Are you an e-commerce retailer struggling to manage returns as your brand grows? Outdated or inefficient returns management solutions can hinder customer loyalty and business growth. The solution? A returns management software. With the right software solution, you can optimise your operations for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced customer experience, setting your business apart in a highly competitive landscape.

The challenge, however, lies in choosing the right returns management software that suits your business needs. Numerous software providers exist, with many more expected to enter the market. With so many options, how do you know which is best for you? Factors such as compatibility, user-friendliness, automation, customisation, analytics and reporting, customer service, and cost should be considered.

This article considers these factors in selecting our top picks of the best returns management solution for your e-commerce business. These include:

1. yayloh
2. Returnly
3. Narvar
4. Aftership
5. Reclamit
6. Loop
7. Swap
8. nshift

yayloh

yayloh is a returns management platform that automates and optimises the returns process for fast-growing direct-to-consumer brands, particularly those in the fashion and lifestyle market. yayloh's goal is to help merchants improve the overall customer experience post-purchase.

With customisable workflows, yayloh reduces the workload for customer service teams and provides customers with a fully digital and branded self-service returns experience.

Unlike many returns management software in the market, yayloh prioritises data. The platform collects and analyses returns feedback from customers to help merchants make data-driven product adjustments to reduce returns rates. Additionally, yayloh also provides pre-prepared dataset reports that offer actionable insights for inventory management, supply chain optimisation, cash flow management, product development, and customer service teams.

yayloh's open API seamlessly integrates with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify (with its own app), WooCommerce, Centra, and software like Gorgias, Klaviyo, and Zendesk.

With yayloh's all-inclusive solution, brands can scale their businesses, boost customer loyalty and reduce returns, all while ensuring a smooth and efficient post-purchase experience for customers.

Key Features

1. Open APIs for integration with all ecommerce platforms and Shopify App
2. Native integrations with European carriers
3. Advanced data and analytics features
4. Fully digital and branded returns process

Pros

1. Returns data dashboards and dataset exports
2. Auto refunds based on different triggers
3. Tailored to support fashion and lifestyle brands at any stage of growth
4. Shopify app
5. in-depth “returns reasons” with newly introduced returns keyword tags

Cons

1. Limited advanced exchange features where customers can exchange undesired items for  products of similar value above variant exchanges

Returnly

Returnly helps businesses manage returns quickly and efficiently with various options and features to make the entire process smoother. It's a good option for North American brands that want to expand globally. Returnly is available on Shopify and Shopify Plus and offers multicurrency and automated customs invoicing. The platform also provides excellent features such as "green returns", which encourages customers to recycle unwanted items instead of throwing them away.

However, it's important to note that Returnly may not be the best fit for businesses in Europe due to its limitations in meeting the specific needs of this market when it comes to integrations and third-party carriers. Companies that prefer localised solutions may not find Returnly's offerings robust enough for their regional requirements.

Key Features

1. Powered to support large international returns providing customs support and multicurrency features
2. Instant credit feature, which allows customers the opportunity to get items before returning a less desired product

Pros

1. Green Returns feature that encourages customers to recycle undesired products
2. Exchange first mindset to help merchants retain revenue
3. In-store returns

Cons

1. Limited integrations with European ecommerce platforms and third-party carriers

Narvar

Narvar is a company that provides end-to-end customer support throughout the entire order fulfilment process. They offer a full-service solution that includes order tracking, delivery notifications, returns management, customer feedback, personalisation, consolidation, and more.

Narvar's solution is typically ideal for larger businesses or enterprises that require complex transaction volumes to be handled. However, this level of service comes at a higher cost and may require some expertise to implement.

Key Features

1. Enterprise solution for complex and high-volume transactions
2. Hassle-free returns solution for customers with access to drop-off centres

Pros

1. Continuous order tracking and updates throughout the returns process
2. Incentivises exchanges through variant exchanges
3. Self-service portal

Cons

1. Costs may price out smaller merchants with less complex trading volumes

Aftership

Aftership is a top-tier tracking service that provides customers with timely updates on the status of their shipments. Its tracking features are comprehensive and customisable, with detailed delivery insights and real-time notifications to keep customers informed.

While Aftership's returns management platform has strengths, it falls short compared to some of the other solutions on this list. One area where Aftership is lacking is in its support for European brands with little integrations with local carriers and ecommerce platforms like Centra. Furthermore, Aftership's customer experience features are limited, with few options for customisable digital returns forms or fully branded returns pages, which can impact the overall customer experience.

Key Features

1. Sophisticated tracking and notification platform that keeps merchants and customers up-to-date in their post-purchase journey.
2. Great predictive tool for delayed deliveries

Pros

1. Shopify app
2. Instant shipping and delivery updates
3. Green returns

Cons

1. Some return management processes are not fully automated, like customs invoices.
2. Limited advanced analytics and insights
3. Limited integrations with European ecommerce platforms and third-party carriers

Reclaimit

With customisable workflows and automated label generation, Reclaimit makes the returns process more efficient for customers and brands across different channels, including online, in-store and marketplaces. It also offers native integrations with local European carriers and ecommerce platforms, making it an excellent option for businesses in this region.

Although Reclaimit offers several great features for businesses, there are some limitations to be aware of. One of the downsides is that customisation options for the return process are limited, making it difficult for brands to provide a fully branded experience for their customers.

Key features

1. Integration with platforms other than Shopify, including WooCommerce and Centra
2. Native integration with Zendesk
3. Automated customs invoices

Pros

1. +25 years of experience
2. Localised partnerships with third-party carriers such as PostNord for the Nordics
3. Autogenerated shipping labels and automated refunds

Cons

1. Not built for DTC brands. Focus on marketplaces and electronics brands
2. Limited advanced analytics capabilities
3. Limited customised refund packages for VIP customers

Loop Returns

Loop Returns is a returns management solution specifically designed specifically for Shopify. It offers customisable workflows and seamless integrations with various tools and solution. With Loop, merchants can access tools for deepening the customer experience, such as branded returns portals and a range of automation that streamline the returns process. Loop Returns is a platform that prioritises data and gives merchants valuable insights into customer preferences to support relevant product adjustments.

While Loop is a great returns management tool for Shopify brands, specially those in North America, the fact that they only serve Shopify merchants is very limiting.

Key features

1. Built for Shopify with integrations with a wide range of tools within the Shopify ecosystem
2. Offers bonus credit options to customers to incentivise exchanges

Pros

1. As an exchange-first platform, Loop helps merchants retain as much of their revenue as possible
2. A wide range of exchange features, such as “advanced exchanges” and “instant exchange”
3. Integrations with over 40 tools for CRM, email marketing, logistics, automated payments etc., all within the Shopify ecosystem

Cons

1. Only available for Shopify and Shopify Plus stores
2. One of the more pricey options on our list
3. Analytics, advanced exchanges and integrations are only available on premium plans

Swap Commerce

Swap Commerce offers a unique approach to ecommerce with a consignment selling platform that features an exchange-first returns management system. Customers are given a self-service portal to initiate returns, track shipments, and monitor refund status.

However, one area where Swap Commerce falls short is the limited integrations with other ecommerce platforms, as it only integrates with Shopify. Therefore, brands that are not on Shopify cannot make use of Swap Commerce.

Key features

1. Warehousing options for merchants
2. Helps merchants shipping internationally to save costs through bulk shipping
3. Exchange-first returns management solution

Pros

1. Green returns and advanced exchanges
2. Good tracking system for shipping updates

Cons

1. Only integrates with Shopify's ecommerce platform via integration (no native Shopify app available)
2. Very few integrations for customer support, ERPs, email marketing etc.

nShift

nShift is a delivery management solution that covers the entire purchase (from the checkout) and post-purchase journey, including returns management. Its customisable workflows, auto-generated shipping labels, and customs invoices enable businesses to manage their post-purchase processes while meeting customer objectives efficiently. Additionally, nShift offers analytics and automation features to enhance the overall customer experience further.

However, it's important to note that while nShift provides a wide range of services, returns management is just one aspect of their offerings. Some businesses may find that nShift lacks advanced features such as automated refunds for various triggers or fully branded returns process, which may impact their overall returns management capabilities and customer experience.

Key features

1. Delivery management solutions, including returns management
2. Native integration with Centra

Pros

1. Customisable workflows
2. Autogenerated shipping labels
3. Good analytics and actionable insights

Cons

1. Merchants have limited capacity to brand and customise their returns pages however they like
2. Less specialised returns management solution

Automate your returns management process with yayloh

When managing returns, the number of options available can be overwhelming. However, if you're a fast-growing DTC brand looking to scale internationally, yayloh is your ideal partner. Designed specifically for the fashion and lifestyle market, yayloh aims to boost customer loyalty by offering a seamless returns process that saves time and effort.

yayloh integrates with the most popular ecommerce platforms and software solutions for ecommerce, provides a user-friendly interface, automated workflows, and customisable features. Moreover, and quite ahead from other solutions on the list, yayloh prioritises data analytics to provide a comprehensive solution that caters to the needs of growing brands.