Ultimate Guide to Returns Notifications in 2024

Businesses have recognized the importance of implementing returns notifications to address these concerns: 44% of shoppers rate returns notifications as one of the key elements of the best returns experience. In eCommerce, returns and exchanges are an inevitable part of the customer experience. Customers often find themselves concerned about the return process, its efficiency, and the overall experience it provides.

In this ultimate guide, we will explore the concept of returns notifications, why they are crucial for your eCommerce store, the various types available, recommended software solutions, and how you can craft effective returns notifications. So let's dive in!

What are Returns Notifications?

Return notifications are messages (usually by email) sent by a business to customers, starting when the customer initiates a return or exchange request.

Returns notifications serve as an effective means of communication between your store and customers during the returns process. They provide clear instructions for returns, notify internal teams for streamlined operations, and offer personalized updates to keep customers informed.

Why is it Important to Have Returns Notifications?

Returns notifications offer substantial advantages for both customers and e-commerce businesses. From building customer loyalty and enhancing brand recognition to improving the return process's efficiency, these notifications have become an indispensable component of a successful e-commerce strategy.

Drive Customer Loyalty and Reduce Inquiries

By proactively communicating with customers throughout the return process, businesses can foster a sense of trust and reliability.

By delivering on-time updates about the return status via email, businesses provide customers with a sense of security and peace of mind. This reassurance helps customers feel confident and valued, knowing that their returns are being handled promptly and efficiently. This level of transparency and attentiveness helps build long-term relationships, driving customer loyalty and reducing the number of support inquiries regarding return status.

Enhance Brand Recognition

Returns notifications present an excellent opportunity for businesses to reinforce their brand identity. Through well-crafted emails, companies can leverage this communication channel to further enhance brand recognition.

By aligning the design, tone, and messaging of the notification emails with the overall brand image, businesses create a cohesive and memorable experience for customers. Such consistency contributes to reinforcing the brand's presence in customers' minds, potentially leading to repeat purchases and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.

Streamline the Return Process

Various return notification emails cater to different stages of the return journey, including return request confirmations, return shipment updates, and return resolution notifications. These tailored notifications not only keep customers informed but also streamline the overall return process. By saving customers' time and effort, businesses can ensure a more efficient and satisfactory experience, ultimately increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

How do Returns Notifications Work?

Usually, there are two types of return notifications: those sent to customers and those sent to merchants.

Send to Customers

Throughout the return process, customers receive various types of notification emails that address different statuses of the returned product. These notifications can be related to the customer’s return request, return shipment, return resolution, or even reminders.

To illustrate, AfterShip’s returns management software offers a returns notification function that allows merchants to trigger email notifications for 13 key return statuses. These notifications are sent automatically at each step of the returns process to convey important information to the customer. Below is a list of the 13 statuses and their respective meanings:

Key Components of a Return Notification

The following information should be included in a return confirmation email, as it plays a crucial role in giving customers a better understanding of the return process.

• RMA ID
• Customer Name
• Order Number
• Store Name
• Shipping Instructions
• Contact

Internal notifications

These notifications serve the purpose of promoting transparency among your customer service team while facilitating prompt resolution of critical return, refund, and exchange matters.

Internal notifications come in two distinct types. Firstly, there are general internal notifications, which encompass standard returns status updates and weekly reports. These provide you with a comprehensive overview of the ongoing return processes. Secondly, there are notifications specifically designed for failed auto-triggered actions. These notifications aim to promptly address any issues that may arise during automated processes.

General

These are the most common email types sent to organization members.

Automation failed

Manage the email content and recipients when an automated action fails.

With internal notifications, you can effortlessly stay informed about the latest updates regarding returns that require immediate attention. You have the flexibility to choose which notifications you and your organization members receive by selecting the desired email recipients from the list provided under "Recipients.”

Software that Brings You the Best Returns Notifications

Returns management software is a specialized tool or system that helps eCommerce businesses automate and optimize the handling of returns. These software can help merchants better handle returns notifications and improve the efficiency of automation.

Additional features that returns management software may offer:

• Customizable Return Notification Emails: Increase brand recognition with customized email notifications of return updates.
• Custom HTML template: Have the most control over your email content for technically savvy marketers.
• Remove Solution Branding/White-Labeled Notifications: Foster brand awareness with fully branded notifications without the Returns Center's stamp.
• Multi-Language Emails: Serve customers better globally. Delight your customers with multilingual email notifications to enhance the returns experience.
• Internal Merchant Notifications (Request Received, Expirations, etc): Keep your warehouse informed too.

If you want to take advantage of these features and boost the effect of your returns notifications, you can choose to use returns management software to create returns notifications. We have put together a list of the Returns Notifications features of the most popular returns management software available in 2024.

Learn more about what other features these softwares offer.

Craft Returns Notifications Now

If you are looking to learn more about returns notifications or if your business is experiencing specific returns needs, we are here to help. Talk to our expert now!