Introduction
Running a successful ecommerce business is all about making the most of the opportunities that come your way and minimizing the risks. When it comes to returns, this means being aware of the different AfterShip Returns Center alternatives available to you and choosing the one that best fits your needs.
AfterShip Returns Center continues to have a steady position in the hallowed halls of ecommerce logistics and returns management. But what if you are looking for something different? Maybe the steep pricing of AfterShip Returns Center doesn’t agree with your business planning. Whatever the problem, we are here to fix it.
In this post, we will be discussing the 10 best AfterShip competitors. The list includes budget-friendly options, apps for Shopify stores, software that handles international returns, and everything in between. Let’s dive in!
Top 10 Best AfterShip Returns Center Competitors and Alternatives
Detailed Review of Best Alternatives and Competitors of AfterShip Returns Center
1) ClickPost Returns Plus
ClickPost is one of the leading logistics SaaS platforms in the world that provides exceptional shipping and returns services through 150+ integrated shipping carriers.
It enables ecommerce businesses to provide a self-service returns portal to their customers to register return requests and also input feedback about the reason for return. This feature helps store owners to address repetitive issues, which can ultimately reduce the rate of returns too.
This logistics platform has launched a Shopify returns portal called ClickPost Returns Plus that caters to every Shopify merchant's return needs. This Shopify app includes all the features of ClickPost's returns management program and is a powerful tool for powering profits through efficient returns.
The returns portal can be customized according to your brand voice and image. One of the best things about the ClickPost Returns Plus is that it allows real-time tracking of return orders and also sends branded order tracking updates to customers’ phones, emails, and WhatsApp.
2) Loop Returns
Loop Returns is a customer experience software that aims to turn all your returns into exchanges. It is one of the best alternatives to AfterShip Returns Center for ecommerce businesses of all sizes. Loop Returns offers an on-demand returns platform that syncs with orders to display all the items that arrived in a shipment.
It then urges customers to choose an exchange option before offering them a refund. Loop returns can also do inventory management and keep your stocks flush. You can also download it from the Shopify app store! You can also check out Loop Returns competitors to see if their services better fit your requirements.
3) Returnly
Returnly is an exchange and returns app that allows customers to get their exchanged item before returning the wrong one.
This superb feature guarantees customer satisfaction. Ecommerce businesses can choose the return window, non-returnable items, and also how to pick return products (drop-off locations, home returns).
It connects with all sales channels and marketplaces like Amazon, Shopify, WooCommerce, and more for the best-automated returns experience. A branded tracking page enables customers to view the journey of their orders.
Returnly also provides amazing data analytics on the returns performance of carriers, etc. Our detailed comparison of Returnly and its competitors will help you make a better decision about which returns management app to choose for your brand.
4) Happy Returns
Happy Returns is an omnichannel returns management software with over 3800+ Return Bars (drop-off locations) across the United States.
With Happy Returns, customers can choose to send over return items in 3 different ways - online, Return bars, and seller stores. Businesses save a lot of money on shipping by using Return Bars because they can bulk ship all of the return products in one go.
Plus, offering so many product return options to customers is great for the post-purchase customer experience. A smooth returns/exchange process ensures customers will come back to your store for more.
The disadvantage of using Happy Returns is the uncertainty of whether a return or exchange item has been received back in the warehouse. Online brands may like to opt for Happy Returns competitors that provide end-to-end visibility of the return shipping process.
5) Clicksit Returns Management
Clicksit Returns Management is a returns app by Sorted that helps online businesses increase revenue by offering a remarkable returns experience. It provides discounted shipping rates for some of the most popular carriers like FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, etc.
To reduce WISMO calls, Clicksit displays return policies, guidelines, return periods, etc., explicitly to the online buyer. It sends automated return updates to customers about the status of their refunds/exchanges via emails and SMS. The Clicksit app is free to download for all Shopify users. This can be a great alternative to AfterShip Returns Center.
6) Return Prime
Return Prime is a Shopify returns app that is trusted by over 500 global brands. Return Prime integrates with 50+ logistics companies for overall international shipping. A unified dashboard lets you access data from different shipping carriers and monitor the returns process.
It also provides a white-labeled returns tracking portal that customers can use to track the status of their return shipments. Return Prime provides 24x7 customer support and also has a live chat option on their website and Shopify app. Overall, it is one of the best AfterShip Returns Center competitors to manage your reverse logistics.
7) Rich Returns
Rich Returns is an international returns and exchange management app for Shopify. It provides a scaleable model that is compatible with both Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants. It integrates with 50 major shipping carriers, including EasyPost, UPS, USPS, etc., and connects with other shipping platforms like ShipStation as well.
It supports automatic prepaid return label creation. Online stores can set specific return rules for automatic return approval. It incentivizes exchanges to save you losses from product returns. It also allows brands to do a QC before accepting returns by asking customers to upload photos of the item.
8) ReturnLogic
Return Logic is another Shopify returns app that helps store owners simplify workflows by allowing numerous integrations with ERPs, inventory management systems, payment processors, and more. Apart from providing comprehensive returns solutions, this tool also handles warehouse management.
Online merchants can use its Barcode Scanning feature to update return requests to inventory and request customer photos to prevent return fraud. It syncs with your Shopify or Shopify Plus store seamlessly and provides actionable insights on the rate of returns. Return Logic is a great return software for customer retention and is easily one of the best AfterShip Returns Center alternatives.
9) Optoro
Optoro is a returns management software for the environmentally conscious entrepreneur. It tries to lower your rate of returns by providing customers the option to choose exchanges over returns at its self-serve returns portal.
By immediately choosing exchange, customers get their money back in the form of merchandise credit which they can use to buy another product. This leads to more repurchases.
Optoro optimises your entire returns supply chain, freeing up staff to manage forward sales. What’s more, items that are returned are listed on the secondary market to recover sales, maximize profits and reduce carbon footprint.
10) ShippyPro
This AfterShip Returns Center competitor is a full-fledged international shipping software that features an excellent returns management suite. Ecommerce companies only need to fill out a return form to state their return rules and choose whether they want to approve returns automatically or not.
A branded return and refund tracking portal allows customers to place return requests easily and monitor their refunds. Shippy Pro also provides detailed analytics to determine return KPIs.
Customers can choose to return products at over 1000 drop-off locations. Shippy Pro integrates with 166 shipping companies and 70+ sales channels.
Finding the Right AfterShip Returns Center Alternative for Your Online Store
Most ecommerce businesses know that they need to have a returns management system. After all, you don't want customers to have a bad returns experience and hamper customer retention. However, not all returns centers are created equal. So, how do you choose the best AfterShip Returns Center alternatives?
1) How much does the Returns App/Software Cost
Returns can be expensive and time-consuming, so it's important to find a solution that fits your budget and meets your needs. Instead of looking at the price tag alone, focus on the services on offer and calculate how much you will be able to save up on returns by using a returns solution.
Also, factor in how the returns software will bring in more loyal customers and help with customer lifetime value. Returns apps like AfterShip Returns Center can bring more footfall to your digital store with a great post-purchase customer experience.
2) What is the operational range of the Returns Management Software
The operational range of your returns app demarcates all the areas and countries you will be able to sell your products in. If you want to ship internationally, it’s crucial to talk to your software vendor about it beforehand.
Otherwise, you may end up in a situation where your customers are unable to return their items because your chosen returns software doesn’t accept orders from that location. This can incur major losses. Almost all of the AfterShip alternatives and competitors listed above provide international shipping and returns.
3) How long does it take to process refunds
Returns and exchanges are uncomfortable experiences for customers. It becomes even more problematic if your customers have to wait an eternity before they get their money back.
To ensure customer loyalty, use a returns management software that processes refunds and exchanges faster or gives shoppers the option to convert the money into store credit.
That can save everybody a lot of hassle. Even better, go for an AfterShip Returns Center competitor that allows customers to track the status of their returns and refunds in real-time.
4) Does it provide a branded returns portal
Ecommerce businesses can’t be constantly on the phone to receive return requests. Instead, they can provide their customers a self-serve branded returns portal that instantaneously approves returns, helps them track the status of their refund, and provides real-time tracking feedback for exchange orders.
Additionally, a branded returns page can also help businesses retarget customers with ads and links to their social media handles.
5) How many platform and store integrations does it provide
An ecommerce business must integrate with other platforms like sales channels, storefronts, shipping carriers, ERPs, payment gateways, and more to keep shipping and delivery running smoothly.
Therefore, it’s essential that the AfterShip competitor and alternative you choose can readily integrate with all those existing systems and provide opportunities to connect with more business systems in the future.
You need to ensure this not only because it's an important part of streamlining your returns workflow, but also because it makes your business model scalable.
6) Will the Returns Software provide Analytics Reports
You need an AfterShip Returns Center alternative that provides detailed analytics reports on various aspects of the returns process. This includes reasons for returning, the number of returns converting to exchanges, refund processing times, the performance of carriers, and more.
These returns KPIs can give you a deeper understanding of how well your return operations are performing. They can also help you identify repetitive issues with a particular product, region, etc., through which you can improve these problem areas.
7) How many shipping carriers does it work with
In the case of ecommerce shipping carriers, the more the merrier. A large database of carrier integrations allows ecommerce stores to offer their services to more locations and countries. Even if one of your carriers is down, you can quickly switch to a hundred more to perform the delivery/pickup.
Moreover, having more options in terms of shipping carriers reduces shipping costs for store owners who can now use the bidding system to choose the carrier with the cheapest shipping rates!
8) Does it offer Customer Support
An ecommerce business must always stress on having adequate customer support. This is especially true when you’re trying to find AfterShip Returns Center alternatives and competitors.
Returns are a crucial part of the post-purchase customer experience and one misstep can lead to disappointed customers and revenue loss.
To fix any issues in the returns journey or to help customers abate feelings of anxiety surrounding refunds or exchanges, an ecommerce store must hire a returns management software that provides 24x7 customer care. It can really go a long way in raising customer retention and satisfaction levels.
Final Conclusion
Returns management software is an important piece of ecommerce infrastructure. It can help you keep your business running smoothly and make it easier for customers to return products in eCommerce. If you’re not using returns management software, now is the time to start looking into it.
We hope that this article has helped you narrow down your choices and given you a better idea of what to look for when choosing the best AfterShip alternative or competitor for your business.
FAQs
1) What are Aftership Returns Center alternatives for Shopify?
Some of the best AfterShip Returns Center alternatives for Shopify stores are ClickPost, Loop Returns, Happy Returns, Returnly, and Return Prime.
2) Why is Returns Management Software Important for Ecommerce Businesses?
Returns management software/apps are crucial for ecommerce stores because they help reduce the rate of returns, cut down on revenue losses, turn returns into repurchases or exchanges, and streamline the overall returns journey. It is one of the most important criteria for maintaining high customer loyalty.