Reselogistik

Reselogistik, or reverse logistics, refers to the process of moving goods from their final destination back through the supply chain for purposes other than original sale. It encompasses the handling of product returns, warranty repairs, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling, and proper disposal, with the aim of recovering value and reducing environmental impact. Reselogistik complements forward logistics by organizing the backward flow of goods from customers, retailers, manufacturers, or repair centers.

Core activities include receiving and inspecting returned items, sorting by disposition (resell as refurbished, repurpose for parts, recycle materials, donate, or discard), deciding whether items should be repaired, refurbished, remanufactured, or recycled, and reintegrating recovered products or materials into inventory or downstream markets. The process often involves data sanitization for electronics, asset tagging, and integration with ERP, WMS, and TMS systems to track costs, stock levels, and timelines.

Benefits of effective reselogistik include cost recovery from returned goods, higher customer satisfaction through easy returns, reduced waste, compliance with environmental regulations, and support for a circular economy. It can also lower logistics and disposal costs and create new revenue streams from refurbished products or recyclables.

Key challenges are unpredictable return volumes, product heterogeneity, uncertain resale value, high reverse logistics costs, and regulatory or privacy requirements. Tracking and traceability, coordinating multiple partners, and aligning reverse flows with forward supply chains add complexity.

Technologies such as barcoding, RFID, and lifecycle management software enable visibility and optimization, while industry practices reference standards around quality, safety, and environmental management. Reselogistik is increasingly central to sustainability strategies in retail, manufacturing, electronics, and automotive sectors.