Customers

Retailers

Carriers

Reduce over-ordering

Reduce order mistakes

Reduce ill-considered orders (either not picked up or sent back before opening or use)

Reduce fraudulent returns

Choose sustainable carriers (where possible)

Tolerate increased lead times

Reduce distance travelled to pick-up point

Use “greener” modes of travel

Increase level of trip-chaining in travel associated with returns

Use appropriate packaging

Increase level of consumer analytics

Improve real-time visibility of products in reverse chain

Increase consumer returns price

Reduce number of times items handled

Increase accuracy and quality of photos

Increase accuracy and quality of product information

Improve pre-purchase customer service

Increase customisation of products

Improve information regarding sustainability of returns

Monitor social media

Monitor customer feedback reports

Make fewer order mistakes

Increase range of returns options

Improve level and type of recycling

Increase level of cross-company consolidation

Use “greener” modes of transport

Use “greener” warehouses and handling equipment

Reduce distance to and between consolidation points

Improve network design

Improve operational efficiency of logistics processes

Improve visibility of products in the returns system

Improve communications with other actors in the system

Reduce in-transit damage

Make fewer delivery mistakes