Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Streamlined Items Page Search and Sorting
- Redesigned Sales Reports
- Managing Potential Duplicate Listings
- Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Suggestions
- Crucial API Updates
- Beware of Phishing Scams
- Walmart’s Continuous Commitment
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Introduction
Picture this: you're a Walmart marketplace seller, looking to maximize your efficiency and ensure seamless operations. Navigating through marketplace management tools shouldn't feel like solving a Rubik's Cube. Keeping this in mind, Walmart's latest updates aim to simplify and enhance the Seller Center experience. In this blog post, we delve into the key features and updates from the July 2024 release, and how they can help you optimize your selling strategies.
These updates include improvements to the Items page, revamped sales reports, new notification features for potential duplicate listings, SEM suggestions, and crucial API updates. Each of these changes is designed to make your life as a seller easier, enhance your productivity, and keep your listings error-free.
Streamlined Items Page Search and Sorting
Simplified Search Functionality
One of the most notable changes comes to the Items page. The search functionality has been refined to require only two characters to yield results. This change eliminates the need for exact character matches, making searches faster and more efficient. Sellers can now locate SKUs and items with minimal effort, regardless of capitalization.
Enhanced Sorting Columns
New sortable columns have been introduced, including SKU, Ratings, and Reviews. These columns make it easier to organize and analyze your inventory based on different metrics. By sorting items based on their ratings and reviews, sellers can quickly identify top-performing products, manage inventory more efficiently, and tailor strategies to boost underperforming items.
Redesigned Sales Reports
Account Sales and Item Sales Reports
The Account Sales and Item Sales reports have been given a complete makeover. The new features include:
- Visual Enhancements: Easier-to-understand visualizations provide a clearer snapshot of sales metrics.
- Simultaneous Metrics Viewing: Sellers can now view multiple metrics at once, aiding in better comparison and analysis.
- Customization Options: The ability to customize reports based on specific needs means sellers can focus on the data that matters most to them.
These updates allow sellers to gain more insights and make informed decisions backed by data. The visual and customizable nature of the reports ensures that sellers have all the essential information at their fingertips, presented in a clear and actionable manner.
Managing Potential Duplicate Listings
Notification Settings for Duplicate Items
Keeping track of duplicate listings can be daunting, but Walmart has introduced a streamlined process to handle this issue. Sellers can enable notifications for potential duplicate items via the Seller Center's Notification Settings tab. When Walmart flags items as potential duplicates, sellers will receive prompt alerts. They can then review these items and decide whether to merge duplicates or mark them as unique.
Easy Review Process
To manage flagged items, navigate to the Pending Review section in the Seller Center or follow the notification link. This proactive approach ensures that sellers can promptly address duplicates, thus maintaining the accuracy and integrity of their product listings. It also helps in avoiding confusion among customers and potential penalization for duplicate listings.
Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Suggestions
External SEM Campaigns
In the competitive world of e-commerce, visibility is key. Walmart now offers Search Engine Marketing (SEM) suggestions within the Success Hub. Sellers can view item suggestions for running SEM campaigns on platforms like Google and Bing. By leveraging these recommendations, sellers can increase their product visibility beyond the Walmart marketplace, driving more traffic and boosting sales.
Crucial API Updates
Items and Disputes API Integrations
The latest API updates are critical for maintaining the transactability of your items. Sellers must update their Items and Disputes API integrations by August 26 to align with the new updates, which aim to prevent duplicate listings errors. By ensuring your integrations are up-to-date, you avoid the risk of having your listings unpublished due to non-compliance with the Duplicate Listings Policy.
Beware of Phishing Scams
Recognizing and Avoiding Scams
There is an ongoing phishing scam where emails purporting to be from Walmart Marketplace support are sent to sellers. These emails come from the address @walmartcustomersupport.com, which is not legitimate. To protect your account, discard and do not respond to these emails. Always verify communications through official Walmart channels.
Walmart’s Continuous Commitment
Corporate Values and Sustainability
With a massive global presence, Walmart remains committed to helping people save money and live better. This philosophy extends to their marketplace sellers through continuous improvements and feature updates. Their commitment to sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunities underscores their broader impact beyond just retail.
Conclusion
Walmart's latest updates to the Seller Center signify a significant step towards simplifying and enhancing the seller experience. From improved search and sorting functionalities to revamped sales reports, and new SEM suggestions, these changes are designed to streamline operations and equip sellers with valuable insights. Additionally, the focus on managing duplicate listings and the crucial API updates ensure that sellers can maintain accurate, efficient, and compliant listings.
By staying informed and leveraging these updates, sellers can optimize their performance on the Walmart marketplace, drive more sales, and ultimately achieve greater success.
FAQs
1. How do I enable notifications for potential duplicate items?
- In Seller Center, go to Notifications in the top navigation bar, click the Settings tab, and enable notifications for potential duplicate items.
2. What are the benefits of the redesigned Account and Item Sales reports?
- The new reports offer easier-to-understand visualizations, simultaneous metrics viewing, and enhanced customization options for better data analysis.
3. Why is it important to update my API integrations by August 26?
- Updating your API integrations ensures you comply with the new regulations to avoid duplicate listings errors, maintaining your item's transactability.
4. How can SEM suggestions help my sales?
- SEM suggestions provide recommendations for external campaigns on Google and Bing, which can increase your product visibility and drive more traffic to your listings.
5. What should I do if I receive a phishing email from @walmartcustomersupport.com?
- Disregard and do not respond to the email. Always verify communications through official Walmart channels.
