Enterprise Amazon Business Account (Updated)
Enterprise Amazon Business Account Update and Reminders (Update 9-26-22)
The Enterprise Amazon Business Account was successfully launched for campus on August 11 and now serves as the University’s single, integrated platform for making needed purchases from Amazon. As a reminder, the deadline for academic campus departments to transition to the platform or for any existing Amazon.com work accounts or departmental Business Accounts to migrate is October 1.
Areas within UK Healthcare (Hospital department numbers HXXXX) and Athletics will be integrated with the platform in a second phase with hospital departments potentially onboarding in early 2023.
In sourcing common operational goods, remember to use the University’s conventional contracted suppliers as first choice for product purchases. This includes Ariba Network e-catalog providers such as Dell, CDW, Grainger, Fastenal, B & H Photo, etc. with particular attention to those having exclusive contracts with the University, such as ODP Business Solutions for purchase of office supplies and VWR for laboratory/research purchases. The University Supply Center should also be considered a first source for provision of products available through their offerings. Remember to place comments during the checkout process from Amazon Business providing cost comparison information or other rationale for the purchase from Amazon over other primary contract providers, when applicable. Comments here can be condensed, if needed, with examples being: “Item not on contract”, “Checked Dell, CDW and Connection. Required item out of stock”, “Item available from CDW but lead time does not meet my needs”, “Item available from Office Depot but 50% less from Amazon”, etc.
Shipments of any orders to any residential address are not permitted unless the employee has a full-time telecommuting status supported by appropriate documentation at the departmental level. Product purchases for any employees having a hybrid working model must be shipped to a campus address for pickup.
As a reminder, various help materials and references are available for both Amazon Approvers and Shoppers. A dedicated course is available within myUK Learning entitled FAST Amazon Business. Amazon shoppers and other interested parties can access and take the course via myUK Learning on demand at any time. Simply locate and book the course by title and click Start. The course takes approximately 25 minutes to complete and includes interactive quizzes. Although optional, the course is recommended for both Amazon Shoppers and Approvers.
Available Learning Resources on the Purchasing Division website include: Dedicated Amazon Business General Information Page, Amazon Business Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Amazon Shoppers PowerPoint, Amazon Approvers PowerPoint, account conversion steps, and more. If you are looking for a one-stop shop on all Enterprise Amazon Business information, Section C of our Learning and Training Resources page has links to all available resources on the Purchasing website regarding Amazon Business in a single section. Questions or support requests relating to the Enterprise Amazon Business Account can be sent to amazon@l.uky.edu.
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Important note for employees with an existing Amazon Business Account or Amazon.com account used for work purposes: If you are an employee having an existing departmental Amazon Business Account or Amazon.com account used for work purposes under an email other than your linkblue email address, please refrain from accessing the new Enterprise platform through myUK and contact amazon@l.uky.edu for migration assistance. A customized migration can be scheduled specifically for you. It’s important that the person to whom the departmental account is registered not access the new platform before their migration to ensure their existing business account or Amazon.com account can be converted/migrated correctly.
Departmental groups are arranged on the platform providing Approvers the ability to approve/reject orders for their individual area(s) as well as access to other functionality and analytics. Purchasing oversight is also part of the order workflow. Employees who were active procurement card holders as of July 1 were automatically added to their respective departmental groups at the launch date allowing them to create and place orders. Other employees are able to browse products and create shopping lists. Departmental approvers (and the Purchasing Division) can also add additional employees to groups allowing them to create orders as well. Access to the Enterprise Amazon Business Account requires an employee’s linkblue email for identification; if any employee (including Approvers) is using their linkblue email address for another Amazon account, an account conversion is required on the first access to enter and use the platform for any role.
Departments should plan to transition any purchases from Amazon to the new platform by October 1. UK Healthcare (department numbers prefixed with H) and Athletics areas will not be active on the platform at the initial launch and will be integrated at a later date.
Departmental approvers received Amazon-provided direct online training during the week leading to the launch date; direct meeting invitations were sent to those persons. Approver sessions were recorded and are available for viewing by request.
Following are the available resources provided for Amazon Shoppers to use the new platform:
- A dedicated course has been created by the FAST Training Team and placed within myUK Learning entitled FAST Amazon Business. Amazon shoppers and other interested parties can access and take the course via myUK Learning on demand at any time. Simply locate and book the course by title and click Start. The course takes approximately 25 minutes to complete and includes interactive quizzes. Although optional, the course is recommended for both Amazon Shoppers and Approvers.
- Online Amazon Shopper and Approver sessions were recorded and are available for viewing by departments upon request. Email amazon@l.uky.edu to request access to either recorded session.
- Available Learning Resources on the Purchasing Division website:
- Dedicated Amazon Business General Information Page
- Amazon Business Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Looking for a one-stop shop on all Enterprise Amazon Business information? Section C of our Learning and Training Resources page has links to all available resources on the Purchasing website regarding Amazon Business in a single section.
Online web forms are also available to inquire on Amazon Business General Information and Request To Be Added to Departmental Group
A dedicated help email at amazon@l.uky.edu is available going forward for inquiries or requests for support.