When running a Shopify store, it’s important to know how to manage returns and exchanges effectively. While there are various ways to manage Shopify returns and exchanges, the most efficient way is to use return automation.
Return automation helps take the hassle out of managing returns and exchanges while also providing a better customer experience.
Follow these simple tips to ensure that your Shopify returns and exchanges are handled smoothly and efficiently.
Why You Should Automate Your Shopify Returns & Exchanges
Although Shopify offers basic functionality for returns and exchanges, it involves a lot of manual work and isn’t very customer-friendly.
In order to deliver a better returns experience, use a returns management app that integrates with Shopify.
By automating the returns process, you can provide a much better customer experience while reducing the amount of time and effort required to manage returns.
An automated returns management system:
1. Makes it easier to manage returns.
2. Allows for different processes for different types of items.
3. Increases the efficiency of your returns process.
4. Provides a better post-purchase customer experience.
There are always exceptions you need to be able to solve as quickly as possible, so instead of wasting time and energy on basic tasks, automate them and focus your attention where it’s needed.
Benefits of Automating Shopify Returns & Exchanges
Using a returns management app can help streamline the returns process and make your life much easier when selling on Shopify.
Trying to keep track of returns, associated values, and customer correspondence can be daunting and time-consuming using a manual system such as an excel spreadsheet.
Here are a few benefits of automating your Shopify returns:
Offer Self-Service Returns
Set up a self-service return portal for customers to easily request a return or exchange.
Include visible links to your return portal on all your online store’s pages so they can easily request a return or exchange.
On the return portal, customers can:
- Easily find their order.
- Initiate a return themselves instead of contacting customer support.
- Select which item they want to return and why.
- Request a refund, exchange, or store credit.
You can customize your return portal to match your brand colors, fonts, and voice, so that your customers get a consistent experience across your entire store.
Easily Track Returns Data and Analytics
Using an automated returns management system makes it easy for you to track your returns and collect data, giving you insight into your products, customers, and business operations.
Returns data you can track includes:
- Common return reasons
- Frequently returned products
- Product return and exchange rates
- And more
Analyzing customer returns behavior can help you identify which parts of the business can be improved to reduce return rates and increase customer loyalty.
Manage All Your Returns in One Place
Track and manage your return requests in one place with a returns management dashboard.
Keep track of all your return requests at a glance and track the status of each one.
Automate return processing, so that you don’t have to approve each return manually. Set up custom return policy rules and conditions to make sure your customers only return eligible items.
Integrating your return workflow with your Shopify store allows you to manage returns and exchanges quickly and efficiently without involving your customer support team.
5 Steps to Automate Your Shopify Return Process
The best way to streamline your business is to automate your Shopify return process. Automating your returns makes it easy for customers to return items and minimizes the impact on your business.
Set yourself up for success by automating your return process:
1. Create a Clearly-Defined Return Policy
Create a clearly-defined return policy to ensure that customers feel comfortable making purchases knowing how they can return items if needed.
Clearly state the following in your return policy:
- Types of items that are returnable
- Return window length
- Process for returning an item
- Conditions of the return (e.g. must be in original packaging)
- Restocking fees
- Shipping costs for returned items
By taking the time to create a return policy that is clear and concise, you can give your customers the peace of mind they need to buy from your business with confidence.
2. Clearly Display the Return Policy on Your Website
Be sure to communicate your return policy clearly to customers, displaying it prominently on your website footer, header, product pages, and checkout.
Most customers read a return policy before placing an order, making your return policy one of the most frequently visited pages on your site, so make sure it’s easy to find and understand.
Easy access to your return policy helps ensure your customers understand what to expect and feel confident in buying from you.
3. Design a Branded Return Portal
Create a fully branded return portal to match your brand to provide a consistent brand experience for your customers and make it easy for them to return items.
By taking the time to design a branded return portal, you’re showing your customers that you care about their experience even after they’ve made a purchase.
A generic return portal can create suspicion about entering personal details, which can result in more pressure on your support team to field inquiries from confused customers. Therefore, it is important to have a branded return portal in place.
Customizing a branded return portal helps build customer loyalty and creates a seamless return experience. By using your brand colors, logo, and messaging, you strengthen your brand identity and improve customer relationships.
4. Integrate Your Shipping Carriers
Connect to the shipping carriers and logistics providers you already use to streamline the returns process and sync all your information.
By integrating with these providers, you can take advantage of their features and benefits to make the returns process simpler and more efficient. By integrating with these providers, you can ensure that your inventory, shipping, and tracking information is up-to-date and accurate.
Generate return shipping labels automatically and integrate your order data for easy returns and exchanges. Connect to your favorite tools and systems to save time and streamline your workflow.
5. Collect Customer Feedback
Collecting customer feedback is crucial for improving your products and services and increasing your NPS. Have customers submit reasons for returning items, and track your returns analytics to gain actionable insights into your returns process.
By tracking your returns data you can identify patterns and trends that can indicate products or services that have room for improvement.
Track the reasons your customers give for returning items, and request images as evidence to see what the problem was with the product they returned.
Making changes based on customer feedback is essential for staying relevant and improving.
Shopify Returns and Exchanges Made Easy
If you’re looking to streamline your returns process, a returns management app like ReturnGO is a great option. ReturnGO integrates seamlessly with your Shopify store, making it easy to manage returns and exchanges.
Check out ReturnGO on Shopify and start streamlining your returns now. Automate your returns to provide a smoother and more convenient experience for your customers while reducing the amount of time and effort you need to put into managing returns.
