How capillarity in reverse logistics has boosted retail businesses

The growth of e-commerce in Brazil has brought many business opportunities, but also significant logistical challenges. In 2023, global online sales reached US$1.4 trillion, and the construction of new warehouse space exceeded 148 million square meters, according to data from the NAIOP portal. In Brazil, the increasing volume of returns reinforces the need for a network of collection points capable of efficiently serving different regions.

Faced with this challenge, capillarity has become a survival factor for companies seeking to optimize reverse logistics and offer better solutions to consumers.

Challenges of a continental country

In a country as vast as Brazil, reverse logistics faces challenges ranging from transportation to collection in remote locations. Electronic devices such as modems, routers, and set-top boxes require efficient systems for collection, transportation, and refurbishing or recycling.

Without a well-structured collection network, companies may suffer from high transportation costs, delays, and difficulties in meeting consumer demands.

A specialist in telecommunications logistics solutions, PostalGow has found a way to overcome these barriers through its extensive reach. With over 6,300 postal agencies and 2,800 return stations equipped to receive, deliver, return, and store packages across the country, the company facilitates the return of equipment by consumers in various locations. This structure reduces operating costs for contracting parties and more quickly meets the needs of retailers and end customers.

Practical and technological solutions

Reverse logistics requires more than a broad network; it also requires technology integration to ensure operational efficiency. PostalGow developed the DevolvaFácil platform, which offers integrated solutions for agile and traceable product returns. The tool is compatible with contracting companies' ERP systems, enabling automated returns management and real-time monitoring of each stage of the process.

Carlos Tanaka, founder of PostalGow, explains that technology is one of the pillars of operational capillarity. "Decentralized collection points, integrated with monitoring systems, ensure efficiency and control. This allows companies to handle peaks in demand, such as those experienced on Black Friday, without compromising service quality," he explains.

At PostalGow Distribution Centers, strategically located in regions such as Barueri, Manaus, Brasília, and Porto Alegre, collected items undergo sorting, reconditioning, and recycling. This approach ensures that equipment is recovered or disposed of correctly, promoting practices aligned with environmental and sustainability standards.

Customer experience

In addition to optimizing companies' logistics processes, capillarity also improves the consumer experience. The ease of returning products to nearby locations and the offer of incentives, such as discounts or loyalty programs, make the reverse logistics process more accessible.

Tanaka emphasizes that proximity between collection points and consumers reduces barriers to product returns. "Easy access to return points encourages customer participation and reinforces the image of companies as committed to practical and sustainable solutions," he states.

Benefits for the retail market

In retail, broad-based reverse logistics offers significant benefits. Companies reduce their transportation and storage costs, in addition to improving inventory management efficiency. Integrating collection and distribution systems with advanced technology also allows for greater predictability and control over operations.

With its end-to-end approach, PostalGow delivers solutions that cover everything from collection to reconditioning and final delivery of equipment. In 2023, the company recorded growth of 60%, strengthening its position as a leader in the reverse logistics sector in Brazil.