Reverse logistics is having a moment and for good reason. In today’s supply chain the story doesn’t end when a shipment arrives. In fact, for many businesses the “return trip” is where costs, customer loyalty, and sustainability are won or lost.
At DWS Logistics reverse logistics isn’t treated as an afterthought. It’s a strategic capability that helps our customers protect margins, improve customer experience, and keep inventory moving.
What is Reverse Logistics?
Reverse logistics is the process of moving goods back through the supply chain after delivery. That could mean returns, exchanges, repairs, recycling, or product disposal. Unlike traditional (forward) logistics this flow is often more complex – varying volumes, mixed product conditions, and multiple handling steps make it challenging yet full of opportunity.
E-Commerce Growth and Return Rates
E-commerce continues to be a major driver of reverse logistics demand. According to multiple sources, worldwide online retail sales are expected to keep growing at around 7 – 10% annually through the mid-2020s, with total global e-commerce revenue in the trillions of dollars in 2025 and beyond. These return volumes are a major operational and financial consideration for retailers and their logistics partners.
The Real Cost of “Just a Return”
A return isn’t just a shipment coming back – it triggers a chain of costs:
Transportation and handling
Receiving and inspection labour
Restocking or re-packaging
Inventory write-offs
Disposal fees
Lost resale value
Without a strong reverse process, returns quietly drain profitability. With the right strategy they can do the opposite.
How DWS Logistics Approaches Reverse Logistics
At DWS reverse logistics is built around speed, visibility, and value recovery. Our goal is simple: move returned goods through the system quickly and efficiently so customers can make the best decision to benefit their company.
Key capabilities include:
Returns receiving and processing
Quality inspection and sorting
Repackaging and relabeling (if required)
Refurbishment coordination
Restock-to-sell workflows
Disposal and recycling support
Returns reporting and performance insights
The Competitive Advantage
Companies that treat reverse logistics as a core operation don’t just reduce losses – they gain an edge. A well-run returns process improves:
Customer satisfaction
Inventory accuracy
Speed-to-resale
Sustainability performance
Operational efficiency
It also gives leadership better data on product quality, damage rates, and customer behavior, which can feed smarter decisions upstream.
The Bottom Line
Reverse logistics is a critical part of modern distribution and a powerful lever for profitability and customer loyalty.
At DWS Logistics we help customers turn returns into recovered value, operational clarity, and a stronger supply chain.
Because logistics shouldn’t stop at delivery – it should work in both directions.
Reverse logistics is having a moment and for good reason. In today’s supply chain the story doesn’t end when a shipment arrives. In fact, for many businesses the “return trip” is where costs, customer loyalty, and sustainability are won or lost.
At DWS Logistics reverse logistics isn’t treated as an afterthought. It’s a strategic capability that helps our customers protect margins, improve customer experience, and keep inventory moving.
What is Reverse Logistics?
Reverse logistics is the process of moving goods back through the supply chain after delivery. That could mean returns, exchanges, repairs, recycling, or product disposal. Unlike traditional (forward) logistics this flow is often more complex – varying volumes, mixed product conditions, and multiple handling steps make it challenging yet full of opportunity.
E-Commerce Growth and Return Rates
E-commerce continues to be a major driver of reverse logistics demand. According to multiple sources, worldwide online retail sales are expected to keep growing at around 7 – 10% annually through the mid-2020s, with total global e-commerce revenue in the trillions of dollars in 2025 and beyond. These return volumes are a major operational and financial consideration for retailers and their logistics partners.
The Real Cost of “Just a Return”
A return isn’t just a shipment coming back – it triggers a chain of costs:
Without a strong reverse process, returns quietly drain profitability. With the right strategy they can do the opposite.
How DWS Logistics Approaches Reverse Logistics
At DWS reverse logistics is built around speed, visibility, and value recovery. Our goal is simple: move returned goods through the system quickly and efficiently so customers can make the best decision to benefit their company.
Key capabilities include:
The Competitive Advantage
Companies that treat reverse logistics as a core operation don’t just reduce losses – they gain an edge. A well-run returns process improves:
It also gives leadership better data on product quality, damage rates, and customer behavior, which can feed smarter decisions upstream.
The Bottom Line
Reverse logistics is a critical part of modern distribution and a powerful lever for profitability and customer loyalty.
At DWS Logistics we help customers turn returns into recovered value, operational clarity, and a stronger supply chain.
Because logistics shouldn’t stop at delivery – it should work in both directions.