Retail Returns Management and Liquidation Solutions
by Ashok Balasubramanian 
Updated: Apr 13, 2022
Solution Kit
Did you know that the value of Online Returns is more than the US Defense Budget? CNBC reported that in 2021 the US online returns were estimated to be at $761 Billion, while the US Defense budget was $741 Billion. Now that you know the scale of this problem or opportunity, it would be surprising to note that few platforms serve this industry. The returns and the used market has been able to soften the supply chain constraints in the recent past in categories like electronics. Today about two-thirds of the returns are processed through reselling, liquidation and donations. About a third ends up in landfills, or its better-sounding alternative of “Energy Recovery,” which sadly means incineration! Given the focus on sustainability, it becomes more critical to ensure that returns are processed through the circular economy more efficiently. This is the idea that we should be reusing and recycling existing materials rather than creating new ones, so that we don't consume our natural resources faster than they can replenish themselves. One important place to implement this concept is in online returns management. The e-commerce industry has grown steadily over the past two decades, and it's projected to keep growing by leaps and bounds over the next few years. As these companies become more efficient at scaling their processes, online shopping will increasingly become the norm—and that means we will have a lot more waste from packaging and discarded returns. In addition, as consumers become more sophisticated in their understanding of sustainable practices, they are becoming less tolerant of wasteful packaging and discarded returns. In fact, many return customers have said that they would not shop with a brand again if it used too much packaging for their order. It's important for companies with big e-commerce operations to find ways to reduce this waste and optimize returns. There are opportunities across the value chain such as better product discovery to minimize incorrect purchases and returns, better demand planning to optimize overstock, fraud management in returns, liquidation marketplaces, and becoming a YouTube influencer unboxing mystery return pallets! For more information on the CNBC report, visit: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/02/19/inside-liquidity-services-and-the-644-billion-liquidation-market.html For ideas and libraries to get you jumpstarted on the circular economy use cases use the below libraries.
Supply Chain Optimization Libraries
These libraries help you avoid waste through planning, tracking and optimization solutions.
167 Version:Current
License: No License (null)A project on using mathematical programming to solve multi-modal transportation cost minimization in goods delivery and supply chain management.
multimodal-transportation-optimizationby hzjken
Python 167 Version:Current License: No License
IoT-AssetTracking-Perishable-Network-Blockchainby johnwalicki
55 Version:CurrentUse an IoT Asset Tracking device to record environmental sensor conditions to a Hyperledger Blockchain Perishable Network
IoT-AssetTracking-Perishable-Network-Blockchainby johnwalicki
JavaScript 55 Version:Current License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)
ofbiz-frameworkby apache
548 Version:CurrentApache OFBiz is an open source product for the automation of enterprise processes. It includes framework components and business applications for ERP, CRM, E-Business/E-Commerce, Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing Resource Planning. OFBiz provides a foundation and starting point for reliable, secure and scalable enterprise solutions.
ofbiz-frameworkby apache
Java 548 Version:Current License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)
maroby microsoft
716 Version:maro-0.3.2a3Multi-Agent Resource Optimization (MARO) platform is an instance of Reinforcement Learning as a Service (RaaS) for real-world resource optimization problems.
maroby microsoft
Python 716 Version:maro-0.3.2a3 License: Permissive (MIT)
return-predictionsby danyalahmed247
0 Version:Current License: No License (null)HU Assignment for Business Analystics and Data Science. Predicting returns for an online retail store.
return-predictionsby danyalahmed247
Jupyter Notebook 0 Version:Current License: No License
FRESCO-RETAILby ChandrimaThakur
0 Version:Current License: No License (null)The data analyses Fresco Retail’s customer's transaction data to predict return decision using various data points like customer background, payment modes, store types, product nature, etc.To study the influence of different transaction data points and their impact on a customer’s final decision to return the products bought in a transaction.
FRESCO-RETAILby ChandrimaThakur
Jupyter Notebook 0 Version:Current License: No License
forecastingby microsoft
2548 Version:v0.2.0Time Series Forecasting Best Practices & Examples
forecastingby microsoft
Python 2548 Version:v0.2.0 License: Permissive (MIT)
Simple Retail Storefronts and Auctions
These libraries help you build storefronts and auctions for return, used products returning them to the circular economy.
shopizerby shopizer-ecommerce
3143 Version:3.2.5Shopizer java e-commerce software
shopizerby shopizer-ecommerce
Java 3143 Version:3.2.5 License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)
laravel-ecommerceby avored
1425 Version:3.34 License: No License (null)AvoRed an Open Source Laravel Shopping Cart
laravel-ecommerceby avored
TypeScript 1425 Version:3.34 License: No License
retail-demo-storeby aws-samples
588 Version:CurrentAWS Retail Demo Store is a sample retail web application and workshop platform demonstrating how AWS infrastructure and services can be used to build compelling customer experiences for eCommerce, retail, and digital marketing use-cases
retail-demo-storeby aws-samples
Jupyter Notebook 588 Version:Current License: Permissive (MIT-0)
hello-retailby Nordstrom
561 Version:Current“Hello, Retail!” is an open-source, mobile-first, 100% serverless functional proof-of-concept showcasing a complete event sourcing approach applied to the retail platform space.
hello-retailby Nordstrom
JavaScript 561 Version:Current License: Permissive (Apache-2.0)
aimeosby aimeos
3281 Version:CurrentIntegrated online shop based on Laravel 9 and the Aimeos e-commerce framework for ultra-fast online shops, scalable marketplaces, complex B2B applications and #gigacommerce
aimeosby aimeos
JavaScript 3281 Version:Current License: Permissive (MIT)
wordpress-instagram-shopby supadupa
1 Version:Current License: No License (null)The Wordpress plugin for Snapppt - allows for easy embedding of your Instagram feed, for easy Instagram shopping via Hotspots for your customers.
wordpress-instagram-shopby supadupa
PHP 1 Version:Current License: No License
greenlineshopby EmaBonitoCruz
0 Version:Current License: No License (null)A second-hand shop on Instagram, created as an academic project.
greenlineshopby EmaBonitoCruz
HTML 0 Version:Current License: No License
expressCartby mrvautin
2199 Version:CurrentA fully functioning Node.js shopping cart with Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, PayWay, Blockonomics, Adyen, Zip and Instore payments.
expressCartby mrvautin
JavaScript 2199 Version:Current License: Permissive (MIT)
PrestaShopby PrestaShop
7275 Version:8.1.0-rc.1PrestaShop is the universal open-source software platform to build your e-commerce solution.
PrestaShopby PrestaShop
PHP 7275 Version:8.1.0-rc.1 License: Others (Non-SPDX)
saleorby mirumee
13983 Version:3.0.0-b.19A modular, high performance, headless e-commerce platform built with Python, GraphQL, Django, and React.
saleorby mirumee
Python 13983 Version:3.0.0-b.19 License: Others (Non-SPDX)
refurbishedby zmoog
10 Version:v0.11.0Python packace to access the products information available on the Apple Certified Refurbished section of the Apple Store.
refurbishedby zmoog
HTML 10 Version:v0.11.0 License: Permissive (MIT)
auction-websiteby jimouris
49 Version:Current:label: An e-commerce marketplace template. An online auction and shopping website for buying and selling a wide variety of goods and services worldwide.
auction-websiteby jimouris
Java 49 Version:Current License: Permissive (MIT)
Refurb_Storeby Eric-Gomes
0 Version:Current License: No License (null)My Ecommerce Store for Refurbished Products
Refurb_Storeby Eric-Gomes
JavaScript 0 Version:Current License: No License
Refurbishment Managementby gunedaa
0 Version:Current License: No License (null)This is a "Refurbishment Management" app which enables managing the different phases of a refurbishment process by 5 interfaces: General Overview, IGT, MR, CT and SUR.
Refurbishment Managementby gunedaa
C# 0 Version:Current License: No License
silent-auction-rnby benawad
34 Version:Current License: No License (null)A Silent Auction app built with React Native
silent-auction-rnby benawad
JavaScript 34 Version:Current License: No License
recycling-trackerby zero-to-mastery
18 Version:Current"A game style app that tracks the amount of waste that you have recycled and where, then calculates the amount of landfill that you prevented overall. Giving you bragging rights on your favorite social media platform."
recycling-trackerby zero-to-mastery
JavaScript 18 Version:Current License: Permissive (MIT)