ReturnBear was named an overall Supply & Demand Chain Executive winner for this year's Top Supply Chain Projects award.
Customer client: ReturnBear
About the project: This project focuses on solving today's reverse logistics problems at scale by reimagining returns as a core part of the e-commerce supply chain, not an afterthought. It emphasizes the need for end-to-end visibility, centralized return hubs, and technology that automates routing, tracking, and decision-making, ultimately reducing operational drag, warehouse inefficiency, and customer churn.
Solution: ReturnBear is transforming reverse logistics with a purpose-built, cross-border returns management platform that integrates software, services, and physical infrastructure to make returns seamless, sustainable, and scalable.
The journey begins at the point of return. Shoppers access a branded, mobile-optimized returns portal that makes it easy to initiate returns and encourages store credit and exchanges, helping merchants retain more revenue. Customers are offered convenient label-free, package-free drop-off options through ReturnBear’s nationwide Canadian network of return hubs and drop-off partners. Behind the scenes, ReturnBear’s returns orchestration engine routes returns intelligently based on the product condition, geography, and merchant rules. This allows for faster processing, reduced transportation emissions (by up to 40%), and up to 60% lower shipping costs for retailers. For international returns, ReturnBear manages cross-border complexity through localized return hubs that aggregate shipments, reduce international paperwork, and consolidate freight. This reduces the overhead for global merchants and enables streamlined customs processing and faster refunds, even for international shoppers. One of the most innovative features is Micro-Forward Fulfillment. When a return is dropped off, it is inspected, repackaged, and made resale-ready immediately, without being routed back to a central warehouse. Using ReturnBear’s data engine, returned items can be rerouted and shipped to the next closest customer in that country, shortening the supply chain, reducing waste, and capturing revenue faster. Throughout the process, ReturnBear’s platform captures detailed return analytics and product feedback, enabling merchants to identify trends like frequent return reasons or product defects. These insights help improve product design, sizing, and marketing, reducing return rates over time.
Results: In 2025, Resultco, a watch manufacturer, faced significant challenges managing product returns, leading to considerable financial losses. By partnering with ReturnBear, the company was able to streamline its return process, saving an average of $12-15 per return. With over 1,000 orders processed monthly and a return rate of 10-12%, these savings amounted to approximately $1,200 per month, or $15,000 annually. Orva, an e-retailer, faced challenges in streamlining its return process. ReturnBear stepped in and successfully managed peak return volumes of up to 3,000 per day, all while significantly reducing shipping errors. This improvement enhanced efficiency and boosted Orva's scalability.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the 2025 Top Supply Chain Project winners.
