ReverseLogix gives organizations the tools to sustainably manage returned goods.
With an eye on minimizing their environmental impact, companies across industries are rethinking how to efficiently manage returns while maximizing resell, repair and recycle opportunities. New breakthroughs in data analytics are driving the best way to improve sustainability of returns—and how to avoid them in the first place.
Reverse logistics play a critical role in corporate sustainability strategies and green supply chains. The efficiency and optimization with which you manage product returns will impact waste, transportation emissions and material consumption.
These are four key questions to be asking of your returns management processes:
How do your return processes reflect corporate sustainability goals?
How can those processes be measured, and the results tracked?
How can the right business intelligence drive sustainability efforts?
How can product returns be avoided or minimized?
Consumers care about sustainability and will shift buying habits to support sustainable companies. Rather than asking, “What’s best for the buyer?” consumers want companies to consider “What’s best for the buyer and the planet?”
Customers are demanding that you get this right.
Companies have rightfully focused on greening transportation, warehouse and inventory/packaging practices in their supply chains. But now is the time to focus on what comes back, not just what goes out. Returns have an enormous impact on sustainability efforts. In fact, a product return is not an isolated transaction. It’s a rich source of insight into your processes and customers, and an opportunity to engage.
Returns data is essential for setting strategy and tracking impact. A returns management system (RMS) will seamlessly integrate into your tech stack and deliver rich business intelligence, giving you the final piece of supply chain visibility. It facilitates, manages and reports on the entire returns lifecycle in B2B, B2C and hybrid environments.
The best product returns are those that never happen in the first place. These “controllable returns” can be reduced with the right strategies that target the root cause of returns and limit the need to return in the first place. But this is only possible with actionable returns data from an RMS. For example…
Are customers reporting that a product is low quality? Address this with your product supplier to ensure they haven’t switched materials or processes.
Are all returns legitimate? With standardized returns initiation for distributors, you can track the activity and catch fake returns, identify those abusing the returns policy, and reduce overall returns volume.
Are customers reporting sizing issues? Consider virtual dressing rooms or better product descriptions to help customers find the right fit.
The right access to the right data will ensure you are meeting customers’ needs the first time and are avoiding resource-intensive returns.
RMS data unlocks a clearer understanding of the cost and time associated with returns. Brands are better informed when determining the best ways to handle returns for the company and for the planet.
Leverage RMS data on the costs of receiving, handling, repairing, replacing and shipping an item. Take into account warranty management, the cost of parts and labor, seasonality and customer demand. Use this information, in combination with your sustainability goals, to set priorities and rules around repairs, refurbishing, recycling and disposal.
Consider recovery costs and decide how best to connect returned inventory to the right channels, including third-party marketplace sites.
Minimize transportation costs and mileage by tracking the impact of consolidating products and vendors shipments.
Process returns faster and set rules for restock based on geography or seasonality, so you can get the most out of returns.
A returns management system by ReverseLogix is a centralized, end-to-end solution that gives you unprecedented visibility and actionable data across your returns ecosystem. It connects directly to all business intelligence applications to deliver powerful BI and data analytics everywhere and to everyone.
Use detailed metrics to understand and act on the “why” behind returns. Poor quality? Inaccurate descriptions? Why are customers disappointed?
Regardless of return channel, a global RMS platform guides disposition rules based on demand, sustainability goals, processing costs and sell-through rates.
Track parts consumed in the repairs process. Know the environmental and cost implications to inform smarter decisions about repairs and recycling.
Incentivize return locations that minimize emissions and have higher resale probability based on seasonality and demographics.
Carbon neutral operations by 2040 and innovating to reduce environmental impact.
Driving supply chain sustainability by taking ownership and working with suppliers to support goals.
Piloting ways to reuse unwanted luggage.
Minimizing returns by advising consumers on product care and providing repair services.
When a customer sends a product back, whenever we can we refurbish it and send it back out into the world for a second life.
Used Gear is gear that is still good to go – keeping Arc’teryx products in action and out of the landfill.
