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It’s Time to Revisit your Reverse Logistics System

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Back in 2019, bracketing – otherwise known as the act of buying multiple similar products with the intent of returning them – was estimated to cost businesses up to $550 billion by 2020 as more online retailers move to offer free shipping. Now, while businesses continue to accommodate the surge in online shopping, that estimate can be expected to rise as home shoppers are unable to shop directly in store. 

Moreover, research suggests that four out of ten customers return products bought online. Because returned transactions can cost businesses up to 12$ per parcel, it is highly crucial that supply chains learn to maximize profitability at the face of increasing return rates. Expenditures are further increased when the following responses are taken into account:

  • Products may be stored in the wrong place and lost
  • Products may no longer be usable, ultimately ending up in landfills 
  • Workforce must spend extra time inspecting and refurbishing returned goods 
  • Customers will most likely turn elsewhere to find the product their seeking.

To minimize financial loss and chaos, Avalon Integration recommends revising your inventory management plan to provide your reverse logistics team with maximum visibility from door to dock.

Visibility is King

Warehouse worker in red shirt scanning barcodes

Protect your workflow from sudden influxes with a transparent inventory management system.

Between social distancing limitations and holiday surges, it’s safe to say reverse logistics will not disappear anytime soon. Protecting your workflow from sudden influxes, a transparent inventory management system allows your workforce to accurately track and move products and resources to where they are needed more. A few technologies currently increasing inventory visibility are:

  • RFID Locationing – Tracking moving inventory in real-time, RFID locationing allows you to verify incoming orders, accelerating your sorting and refurbishing process. 
  • Bluetooth Locationing – Serving as a more cost-effective solution compared to RFID technologies, BLE can help define storage zones within your warehouse, ensuring returned goods aren’t lost or misplaced on the wrong shelf. As a result, this also reduces the number of products disposed in landfills. 
  • Color labels – Stringently tested to endure harsh environments, Zebra’s Certified Consumables can maximize visibility by adding color into your labeling system. This allows workers to quickly identify products at a glance and minimize unnecessary labor efforts. 
  • Versatile data capture technology – Paired with either RFID tags or enterprise-grade labels, visibility technologies such as Zebra Rugged Tablets, give you access to your inventory’s status at the palm of your hand while also streamlining other functionalities through one ergonomic and durable device.

When done with the right tools and expertise, maximizing inventory visibility can be both seamless and profitable. To see how these technologies can fit into your workflow, contact our automation experts for a free assessment of your current reverse logistics strategy.

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9 Ways Quality Labels Maximize ROI

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If time is money, then it’s fair to assume no one wants to spend more time than necessary working with faulty labeling systems. From scraping misprinted labels to reprinting incorrect tags, inefficient labeling systems can drain time -and money- from your supply chain. While many factors can impact label efficiency, Avalon Integration focuses on a cost-effective and durable solution: Zebra Certified Printing Supplies. 

Thoroughly pre-tested for continued performance, Zebra’s quality consumables aggregate several unmatched benefits that simplify workflows. Ready to face wear and tear, Zebra labels go beyond eliminating extraneous labeling costs by reducing ownership costs in nine budget-friendly, eco-conscious, and brand-centered ways.

1. Maximize Printer Lifespan and Insure Zebra Quality Consumables

Maximize Printer Lifespan and Insure Zebra Quality Consumables

Designed with printers in mind, Zebra’s consumables are careful as they run through your printer, reducing printhead wear and premature printhead failure, which could cost productivity loss with surprise downtime. 

2. Reduce Return Charges from Inaccurate Work Orders

Reduce Return Charges from Inaccurate Work Orders

In 2016 the United States Postal Service reported 140 million returned packages, contributing to approximately $113 billion spent in returned online purchases. Inaccurate labels impact work orders since barcode information may not be readily legible. Made with resilient coating, Zebra labels remain legible throughout your supply chain.

3. Faster Replenishment

Faster Replenishment

Erase replenishment wait times since Zebra keeps over 400 synthetic labels and tags ready to ship within 24 hours. Maintain continuous uptime with rugged labels crafted for hard-to-label applications.

4. Print Only the Labels You Need

Print Only the Labels you need

The average American can use up to 650 pounds of paper per year. Though small, reducing the number of unnecessary labels printed can impact your company’s carbon footprint. Eliminate wasted paper with Zebra’s Continuous label to use up label surfaces intelligently.  

5. Create Strong Labels Without Harmful Plastics and Papers

Create Strong Labels without Harmful Plastics and Papers

Cheap plastics and threads leave behind printer-clogging debris and can result in an easily torn label. Count on long-lasting label performance when you design rugged labels. Use over 300 pretested materials and create a label suitable for your environment in and out of the warehouse.

6. Lessen Product Shrinkage with Trackable Labels

Tracking Labels

The longer labels last, the more visibility your supply chain maintains. Monitor and manage your inventory’s movement with labels that survive the industrial landscape. Plus, label shelves and aisles to further boost the visibility of your valuable assets.

7. Implement worker safety with printed visual cues and direct quality control

Implement Worker Safety with Printed Visual Cues and Direct Quality Control

Maximized visibility is not only beneficial to your customers. Create visible compliance labels and safety signs with color labels. Using Zebra’s IQ Color technology, give your labels a new level of versatility as they direct quality control, work in progress, and more.

8. Streamline workflows to lessen worker stress

Streamline Workflows to Lessen Worker Stress

Aisle, rack, and floor labels can work in conjunction to direct workers through your warehouse with minimal confusion. Furthermore, unadulterated barcodes drive down worker stress as they lead to more first-time successful scans.

9. Secure On-Time Deliveries with Shipping Labels That Last Outs

Secure on Time Deliveries with Shipping Labels that Last Outs

As e-commerce sets a new standard for delivery, your customers expect faster shipping rates. Therefore, shipping labels must be accurate and durable to withstand wherever field services take them, for missing/wrong shipment orders can stain customer satisfaction, possibly costing customer loyalty.

Don’t waste time with inferior labels. Boost your ROI with Avalon Integration’s labeling solutions. Speak to our warehousing experts for a free label assessment to find a solution that perfectly fits your needs.  

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