Jeffrey P. Bezos | Executive Chair & founder of Amazon.com | Amazon website
Amazon has built a reputation over 30 years with its expansive e-commerce platform, serving more than 300 million customers globally. In 2015, the company identified a growing demand from businesses and organizations for bulk purchases of office supplies and other goods. To meet these needs, Amazon launched Amazon Business. "Everything we do at Amazon starts with the customer," stated Alexandre Gagnon, vice president of Worldwide Amazon Business.
Amazon Business has quickly become one of the company's fastest-growing ventures, reaching $35 billion in annualized sales by 2023. It offers a tailored experience for business customers with features such as extensive selection, competitive pricing, and reliable service. Doug Herrington, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Stores, expressed enthusiasm for this initiative since its inception.
The platform caters to more than six million customers ranging from small companies to large institutions like Intel and Citi. Ninety-six Fortune 100 companies are among its users. The service supports various procurement systems to enhance efficiency and reduce manual processes. Gagnon highlighted integrations with Coupa and over 100 other systems as part of their innovation efforts.
Despite significant progress, Todd Heimes, vice president and general manager at Amazon Business Worldwide, sees potential for further growth given the trillions spent annually by small businesses worldwide on supplies and procurement.
Amazon Business is accessible to businesses of all sizes without any spending minimums. The interface is similar to that of Amazon.com but includes business-specific features allowing integration into organizational procurement policies. This flexibility enables support across diverse industries through scalable solutions.
The platform's Business Prime membership offers additional benefits such as free shipping on eligible items and tools like Guided Buying for optimizing savings.
MichaelElectronics2, an electronics reseller utilizing Amazon Business, reported substantial growth facilitated by the platform's tools and programs. Kerry Wang, CFO of MichaelElectronics2, noted how these resources have transformed their operations.
For large organizations unfamiliar with digital procurement methods like those offered by Amazon Business, the platform provides access to hundreds of thousands of suppliers in one location—allowing for cost reduction and streamlined purchasing processes.
Selling partners from Amazon.com are automatically included in the Amazon Business store where possible. Additionally, sellers offering products popular with business customers are encouraged to join the platform.
Amazon Business also aids small and diverse businesses by integrating qualifications from federal or standard-defining organizations into its system—enabling larger entities like the U.S Air Force to support local economies through targeted purchasing strategies.