Precision is the key to success this year, with tight data, clean execution and smart operations at the helm…
“In 2026, precision will separate growth from grind for Amazon Vendors…”
So said our Head of Vendor Services, Travis Chappell, in conversation with our friends at Khoo Commerce, and we couldn’t agree more.
As Amazon moves deeper into a world of automation and system-led decision making, the marketplace is becoming ever less forgiving, less manual and far more dependent on the quality of the inputs brands provide.
For Vendors still relying on best guesses, workarounds or sloppy processes?
The bad news is that this is an environment where the impacts will be felt, and fast.
Why precision matters now
In a more automated, rules-driven and data-led retail landscape, performance can’t be shaped by intent or effort; it needs to be shaped by accuracy.
After all, machine-based systems are all about clean inputs and total clarity – there’s little room for nuance or negotiation.
And this applies across the entire Vendor setup, from your commercial data and catalogue structure to the quality of your PDPs and your operational execution.
It’s all about Commercial Clarity
But then, this is nothing new – commercial clarity has been one of the driving forces behind Venture Forge from day one and we’ve been banging the drum for accuracy and crystal-clear data ever since.
2026 is the year these lessons are really coming home to roost.
Now, successful Vendors will be the ones who truly know their numbers – real-time profitability, contribution margins, chargeback exposure* and trading costs; this is all data that needs to be understood at ASIN level so that decisions can be made and action taken from the strongest strategic base possible.
When it comes to catalogue and PDP discipline, clean titles, accurate attributes, clear bullets and strong visuals are fundamental, because they’re the basis for how Amazon understands, ranks and converts your products in an automated environment where ambiguity gets penalised.
And the onus is no less fierce around operational accuracy – your pack sizes, lead times, routing requests, ASN data and availability all feed directly into compliance, chargebacks* and momentum, so small inaccuracies compound quickly, especially as Amazon tightens thresholds and raises expectations.
The shifts Vendors need to make now
To drive growth this year, Vendors need to switch their focus onto working as cleanly as possible – and that means:
- Running Amazon as a disciplined retail channel, not a side operation.
- Treating data accuracy as the commercial lever it is.
- Closing any gaps between sales, finance, ops and supply chain.
- And implementing processes that hold up under automation – without human intervention.
As Travis says, it’s time to “run Vendor accounts with intention, data and sharp execution.”
* Chargebacks – where Precision protects Profits
One of the clearest places a lack of precision shows up is in chargebacks, with issues like late shipments, ASN mismatches, pack errors and compliance issues quietly draining margins in the background.
And as Amazon continues to tighten its thresholds and shift more accountability onto Vendor data, that exposure is only increasing – which is why chargeback recovery and prevention needs to sit alongside operational precision in 2026.
Designed not only to help you recover historic deductions but also to identify and solve the root causes, our Chargeback Recovery Service helps Vendors:
- Identify and recover invalid or avoidable chargebacks.
- Quantify where deductions are eroding Net PPM.
- Fix the operational and data issues causing repeat losses.
- And build governance that prevents future leakage.
The Bottom Line
Long gone are the days when Amazon offered the scope to smooth rough edges over time – and 2026 is the year to make precision the cornerstone of your strategies.
Vendors who tighten their data, catalogue and operations now will find Amazon working with them, not against them – those who don’t?
They may find themselves stuck in a cycle of chargebacks, suppressed performance and repeated recovery.
If you’d like expert support to review your brand’s setup, data discipline or operational risk, our Vendor team is here to help – click here to book a call today.