Regular logistics is the process of moving resources – people, materials, inventory, and equipment from source to storage. The term ‘logistics’ has military origins, and refers to the movement of equipment and supplies to troops in the field.
Reverse logistics takes this model and switches it, so that products move from a customer back to the original seller, or manufacturer. Reverse logistics is driven by the returns market, whereby consumers, for a variety of reasons, send back goods because they misordered, or the goods were damaged or defective.
Most retailers agree reverse logistics is important to their businesses. Sender Shamiss is CEO of goTRG, which bills itself as the “world’s first turnkey reverse logistics company.” goTRG specializes in recovering lost profits from returns and ‘distressed inventory’ (expired stock).
