|
| BER3 | 1:00 PM |
| POZ1 | 1:00 PM |
| POZ2 | 1:00 PM |
| PAR1 | 2:00 PM |
| MIL1 | 2:00 PM |
| MAD4 | 4:00 PM |
| MAN1 | 4:00 PM |
| AMS1 | 5:00 PM |
Shipping templates & carriers: build your shipping template around the recommended carriers for your fulfillment center — carrier choice drives your OTDR and VTR, and the responsibility for account health stays with you if you deviate:
| FC | Recommended carriers |
|---|---|
| BER3 | DHL — avoid Post AT & MeinEinkauf |
| POZ1 | DPD — note the 13:00 carrier pickup when setting your cut-off |
| PAR1 | Chronopost or Colissimo — avoid Colis Privé |
| MIL1 | all carriers perform equally |
| MAD4 | CTT or Correos Express — preferred over GLS |
| MAN1 | Royal Mail |
| AMS1 | DHL or PostNL |
Carrier selection: consult your Growth Manager for the recommended carriers at your FC — carrier choice directly affects your OTDR and VTR.
4. Send a test order
Before going live with full volume, place a test order and confirm with Hive that it's recognized as an Amazon FBM order. This ensures your orders get prioritized from day one.
Want the Prime badge?
If you're interested in offering Prime delivery on your listings (Seller Fulfilled Prime), speak to your Growth Manager about SFP availability and requirements.
Can Hive process my FBM returns?
Hive can process your FBM returns if you set a Hive fulfillment center as the default returns address in all Amazon marketplaces you sell on.
Note that Hive does not create return labels for FBM orders — return labels are issued through Amazon's own prepaid return label program.