SEKO Omni-Channel Logistics has launched OmniReturns, its new service for returns which improves cost and visibility for etailers, retailers and consumers.

According to SEKO, OmniReturns simplifies the returns process and aims to encourage satisfied shoppers to buy again. It also helps reduce costs and provides end-to-end shipment visibility.

OmniReturns offers in-country returns carriers and processing hubs in major e-commerce markets around the world. SEKO provides complete global customs compliance and repatriation services, as well as the ability to automate customer refunds or store credits at the key milestones of first carrier scan anywhere in the world.

“OmniReturns combines all the knowledge and best practice we’ve learned in the last five years as we’ve designed the most innovative fulfilment and logistics solutions for etailers and retailers across our global network,” said Justin Irvine, chief product officer of SEKO Omni-Channel Logistics. “Out of this has evolved what we believe is a market-leading, cloud-based platform which enables customers to see the complete life cycle of a return. We didn’t simply want to sell on someone else’s flawed returns offering or processes, we wanted to create substantial value through aggressive first-mile procurement and controlling operations with SEKO staff at each hub point with complete transparency. For consumers, it’s a frictionless solution designed to encourage brand loyalty with the companies they’re buying from and to get them spending money with the etailer/retailer again as quickly as possible.”

SEKO’s OmniRPS returns operating platform delivers complete transparency of all returns across every aspect of the supply chain, as well as the ability to operate in etailer/retailer, 3PL warehouses or in SEKO hubs around the world to process returns.

With the new one-scan returns processing function within OmniRPS, retailer warehouse teams are able to scan a carrier consignment note and verify all returns with a one-touch confirmation which automates both store credit/refund and sends stock advance shipping notice to their warehouse management system for fast put away.

OmniReturns’ customer-facing, multi-language portal offers a choice of carriers, free or paid returns options, pre-printed labels on dispatch, or API access to labels if the seller has its own returns portal. The portal offers the option to push data on outbound deliveries via FTP or API so consumers can select the items they wish to return, giving etailers/retailers faster insight and analytics of returns around the world. Another option is a plug-and-play solution where the customer creates a generic return, requiring no integration at all.

After generating a returns label via email, consumers can drop off the parcel as per the instructions to their local postal provider and can track the entire return domestically and internationally back to the seller, ensuring refunds are processed quickly.

The OmniReturns network currently covers over 30 markets, including the UK, the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

“It really does offer a complete returns solution to the largest e-commerce markets,” said Irvine. “Our new OmniRPS BI tools are now giving different etailer/retailer business units actionable intelligence so that finance teams, buying teams and logistics teams alike can make better business decisions on global data which is being refreshed every two hours.”

At least 30% of all products ordered online are returned, compared to just 9% of goods bought in brick-and-mortar stores, with 67% of shoppers saying they check the returns page before completing their purchase and 92% saying they will buy something again if returns are quick and easy, according to SEKO.