Reverse logistics refers to the supply chain process of returning products from end users back through the supply chain to either the retailer or manufacturer.

Challenge: In reverse logistics, a company must expect its products to be returned from multiple origin sources, the volumes will be far less than those going down through forward logistics and handling costs will be much higher than the generic logistics because the assortment of returned goods is irregular, unlike manufactured goods.

Opportunity: customers benefit from a positive experience, it reduces customer waste and represents a "free" input back into the company's production process. The circular economy is the way forward, so the sooner a company embraces the change and rewires the supply chain, the higher the ROI will be.

You could:

• Start by defining your returns policy & process
• Rewire your manufacturing or refurbishment process
• Set up a repair or maintenance business
• Partner with a logistics provider
• Re-think your packaging for returns
• Manage product end-of-life