Reverse Supply Chain: Ensuring A Sound Aftermarket

Reverse Supply Chain: Ensuring A Sound Aftermarket

The technologically sound business world, in its process to beat the aggressive competitive market, heads
for the high-tech infrastructure. These forward-looking organizations are waiting to see the profit figures
rolling up. However, with customer and his demands ruling the changes in the industry trends, the
modern day enterprise are equally concerned about the aftermarket sales activities.

Reverse logistics as it is mostly referred to, relates to all activities associated with a product or service
after the point of sale, with a goal to optimize the aftermarket activity while saving money and
environmental resources. This is also referred to as Aftermarket Logistics, Retrogistics, Aftermarket
Supply Chain or a reverse supply chain. Unlike the forward logistics which handles the product from the
manufacturing or production unit to the market, the reverse supply chain activities include logistics,
warehousing, repair, refurbishment, recycling, e-waste, call center support, reverse fulfillment, and field
service.

A fully integrated reverse logistics management tool incorporates the repair and returns process, repair
and calibration process as well as the returns solutions and provides visibility throughout the complete
cycle for all parties involved in the reverse supply chain. The process involves a high degree of
functionality through interaction and exchange of information for return orders, repair orders, stock
updates, inventory specifications and sales orders authorizations and acknowledgements besides expert
handling.

The reverse logistics management maximizes infrastructure investment through integration with a
partner's existing systems. Similar to the supply chain management solutions, this also provides order
application and connectivity to all parties in the logistics network, enables total visibility with ability to
track and trace products with the help of reference identifiers. Besides offering a order and return
placement at the end-user location, it generates an order fulfillment documentation, transport labels and
performance based billing.

A number of organizations that having forayed into providing reverse logistic management solution
ensure that the reverse supply chain facilitates reduction of cost through automation of business
processes and early notification of opportunities. The generation of real time reports paves way for
immediate action and enhanced asset utilization. The supply chain is quick to adopt any changes in the
regulations and also implements it without compromising on the quality of service. With a 24/7-support
service, these help to streamline business intelligence reporting.

Also read on - Business travel expenses, Electronic payment process

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