Glossar

Reverse Logistics refers to the planning, management, and execution of the flow of goods from the end customer back to the manufacturer, retailer, or a recycling facility. It encompasses all processes involved in returning products for reuse, repair, refurbishment, take-back, or disposal.

Reverse logistics is a central component of modern supply chains and supports sustainable and economically viable business models. In addition to returns, this area also includes recycling, refurbishment, exchange programs, and the return of load carriers. Digital systems and automated data collection ensure transparency, shorten processing times, and enable efficient management of return processes.

Practical example:
A defective device is returned by the customer, automatically recorded, and—after inspection—either repaired, remanufactured, or sent for recycling.

See also: Supply chain, material flow, pallet management, returns management, supply chain management, goods flow, Warehouse Management System (WMS)