Reverse logistics: reduce manual touches
WITH OMNICHANNEL shopping continuing its inexorable rise, the number of returns and the cost of handling them unfortunately rises in parallel. What can be done to mitigate the effect on a distribution centre’s bottom line?
One of the main problems in handling returns is the many manual touches involved in the process. Reducing the numbers of steps cuts not only the labour required, but also the time taken to make the returned items available for sale again.
The solution lies in the pouch technology based system from BEUMER Group, which eases the handling of returns by placing each item directly into a pouch that circulates in an overhead system rather than sending it back to the shelf or regular storage, where it must be picked again if it is ordered.
The BG Pouch System serves as an intermediate buffer for returns, from which items needed to fulfil an order can be automatically retrieved. This dramatically reduces the cost of handling returns as the fewer times an item is touched – and the shorter and cleaner the process – the more value it retains.
Another highly cost-effective way for fulfilment operators to achieve greater efficiency is by using real-time data. All fulfilment centres have valuable data points in their equipment from which they can gather information. The goal is to condense this vast amount of scattered data to unearth issues that must be resolved or reveal opportunities to achieve greater operational efficiency with their existing systems.
Today’s logistics systems enable machines to communicate with each other at a high level, allowing managers to align their operations in all areas of their fulfilment operations and make determinations about efficiency and operator performance.
For more information, visit www.beumergroup.com
