Small Businesses Solutions designed to help you optimise costs and simplify buying

The global pandemic changed the lives of people and the operations of businesses in ways we have never imagined. Small businesses have been particularly impacted because, unlike their larger counterparts, they don’t necessarily have the financial cushion or the resources to adapt to disruptions of such magnitude. Small businesses have observed one or more of these shifts: 1) demand has cratered, resulting in loss of revenue (e.g. hospitality); 2) demand through certain channels have increased rapidly (e.g. online) applying pressure on small businesses to adapt; 3) supply disruptions have impacted the ability of small businesses to offer products and services.

In the face of a potentially once in a lifetime disruption, businesses have shown immense resilience as they have changed their businesses to accommodate government restrictions and customer concerns (increased online selling, smaller venue capacity, embracing digital purchasing etc.). Amazon Business has adapted as well to meet the evolving needs of small businesses by launching a dedicated resource hub.

Amazon Business Solutions for Small Businesses are the one-stop shop for not only the items you need to keep your business humming but also for software tools to help setup your purchasing infrastructure for the future. In our conversations with small businesses, we understand that their needs from a purchasing standpoint fall into two primary buckets: saving time and saving money.

Here is how our solutions will help meet your needs:

Save time

At small businesses like yours, you and your employees wear multiple hats. You and your staff are both strategists and executors and have to balance the responsibilities of growing your business with getting what you need to keep your business running. There are days when you wish you could spend less time on purchasing and more time serving customers. Both you and your employees would rather focus on high-value activities that help grow the business rather than spending time purchasing for your business. Amazon Business helps you and your employees save time by combining the familiar shopping experience of Amazon with business-specific functionalities and discounts.   

We translate the best practices we've developed in serving consumers through amazon.co.uk, into a frictionless and customised online experience for small businesses like yours. Our machine learning technology smartly recognises your needs and makes personalised recommendations that can help save time in searching for items that you might need. Small businesses like yours do not have the time to negotiate contracts with multiple suppliers. Hence, you can leverage Amazon Business’ wide selection to get what you need for work all in one place. You can access Amazon Business at your desk or on-the-go. If the nature of your work requires you to be away from your desk, you can access Amazon Business through the mobile app and get what you need to keep your business running.

With flexible work options (remote and in-office and changing hours of operations) being the order of the day, you can customise your delivery preferences by updating the addresses to which you want items shipped and providing the days and times during which you can receive shipments to avoid delays. Additionally, with our paid annual membership programme called Business Prime, you can even get FREE Same-Day Delivery on eligible orders and One-Day Shipping on millions of items.

To sum it up, purchasing from Amazon Business is as simple and convenient as purchasing for your personal needs using Amazon. You can even switch between your personal and business accounts on Amazon so that you keep your personal purchases distinct from business purchases.

You can save even more with our Business Prime membership as we offer free shipping on eligible orders and member-only discounts. If you have been using Amazon for business purchases, we make this transition to Business Prime easier with a special discounted membership called Business Prime Duo at £40/year for one user. With Business Prime, it is not just about selection and pricing, it is also about smart purchasing. Small businesses recognise the impact purchasing has on their bottom-line. However, they don’t have the resources and bandwidth to analyse purchases to make informed decisions. Using Spend Visibility (available with Business Prime Essentials, Small, Medium, and Enterprise), you can analyse purchasing patterns with the help of visually appealing dashboards and make informed decisions.

To optimise cash flow, you can consider applying for a business credit card that offers extended payment terms. The Amazon Business American Express Card offers 60-day payment terms on purchases at Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon, and Whole Foods Market. Card Members with eligible Prime memberships receive 90-day payment terms with the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card (terms apply).

In addition, Amazon Business offers eligible customers Pay by Invoice, which enables small businesses to buy now and pay later at no interest on 30-day payment terms. With Business Prime, you may be eligible for extended payment terms of 45 or 60 days. 

Amazon Business serves thousands of small businesses at every stage of their lifecycle – from early stage startup to a growth stage stabilising small business. We are committed to helping small businesses like yours save costs and simplify buying so that you can focus on innovating on behalf of your customers and growing your business.