10 Key Feature to Look For in Returns Management Software

Introduction

Customer returns are an unavoidable part of any growing business's reputation. This means you need to have existing systems to initiate returns, offer return shipping (with minimal shipping costs), have a standing customer support platform. And all of this while ensuring your customers come back with future returns - since customer retention is the only real way to reduce return costs. Or is it ?

Yes it is. But Return management platforms are incredibly useful in this regard. Returns management software is an imperative solution for handling the complex returns management process and ensuring operational efficiency. Like forward logistics, it helps countless businesses across industries respond to customer return and customer support inquiries but in the reverse flow.

The best returns management software can handle ecommerce returns requests, customer support inquiries, along with managing inventory, refunds, and replacements while generating prepaid return labels for future returns. It is vital to allowing you to manage customer returns efficiently and maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty, plus it's great for ensuring your business remains compliant to customer expectations.  

It can reduce manual errors and speed up the process of order returns from the customer to the warehouse or the origin. Its quite possibly the only surefire way to manage returns efficiently. In this article, we will examine the features of reverse management software and understand their value. 

Let's uncover each feature!

10 Must-Have Features of Return Management Software

The features of return management software are the core ingredients that define its capabilities. Each feature is vital in streamlining the returns process and increasing business efficiency. They stand out for their specialty in helping businesses achieve business excellence. Here are the key features of returns management software.

1. Self service Returns Portal

A self-serve returns portal is a platform that allows customers to manage their returns without any involvement from the company. They can enter their email address or order number, choose the items to return, create a shipping label, and print it out at home.

The portal allows users to select the reason for returns and offer their feedback and concerns. It is also super easy to use, which goes a long way in maintaining positive customer relationships.

2. Returns Tracking

The returns management software allows brands to track their returns and offers complete visibility to answer WISMR (Where is my Return?) customer concerns and questions. It helps your customer support agents guide shoppers with each stage of the return process.

A returns management systems also enables them to collect data analytics on customer returns. Customer return data is regularly collected by return management solutions. It keeps records of items in the inventory to ensure stocks are ready to be shipped or received.

3. Integration Capabilities

Merchants look into the integration capability of returns management software to ensure its maximum capabilities. This means whether or not it seamlessly connects with other integral systems like CRM (Customer Relationship Management) or ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). This can also mean it offers analytics and reporting capabilities.

This flexibility allows the smooth flow of information and data required for shipping ops. This makes it easier to process returns, initiate returns, and offer customers quick refunds or store credit. You can manage the entire returns process for you online store via a single dashboard, including analytics and reporting.

4. Quality Checks

Quality checks (QC) are essential components in the returns management process. Brands perform QC checks to ensure the product is in good condition when returned. Upon receiving the product, they determine its quality by examining it.

Quality checks are a corrective measure to give the product a pass if it meets the quality standards or to ensure it requires replacement or repair. This ensures a hassle free returns process for both businesses and the customer's experience.

5. Multi-currency Support

A returns management software has multi-currency support to facilitate payments in multiple currencies and allow users to process transactions from anywhere in the world. It can specifically help a customer planning to initiate an international return request.

Upon successful returns initiation, customers can receive payments in their preferred currency. The multi-currency advantage is a feature to watch out for while looking for returns software. This is a great feature to offer to ensure repeat purchases and increases the likelihood of returning customers opting for instant store credit.

6. User-friendly Interface

A user-friendly interface in reverse logistics software is a common criterion. Businesses want no customer to wait and get frustrated while navigating the self-serve portal. It creates a positive user experience if it is visually appealing and easy to use.

Returns management software that is straightforward and intuitive design attracts more customers, increases their use of the software, and brings them back. It not only makes for an efficient returns management process (which, again, is key to encouraging repeat purchases), it also actively enhances customer satisfaction.

7. Disposition Management

A vital factor that aligns with the capability of ecommerce returns management software is its disposition management functionality. It means how accurately it can get the returned items to its designated warehouse.

Businesses consider it because of its importance in saving them time and money, while also improvement inventory management. It helps them mark items for clearances and identify Return to Vendor (RTV) products for credit or refunds. With Disposition Management, brands take a call to send items for recycling or for direct disposal.

8. Multi-channel Support

With multi-channel support, business owners offer flexible return options to customers planning to return the products. It allows individuals to explore different convenient options according to their availability and time.

This can make a more efficient returns process and allow companies to invest in reverse logistics software. Also, having a multi-channel system can cut costs and increase customer loyalty to your brand.

9. Automated Communications

The two kinds of communication in the returns process involve interactions with internal teams and customer communications. Manually practicing both can be strenuous and time-consuming.

To run things faster, brands use ecommerce returns management software that automatically sends order-related information to customers and teams, keeping them in the loop. The tool sends notifications, emails, and updates to reduce customer queries and keep them informed throughout the order journey.

10. Barcode Scanning

Barcode scanning is a highly reliable feature that allows you to manage returned items and track inventory. Internal teams use it to fetch product details such as serial numbers, update the status, and retrieve stock data in real time.

One easy scan can reduce the time-consuming tasks of going back and forth with information. A good returns management software solution lets you track customer returns as effectively as you can track outgoing orders.

Manage your reverse logistics efficiently with ClickPost

ClickPost is a logistics software company that enables merchants and retailers to provide top-tier post-purchase experiences to their customers. It offers end-to-end delivery management expertise to large-scale businesses. Enterprises can choose from 400+ carrier integrations, reduce up to 70% WISMO queries, access a unified dashboard to monitor orders, and automate their reverse logistics operations.

With the ClickPost return management software, enterprises can seamlessly manage their returns. The software comes with predetermined rules to allocate delivery partners who align with those prerequisites. ClickPost can ease the returns process and make it a hassle-free reverse logistics experience. You can talk to their team to get first-hand information on returns management software.

Final Word

Reverse logistics can be a complex process with several tasks and team coordination. Your business must manage returns and maintain a competitive edge. Returns management software can help you achieve that by presenting your customer with a clear returns policy, a self-serve portal, and other customer-friendly features.

These offerings can give you a clear idea of how to lessen customer anxiety and redistribute the product. Above all else, capable returns management software can make a huge difference in your business and change how you handle returns.