Gatekeeping is an activity that analyses and controls returned products: a way of assessing whether they are actually authorised for re-marketing and, therefore, improving the reverse logistics flow. To further reduce waste, reverse logistics can be applied not only to returns but also to unsold goods.
Advantages of reverse logistics
The advantages of reverse logistics for a company and society as a whole are many, these are the most significant:
Lower environmental impact : Reusing and recycling materials is the basis of reverse logistics, making the entire production process more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Virgin raw materials are not used, less energy is required and less CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere. The principles of the circular economy make it possible to extend the life cycle of products, helping to reduce waste.
Better corporate image : companies gain a great competitive advantage from these strategies, managing to positively distinguish themselves from the competition. They improve reputation and corporate image in the market. Customers highly value companies that care for the environment and employees, as well as partners, feel more motivated and turkey whatsapp data happy to work towards shared goals of industrial sustainability.
New opportunities : By defining innovative solutions to recover value from returned products, new market opportunities and potential new sources of income are opened up. Business diversification opens up new sectors, such as waste management or component redesign.
Greater control : Gaining greater control and better organization of stock allows you to reduce the margin of error, discard obsolete products and reduce overall costs.
Examples of reverse logistics
Companies in the logistics sector can use reverse logistics strategies to optimize operations , reduce waste and increase efficiency, while managing revenue and logistics resources. Here are some examples of reverse logistics applied in the supply chain.
UPS Healthcare : The company has launched reverse logistics services for laboratory customers in Spain and other key European healthcare markets including the UK, Germany, Italy and France. This service offers a solution that ensures confirmation of collection and visibility of urgent samples.
DHL Supply Chain : Provides Zalando's reverse logistics service that handles more than 3.6 million items per year. A multi-level pipeline processes incoming returned items and sorts them for replacement or repair. The platform's total processing capacity is 3,600 units per hour.
XPO Logistics, a leading global provider of transportation and logistics solutions, has implemented a high-volume, automated reverse logistics management solution for a high-end e-commerce client in France. The solution combines several technologies, including an advanced mechanized sorting system capable of processing up to 12 million returns per year.