For Reverse Logistics, the Time Is Now

by Eileen Brown

Reverse logistics is making a comeback as a supply chain opportunity, but this time it has a new style. The fundamentals of cost reduction, supply chain velocity, and flexibility in responding to demand fluctuations, which were in vogue in the past, are being refashioned to leverage the process to foster new insights and better collaboration with customers. This makeover is starting to catch the attention of companies that are trying to build greater customer intimacy. To examine new opportunities in reverse logistics, the Cutter Benchmark Review research team formulated a survey to explore the degree to which companies are feeling the need for a makeover in this turbulent economy. Are they interested in connecting the dots across their business to glean more insightful information from their customers? To what extent have they leveraged reverse logistics to achieve this end?