> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.partner.aboutyou.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.partner.aboutyou.com/fulfillment-by-about-you/fulfillment-model-expansion.md). # Fulfillment Model Expansion ## 🚀 Unlock Scalable Growth with Maximum Efficiency ### Overview The Fulfillment Model Expansion (FbAY Hybrid Model) is designed to take your business to the next level by combining the strengths of ABOUT YOU Fulfillment (FbAY) with the flexibility of your existing dropshipping setup. Instead of replacing your current model, this approach enhances it, unlocking new growth opportunities while simplifying operations. By integrating into ABOUT YOU’s fulfillment infrastructure, your products benefit from improved visibility, broader reach, and a significantly more stable supply chain, all while you maintain flexibility where it matters most.
**❗Please Note: Make sure to double-check with your integrator whether the hybrid model is technically supported.** ### How to Get Started with the FbAY Hybrid Model Setting up FbAY is designed to get you live quickly while preparing your business for scalable international growth. #### Step 1: Submit Your Expansion Request Go to Seller Center and submit your FbAY Expansion Request via the Inventory section. This initiates your onboarding process. #### Step 2: Provide Fulfillment Details Enter all relevant fulfillment information, including your return warehouse for seasonal returns. This ensures a smooth operational setup from the start. #### Step 3: Select Your Go-Live Countries Choose the markets you want to launch in. You can start with a focused selection and expand over time.\ Please note that for each country, a valid VAT ID or OSS registration is required. #### Step 4: Fulfill Tax Requirements To enable cross-border fulfillment, VAT registrations are required in phases: * Phase 1 (Initial Setup):\ German VAT ID and Czech VAT ID are required. OSS is not applicable at this stage. * Phase 2 (Expansion):\ Additional VAT IDs for Poland and Slovakia are required as you expand into international warehousing. As tax requirements can be complex, we recommend coordinating with a tax advisor. #### Step 5: Ensure Compliance * Confirm your invoicing setup (you are responsible for local legal compliance) * Provide your German EPR (LUCID) registration number to sell in Germany #### Step 6: Confirm the Agreement Accept the Marketplace Terms of Use and the ABOUT YOU Fulfillment Annex in Seller Center to complete your setup. Please make sure to submit your request once all required information has been filled in. Simply entering data will only mark the process as “Expansion Started” and does not trigger the review. After submission, your request will be reviewed. If everything is correct, your account will be set up accordingly, so you’re ready to go live and start scaling with the FbAY Hybrid Model. #### Step 7: Signing COD Agreement Cash on Delivery (COD) payment options in Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SI), and Portugal (PT). Critical Requirement to Go Live: To participate and enable COD options for your store in these three markets, it is a strict mandatory prerequisite that you sign and return the attached agreement. We cannot unblock your setup or take you live in these regions until this signed document is received. \ What this amendment does: * Enables Track-and-Trace Refunds: It explicitly authorizes SCAYLE Payments to trigger and process customer refunds based on delivery tracking status, even before the final cash settlement is received from the carriers. * Clarifies Risk Allocation: It confirms that the standard economic risk of an ultimate payment collection default (non-collection by the carrier) remains with the merchant. {% file src="/files/q4egcaxLoPN7RfV0cqsk" %} Please fill out and sign the document and send it to the following email address: **** ### Why This Model Drives Growth One of the biggest advantages of the hybrid model lies in how your products are positioned. Because ABOUT YOU’s shop logic prioritizes FbAY alongside Wholesale and Dropshipping, your assortment gains stronger algorithmic exposure. The result is clear: higher visibility, increased traffic, and ultimately stronger conversion. At the same time, the model unlocks immediate access to 11 European markets, including key regions such as Germany, France, and the Nordics. This is only the starting point. Over time, you will scale into a network of up to 26 countries, with a strong focus on Central and Eastern Europe, one of the fastest-growing e-commerce regions. This expansion brings not only a larger customer base, but also significant long-term revenue potential. ### Always Available, Always Selling A core strength of the hybrid model is its ability to protect your sales. FbAY acts as your primary fulfillment channel, ensuring fast and reliable delivery through ABOUT YOU’s warehouse network. However, if an item goes out of stock, the system automatically switches to dropshipping as a fallback. This seamless backfill logic ensures that your products remain available at all times, eliminating stockouts, safeguarding revenue, and maintaining strong visibility within the platform. ### Operational Simplicity Meets Scale While your business expands internationally, your operational effort decreases. ABOUT YOU takes over the entire fulfillment and returns process, allowing you to focus on your core business. You simply inbound your products into our warehouse via the notification feature in Seller Center, and we handle the rest. From storage to delivery and returns. At the same time, you benefit from competitive shipping and warehousing rates, making the model not only scalable but also cost-efficient. ### Smart Assortment Strategy The hybrid model gives you the flexibility to manage your assortment in a strategic way. Your bestsellers and NOS items can be stored in ABOUT YOU warehouses to maximize availability and performance. Meanwhile, seasonal or trend-driven products can remain in your dropshipping setup, allowing you to react quickly to market changes without taking on unnecessary inventory risk. This combination creates the perfect balance between stability and flexibility, ensuring you are always ready to capture demand. ### Seamless Setup and Future Expansion Getting started is straightforward. In the initial phase, your products will be stored in our German warehouse and sold across 11 countries. As your business grows, you will gradually expand into additional markets and warehouse locations across Europe, including Poland and Slovakia, with returns handled via our Czech facilities. This phased approach allows you to scale step by step, without operational disruption. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. 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