One of the many ways to engage your customers is to make it easy for them to return a product on their own.
First and foremost, you need to have a clear and effective returns policy in place. Read all our tips in this article: 5 tips for an effective returns policy.
Secondly, it’s important that you have the ability to create return labels so that your customers can send items back to you when the product isn’t what they expected, when it’s damaged or when it’s the wrong item.
How can e-tailers provide return labels?
If you plan to offer return labels to your customers, you can either include the label in the original packaging, or let customers print their own label at home.
- Include the label in the dispatched parcel: you can include a returns label (different from a delivery note) with all dispatched parcels.
- Allow customers to print their own label: another option is to send customers a return label by e-mail if they inform you that they wish to return a product. They can download the label, print it out and enclose it with the parcel.
To build trust with your customers, you need to make returns quick and easy.
Integrating the label directly into the dispatched parcel may seem simpler, albeit less environmentally friendly. However, the pre-printed label often requires a return to a relay point, so the customer prefers to print the label so that the parcel can be picked up by a carrier. So it’s not necessarily necessary to apply the pre-printed label at the time of dispatch.
What’s more, when the customer prints the label, he or she can analyze the reason for the return and know in advance which product is involved. The e-retailer can already know whether he can handle this type of return. He also knows exactly what he’s going to receive.
How does WelcomeTrack help you process returns?
Creating and printing your own return labels can be tedious, especially if you don’t have the right solution. If you generate labels for a large number of items, you’ll need a scalable solution. At WelcomeTrack, we offer e-tailers a single platform for easy label generation, order viewing and returns tracking.
Thanks to our post-purchase delivery tracking platform, you can simplify returns management for your after-sales service as well as for your customers.
1- Track your returns in real time
Keep an eye on returned packages en route to your warehouse. Thanks to this automatic tracking system, you can directly trigger refunds and improve the post-purchase experience. Quick refunds strengthen your customer relations and your brand image with consumers.
Your customers, for their part, have access to a specific page for making their return. Thanks to this tracking page, they have information on every stage of the process, from label edition to reimbursement. They also receive pick-up notifications via this page.
2 – Edit your own return labels from our platform
No more juggling between different carrier platforms and your customer relationship management tool! From a single API connection for all your carriers, you can edit your shipping labels. You can assign each parcel to a pallet or truck, and validate your departures directly.
WelcomeTrack also facilitates the return of items by allowing your customers to edit a pdf return label themselves via your site or from the tracking page. No need to contact customer service to request a return number, the system is automated.
The benefits:
- A less busy customer service
- Visibility into returns en route to your warehouse
- You can extend the brand experience through controlled communication during the return journey and anticipate reimbursement.
3 – Manage your e-commerce returns
Thanks to automatic tracking of your e-commerce returns, you can optimize your early refund policy for a better post-purchase customer experience. Fast refunds strengthen your customer relations and your brand image with consumers. What’s more, you can trigger the refund as soon as the return label is scanned, encouraging immediate repurchase by the buyer.