Are returns eating into your profits?
Managing them is a logistical nightmare. It frustrates your customers and drains your revenue with every single package that gets sent back.
What’s worse is the lack of visibility. You’re left guessing why products come back, making smart inventory decisions nearly impossible for your team.
According to LLCBuddy, the 16.5% average return rate for e-commerce is staggering. That’s a huge chunk of sales walking right back out your door.
But the right software fixes this. It helps you streamline your entire return process and turn a major operational headache into a smoother experience.
If you’re evaluating other business solutions, my guide on best vendors management software explores key tools for your operations.
In this guide, I’m going to review the best returns management software. I’ll show you tools to automate workflows and get valuable data-driven insights.
You’ll discover how to improve customer loyalty and turn this costly problem into an opportunity to win back shoppers for good.
Let’s dive in.
Quick Summary:
| # | Software | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZigZag → | Global e-commerce retailers | |
| 2 | Loop Returns → | Mid-sized e-commerce brands | |
| 3 | nShift → | Large multi-carrier shippers | |
| 4 | Narvar → | Enterprise retailers | |
| 5 | Happy Returns → | Retailers with physical locations |
1. ZigZag
Are high return rates eroding your e-commerce profits?
ZigZag offers a market-leading returns portal that transforms complex reverse logistics into a streamlined process.
This platform helps you recover costs, gain vital insights, and boost profitability by charging for returns costs.
It’s time to take control of your returns process.
ZigZag’s intelligent returns platform provides personalized solutions for your customers, ensuring a smooth experience from start to finish. You can easily implement features like paid returns, allowing you to offset return shipping expenses directly. Their live exchanges option helps you retain revenue by encouraging exchanges instead of refunds, keeping your customers happy. Plus, the Reporting Hub gives you valuable insights to reduce returns, helping you make data-driven decisions and improve overall efficiency.
The platform also supports paperless returns, combining efficiency with sustainability, and offers “Return to Store” functionality to drive footfall to your physical locations. You can even “Save the Sale” via replacements or refunds to gift cards/store credit, enhancing customer loyalty and reducing lost revenue.
You can truly streamline operations.
Key features:
- Intelligent Returns Portal: Offers a comprehensive, personalized returns experience for customers, reducing friction and supporting global operations with 1,500+ carrier services across 170+ countries.
- Revenue Recovery and Retention: Enables paid returns to recover costs and facilitates live exchanges and refund-to-store credit options to retain revenue and increase customer lifetime value.
- Data-Driven Insights: Provides a robust Reporting Hub to analyze return patterns, identify trends, and gain valuable insights that empower you to reduce overall return rates and improve profitability.
Learn more about ZigZag features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: ZigZag’s focus on revenue retention through paid returns and live exchanges, combined with a powerful reporting hub, makes it a top contender for the best returns management software. The platform’s ability to handle global carriers and offer flexible return options can significantly improve customer satisfaction and reduce operational costs.
2. Loop Returns
Are returns eating into your profit margins?
Loop Returns offers comprehensive features like automated workflows and smart fraud detection to significantly reduce those high costs associated with product returns.
This system helps you customize return policies, prevent abuse, and manage logistics, turning operational challenges into profit centers for your business.
It’s time to delight your customers.
Loop Returns automates and optimizes your returns, saving you valuable time and money while delivering an unmatched customer experience. Its all-in-one platform allows you to reduce fraud and retain more revenue by supporting instant exchanges or even “Shop Now & Later” options, making returns just as enjoyable as the initial purchase. You can also track order, return, and exchange statuses transparently, keeping your shoppers informed and improving their satisfaction.
This platform empowers you to build your return policy exactly how you want it with an intuitive no-code editor, applying limitless rules based on product, customer, or order attributes. Additionally, you can easily integrate Loop Returns with hundreds of popular apps across marketing, logistics, and shipping, ensuring it fits seamlessly into your existing tech stack or build your own using their public API.
Transform your returns into revenue.
Before diving deeper, you might find my analysis of healthcare software solutions helpful in optimizing operational costs.
Key features:
- Retain Revenue: Turn refunds into exchanges, offer instant exchanges, and streamline warranty claims, helping you retain sales and recover potential revenue.
- Optimize Costs: Leverage custom workflows and smart fraud detection to mitigate return policy abuse, reduce shipping expenses, and cover return costs with Offset.
- Enhance Loyalty: Provide transparent tracking, personalize return experiences, and offer flexible options like in-store drop-offs to boost customer satisfaction.
Learn more about Loop Returns features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: If you’re an e-commerce business manager or retail operations director, Loop Returns is the best returns management software for streamlining complex workflows. Its robust features like automated fraud detection and revenue recovery options help you significantly reduce operational costs, retain more revenue, and improve overall customer loyalty.
3. nShift
Are increasing return rates consuming your business revenue?
nShift’s Returns solution helps simplify complex reverse logistics and provides visibility into return patterns.
This software helps convert returns into exchanges, protecting business revenue and improving customer satisfaction.
Streamline your entire post-purchase experience.
nShift solves return challenges by enabling multi-carrier delivery and end-to-end experience management, from checkout to returns. You can access over 1,000 carrier connections to optimize shipping processes and offer diverse delivery methods, enhancing customer satisfaction. This flexibility allows you to meet varied customer needs and increase conversions. Moreover, nShift helps you transform your post-purchase experience, building loyalty and encouraging repeat purchases through branded experiences and robust tracking capabilities. This ensures a seamless, transparent journey for your customers, reducing support calls by up to 60%.
You can protect against loss, damage, or theft with embedded insurance.
Before diving deeper, you might find my analysis of customer reference management software helpful.
Key features:
- Post-purchase experience: Enhance customer loyalty and repeat purchases through order tracking and a branded retailer experience for returns.
- Delivery management: Optimize multi-carrier shipping with access to over 1,000 carriers, offering flexibility and streamlining your logistics processes.
- Integrations: Connect with over 450 e-commerce platforms, ERPs, WMS, and payment providers to manage delivery from a single interface.
Learn more about nShift features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: nShift offers a comprehensive suite designed to simplify your returns and cut costs by streamlining complex reverse logistics. Its ability to convert 30% of returns into exchanges makes it an ideal best returns management software, enhancing customer loyalty and providing data-driven insights.
4. Narvar
Are rising return rates eating into your profits?
Narvar’s Shield and Assist features directly address the challenge of managing returns, helping you mitigate fraud and streamline your reverse logistics. This means you can transform a costly process into an opportunity for revenue retention.
The software empowers you to reduce payouts by 25% with fraud detection and efficiently handle returns, turning a pain point into a competitive advantage.
It’s time to take control.
Narvar focuses on “Beyond Buy” experiences, delivering intelligent personalization from pre-purchase to post-purchase, all powered by their Intelligent Retail Insights Service (IRIS™). This comprehensive approach helps you reduce fraud while rewarding your best customers, turning a potential loss into a loyal customer.
You can expect to increase repurchases by 60% with exchanges or store credit, which is a powerful way to retain revenue. Narvar Shield specifically helps you leverage consumer behaviors and AI to proactively prevent fraudulent returns, enforce eligibility, and automate exchanges in one platform.
Additionally, Narvar Assist decreases delivery claim payouts by 25% through intelligent fraud prevention, using advanced AI to combat delivery claim fraud and personalize the customer experience based on their risk level. Their Track and Notify solutions further engage customers with personalized tracking and proactive updates, significantly boosting revenue and operational efficiency.
Your returns can become a revenue stream.
Key features:
- Intelligent Returns & Exchanges (Shield): Prevent fraudulent returns and automate exchanges, helping you retain up to 60% of revenue through intelligent management.
- AI-Powered Delivery Fraud Prevention (Assist): Decrease delivery claim payouts by 25% using advanced AI to combat fraud and personalize customer experiences based on risk.
- Personalized Post-Purchase Experience (Track & Notify): Boost revenue with on-brand tracking pages and dynamic notifications that convert 10% higher and drive engagement.
Learn more about Narvar features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: Narvar provides a powerful suite of tools designed to tackle the high costs and complexities of product returns. By leveraging AI for fraud prevention and enabling intelligent exchanges, it’s a top contender for the best returns management software, helping you save up to 89% in return logistics costs and increase repurchases by 60%.
5. Happy Returns
Are high return rates impacting your profit margins?
Happy Returns offers a comprehensive platform designed to boost customer loyalty and streamline your reverse logistics. This includes an intuitive Return & Exchange Portal and an expansive Return Bar® Network.
Their solution addresses the pain points of complex returns, helping you reduce revenue loss and improve customer satisfaction. It does this by offering a delightful, consolidated, and fraud-preventative experience.
It’s time to simplify your returns.
Happy Returns solves the problem of cumbersome returns by providing shoppers with box-free, label-free drop-offs at nearly 8,000 Return Bar® locations. This network includes over 5,000 The UPS Store® locations, making returns incredibly convenient for your customers.
The system facilitates instantly initiated refunds and exchanges right at drop-off, which significantly decreases your support contacts. You’ll also appreciate their patent-pending item scanning and verification at drop-off, which secures your returns and helps prevent fraud, protecting your bottom line.
Their platform offers detailed analytics and reporting through a retailer dashboard, giving you visibility into return patterns for informed inventory decisions. Combined with consolidated returns for maximum savings and unified billing for UPS and Happy Returns services, this streamlines operations and reduces overall expenses.
Boost loyalty, cut costs.
Key features:
- Box-free, label-free Return Bar® network: Offers a hassle-free drop-off experience for customers at nearly 8,000 locations, including 5,000+ The UPS Store® locations.
- Instant refunds and exchanges: Allows for immediate initiation of refunds and exchanges at the point of drop-off, significantly reducing customer support inquiries and boosting satisfaction.
- Patent-pending fraud prevention: Provides exclusive item scanning and verification upon drop-off, coupled with detailed analytics, to secure your returns and prevent fraudulent activity.
Learn more about Happy Returns features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: Happy Returns addresses the core challenges of e-commerce returns with its vast physical drop-off network and fraud prevention technology. This enables businesses to offer a superior customer experience, as evidenced by a 93 NPS, making it a strong contender for the best returns management software.
6. ReverseLogix
Are costly returns consuming your revenue?
ReverseLogix offers an end-to-end return management system that helps you initiate, process, and even repair returns efficiently. This solution streamlines complex reverse logistics.
You might be losing visibility with RMS systems that don’t integrate well, or struggling with manual warehouse workarounds. This platform is built for reverse flow.
Simplify your returns journey.
ReverseLogix solves the puzzle of complex returns, helping you maintain control and visibility from start to finish. You can set up a self-service returns portal that integrates with your existing commerce and warehouse management platforms, ensuring seamless data flow.
The software lets you configure standardized warehouse workflows, enabling you to quickly verify, inspect, and grade products. It also includes a configurable repairs management module so you can recoup costs on damaged items. This holistic approach significantly improves customer experience, prevents fraud, and offers valuable analytics to understand return trends.
Smarter returns are truly good for your business, helping you improve margins and achieve sustainability goals while preventing product returns.
If you’re also looking for ways to centralize other business resources, my article on digital asset management software can provide valuable insights.
Key features:
- End-to-End Returns Management: Initiate returns, configure processing workflows, and handle repairs within a single, integrated system for complete control.
- Automated Workflows & Integrations: Set up standardized warehouse processes and connect with your existing commerce platforms like Shopify, SAP, and Salesforce.
- Repairs Management & Analytics: Utilize configurable repair modules to recoup costs on damaged items and gain insights from BI and analytics to identify return trends.
Learn more about ReverseLogix features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: ReverseLogix offers an integrated, end-to-end solution designed to simplify your complex return operations, helping you boost efficiency and improve customer satisfaction. Its specialized focus on reverse logistics, including repairs management and robust analytics, makes it a strong contender for the best returns management software.
7. ReturnLogic
Are your product returns costing too much?
ReturnLogic streamlines your process with automation, cutting down on emails and improving your team’s processing time.
This means you can save time and money on returns, freeing your team to focus on growing your business.
A truly profitable returns experience awaits.
ReturnLogic solves these issues by simplifying your returns management, offering a powerful package designed for business success.
You gain full visibility into every product’s journey, from shipping to warehouse to back in stock, ensuring you always know where things stand. It even supports direct, gift, and third-party warranty returns management.
Additionally, ReturnLogic provides advanced analytics to validate optimal returns strategies, integrates seamlessly with existing tools like Shopify and BigCommerce, and features automation for unlimited return policies, including holiday specifics.
Manage returns, boost profits.
Key features:
- Returns Automation for Customer Support: Streamline processes, reduce manual email efforts, and improve processing times, allowing your team to focus on customer engagement.
- Returns Visibility for Warehouse & Operations: Gain real-time insight into every product’s status throughout its return lifecycle, from shipment to being back in stock.
- Returns Optimization for Managers & Executives: Unify all your returns data to create the most profitable return policies, leveraging actionable insights for growth.
Learn more about ReturnLogic features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: ReturnLogic stands out as the best returns management software for its ability to automate workflows, provide deep analytics, and integrate with key platforms, helping businesses decrease returns by 30% and increase profit by $5.00 per return on average.
8. ReBound
Are your returns processes costing you growth?
ReBound offers end-to-end returns management solutions, including advanced returns technology.
They help you make returns smart, scalable, and simple, so you can focus on growth while offering a world-class experience.
Reclaim your operational efficiency.
ReBound solves your complex returns challenges, offering solutions for rising costs, increasing volumes, and enhancing customer experience. Their platform provides global logistics, advanced returns technology, and a focus on sustainability.
You gain improved warehouse efficiencies and lower returns costs, helping keep return volumes under control. They manage the entire returns ecosystem, offering benefits like online parcel tracking and rapid refunds for customers, helping you turn returns into a conversion driver. The system also supports precise emission calculations, making returns more sustainable through consolidated shipments and direct routing.
Your customers will buy again after a positive return experience.
Key features:
- Returns management: Provides end-to-end solutions that simplify complex returns processes, helping you reduce costs and improve overall operational efficiency.
- Data & Insights: Offers crucial visibility into return patterns, empowering you with data-driven insights to make informed inventory decisions and optimize your returns strategy.
- Portals and Integration: Features one-click Shopify integration and product initiation portals, streamlining the return process for customers and your team.
Learn more about ReBound features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: ReBound’s omnichannel returns management capabilities make it an ideal choice if you want to streamline complex reverse logistics and reduce costs. With global logistics and advanced technology, it delivers solutions for customer experience, increased volumes, and real-time data visibility, making it a compelling option for the best returns management software.
9. ReturnGO
Are costly returns eating into your profit margins?
ReturnGO’s platform helps you turn a profit while reducing waste and customer support costs through automated tracking.
You can streamline your returns process, boost revenue, and delight customers while minimizing your environmental footprint. Improve your financial and environmental impact of returns.
It’s time to transform your returns.
ReturnGO offers an end-to-end platform for maximizing revenue and profit post-purchase. This includes flexible return coverage, shifting costs to shoppers, and generating new revenue.
You can ship with competitive prices from top carriers, and send branded order tracking notifications to engage customers. This significantly reduces customer support expenses.
Their Edge self-service portal provides an intuitive return and exchange experience, handling complex scenarios with an upgraded UX/UI. You can offer Shop Now incentives and boost upsells with an experience just like shopping.
Earn life-long shoppers and support sustainable shopping.
If you’re also looking into strategies for long-term growth, my article on best loyalty management systems covers how to drive customer retention effectively.
Key features:
- Automated Returns Management: Handles any scenario at scale, automating post-purchase workflows and tailoring return policies to your specific needs.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: Provides an intuitive self-service portal for returns and exchanges, offering socially and environmentally good alternatives to refunds.
- Revenue and Cost Optimization: Enables return coverage to shift costs, offers competitive shipping rates, and provides branded tracking to reduce support costs.
Learn more about ReturnGO features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: ReturnGO is a powerful choice for e-commerce businesses seeking the best returns management software, boasting a 39% retained revenue and a $1.95 increase in revenue per return. Its automation capabilities and comprehensive features address key pain points like high operational costs and customer dissatisfaction, making it a strategic asset for your business.
10. LateShipment
Are spiraling return costs consuming your revenue?
LateShipment’s platform delivers seamless returns and exchanges through self-service and automation. This directly tackles increasing return rates and complex reverse logistics.
You can offer self-serve returns and exchanges with automated workflows, reclaiming support hours spent on return requests. This simplifies cumbersome processes for customers and your team.
Reclaim lost revenue from inefficient returns.
LateShipment helps businesses like yours simplify return workflows and [elevate customer satisfaction]. You can also automate shipping insurance for lost or damaged packages, protecting your bottom line.
The platform provides branded return notifications and a comprehensive returns management portal. This offers real-time tracking capabilities and improves visibility into return patterns. It gives you crucial returns intelligence, empowering data-driven insights to [refine inventory decisions]. The system integrates with over 1200 tools, including popular e-commerce platforms and helpdesk tools, ensuring smooth operations.
Reduce operational costs and boost customer loyalty.
Key features:
- Self-serve Returns & Exchanges: Empowers customers to initiate returns easily, reducing your team’s manual workload and enhancing customer satisfaction.
- Automated Return Workflows: Streamlines your return policies and processes, ensuring consistent, efficient handling and significant cost savings.
- Returns Intelligence & Analytics: Provides valuable insights into return patterns, enabling informed decisions to reduce future returns and optimize inventory.
Learn more about LateShipment features, pricing, & alternatives →
Verdict: LateShipment’s self-serve returns, automated workflows, and returns intelligence capabilities make it an excellent choice as the best returns management software for simplifying your processes and retaining up to 40% of revenue, as highlighted by their users.
Conclusion
Returns are eating into your profits.
Choosing the right tool to manage reverse logistics is tough. A poor choice hurts your revenue and can damage the customer loyalty you’ve worked hard to build.
A poor returns process doesn’t just lose a sale; it can lose a customer for good. Getting this wrong is costly, creating a ripple effect on your brand’s reputation.
Here’s what I recommend.
After reviewing all the options, ZigZag is my top pick. It directly tackles high costs and simplifies complex reverse logistics for your small enterprise.
I love its focus on revenue retention through live exchanges and paid returns. This is why it’s the best returns management software—it actively turns a major cost center into a profit opportunity.
I highly suggest you book a free demo of ZigZag to see how its intelligent platform can streamline your operations and cut costs.
Your bottom line will thank you.
