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~ Lorna Leaver ~

COLUMN

HELPING RETAILERS MANAGE THOSE RETURNS

We all know that consumers love to try before they buy. But recently this behaviour has snowballed into the
phenomenon known as the ‘serial returner’ – and these consumers are on the rise. In addition, consumers are making
full use of the many diff erent return channels available to them and expect the returns to be free.

his is becoming a headache for retailers and adds further We have started to see parts of the industry try out the new
T complications and costs to their returns process. guidelines and implement them within their businesses, for
example:
Back in 2015, GS1 UK identifi ed this growing problem of
returns from online shopping and created a working group of Inner city logistics
leading UK retailers, to fi nd a common solution. Minimising Parcel hubs collect parcels from diff erent carriers, assemble and
the number of diff erent channel return labels was key, to reduce ship them to the destination address. Goederenhub/Eco2city, in
labelling costs and confusion for customers. A single tracking the Netherlands, was the fi rst parcel hub to implement this way
code or standard identifi er was essential. of working and is now helping to roll out this technology among
500 European city logistic networks.
GS1 standards provided the solution: the Serial Shipping
Container Code (SSCC). Already widely used in the retail Cross-border delivery
industry, the SSCC fi ts the criteria of providing a universal Th e EU is working on a revision of the VAT regulation, in order
solution; it is agnostic to channel and works cross-border. to collect VAT on low value consignments, which are currently
still out of scope of the customs procedures. Most of these low
Following a lobby from the UK and Netherlands; the EU value consignments are handled by postal organisations, who are
mandated CEN (Th e European committee for standardisation) to members of the UPU. Th e EU has mandated CEN to develop a
develop a technical specifi cation for a European harmonised parcel specifi cation for electronic advanced data, to support the custom
label to support cross-border deliveries in a digital single market. declaration of these consignments by all carriers, enabling
more choice for shippers of parcels. Th e development of these
Let’s get a bit technical specifi cations is still a work in progress.
Th is specifi cation combines the existing (internal) postal
standard from the Universal Postal Union with the (open) GS1 Along with the Dutch city logistics implementation, we have
Logistics Label. It may contain two barcodes: shipped parcels with Harmonised Parcel Labels including the
GS1 SSCC, through the network of DHL and DSV in Sweden.
Th e GS1 Logistics label is also used in many deliveries to retail
outlet throughout the world.

1. one the proprietary barcode of the For more information, have a look at our guide on our website:
carrier or the UPU S10 barcode. https://www.gs1uk.org/support/how-to-guides/gs1-logistics-label-and-ssccs

If you would like to know about harmonised parcel labels or how
to start using these within your business, please get in touch by
2. one at the lowest position being the emailing: [email protected] or call: (+44) (0)20 7092 3501
GS1 SSCC, assigned by the shipper
and acting as the reference ID for all
parties involved in the delivery.
Lorna is an experienced ecommerce professional working for GS1UK, the standards or-
ganisation behind the barcode. She managed multiple marketplaces for several global
Th e Harmonised Parcel Label TC 17073 is available in the UK,
brands over the years giving a well rounded background in international and cross-
through the standards organisation BIS. Th e GS1 logistic Label
border trading before moving to a non for profi t to focus on helping SMEs to grow their
guideline includes an example without a proprietary or UPU
businesses through online channels.
barcode that is compliant with this specifi cation.

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