Sorting returns with the MicroSorter
Many Dutch consumers have a distorted view of the number of returns. A recent survey found that 46% of the Dutch believe that between 30-50% of packages are returned. Moreover, one in five believe that even 50-80% of orders are returned. But how accurate are these assumptions really?
Return rates in the Netherlands
According to the ACM (Authority for Consumers and Markets) Postal and Parcel Monitor, about 473 million packages were sent to consumers in 2022, of which only 12.3% were returned. This is significantly lower than many consumers’ estimates. In fact, for most product categories, the return rate is around 5-7%.
Exceptions in the Fashion Industry
Clothing, however, is an exception to this rule. In the fashion industry, return rates of 30% are not uncommon, with outliers as high as 40-50%. This high return rate is mainly due to the fact that consumers often order multiple sizes and styles to try on at home, and then return the non-fitting items.
European Trends in Returns
In the largest European countries, we see similar trends in online returns, especially within the apparel, footwear and accessories categories. According to Statista, fashion items such as dresses show the highest return rates, with more than half of the dresses purchased being returned. Skirts follow with a 47% return rate. Shoes, especially slippers, pumps and ballerinas, are also among the most returned fashion products.
Sorting returns with a MicroSorter!
Given the significant amount of returns, averaging 12.3% of all packages returned annually, efficient sorting is essential for an e-commerce business. This is where the MicroSorter comes in as a good solution. This compact sorting system can process up to 1,500 products per hour, allowing returns to be sorted quickly and accurately.
The MicroSorter not only saves valuable time, but also optimizes the use of space in your warehouse. Thanks to its small size, the system can be easily integrated without major modifications to your existing infrastructure. The MicroSorter’s high accuracy ensures that products are always sorted to the correct destination, minimizing errors and increasing efficiency. This allows you to re-enter returned products into your storage faster and make them available for sale again, contributing to both customer satisfaction and operational cost savings.
