The Rise of Amazon Business
Amazon Business has become an integral part of how companies operate on a daily basis, yet many people remain unaware of its existence. Ahead of Amazon’s ABX 2025 event in London, TechRadar Pro spoke with Shelley Salomon, Global VP of Amazon Business, to explore the challenges and innovations in the B2B e-commerce space.
Smart Business Buying
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, Amazon Business has evolved from serving primarily small businesses to now catering to large multinational corporations, educational institutions, and government organizations. The platform has adapted to meet the complex needs of these diverse customers, including advanced invoicing, delivery, and procurement solutions.
Salomon emphasized that Amazon Business is “uniquely positioned to connect our customers with our seller community,” with third-party sales constituting a significant portion of the platform’s transactions. This model not only provides customers with a vast selection of products but also creates opportunities for smaller sellers to reach a broader market.
The concept of “smart business buying” lies at the heart of Amazon Business’s strategy. According to Salomon, this involves offering business customers the same level of selection, price, and convenience they experience in their personal shopping on Amazon. The company continually strives to improve these aspects, recognizing that there’s always room for enhancement.
To achieve this, Amazon Business provides additional tools such as spend anomaly alerts, which utilize AI to detect potential fraud or payment issues. The platform aims to balance the need for cost savings and efficiency with the requirement for oversight and governance.
Addressing Diverse Business Needs
Business customers vary significantly in size, industry, and objectives, making a comprehensive platform like Amazon Business essential. Salomon noted that while consumers typically follow more predictable purchasing patterns, business shoppers require a more tailored approach.
The platform’s broad reach also brings responsibilities, particularly during challenging economic times. Amazon Business benefits from its diverse supplier base, allowing it to offer resilience and scale to its customers. Salomon highlighted the platform’s value to small and local businesses, providing them with access to cutting-edge technology, flexibility, and the benefits of scale.
To maintain its focus with such a vast scope, Amazon Business prioritizes areas that impact all customers, ensuring flexibility in how products are received and delivered. Salomon emphasized that “with scale comes great responsibility,” and Amazon is committed to helping small, diverse, and other businesses succeed as both suppliers and customers.
