PostNord TPL aims to be the best in locally operated returns
Return management has become an increasingly relevant topic in a world of growing online shopping. But how do we handle our returns, and what are our priority areas within return management?
The third-party logistics industry is a crucial part of the logistics sector, not least because of all the support functions and value-added services it provides. One of the many services within third-party logistics is return management. A well-functioning return management process is essential for building trust and enhancing the customer experience for both our clients and their customers – the end consumer. Through our return management service, Smart Returns, we can offer our clients solutions tailored to their specific needs.
One of the focus areas of our service Smart Returns is that the return management process should be locally operated – something that benefits everyone, especially the environment. The core of locally operated returns is that it is sustainable, efficient, and involves the shortest possible transport distances. The goal is for nothing to be sent to incineration. Products that cannot be resold, even after cleaning or repair, are sorted into the correct fraction so that the majority can be reused in new products. Additionally, we are committed to always ensuring that the customer’s product is quickly made available for resale and that the end consumer quickly receives their refund.
The return management process at PostNord TPL is based on several sub-processes. Initially, the item is unpacked to be inspected. Secondly, the order goes through a quality control before being repackaged. In the next stage, there are various flows depending on the result of the quality control and the current agreement with the client. The item may either be placed in a TPL warehouse awaiting a new customer order, or it may already have been ordered by a new customer, in which case it is shipped directly to them. Items that can be easily repaired are taken care of, and the necessary repairs are carried out. Additionally, there are several alternative sub-processes depending on the current agreement with the client and the result of the quality control.
– We can use our entire network of return centres to ensure that our clients’ returns are always handled with the shortest possible transport, says Magdalena Robsarve, Head of Business Development at PostNord TPL.
Magdalena Robsarve, Head of Business Development at PostNord TPL