Blue Yonder has acquired Optoro, a tech company specializing in returns management, to improve how returns are handled at warehouses and stores. Returns have become a challenging and costly aspect of modern retail logistics, with approximately 9.5 billion pounds of goods ending up in landfills annually. E-commerce returns totaled an estimated $890 billion, highlighting the urgency for better solutions.

The acquisition merges Optoro’s advanced processing technologies with Blue Yonder’s suite of returns tools, creating a unified platform supporting the entire returns lifecycle. This enhanced platform automates disposition, streamlining returns processing in warehouses and stores. It empowers businesses to operate specialized returns facilities efficiently and recover margin opportunities while enhancing sustainability practices.

The integrated recommerce capability helps brands identify and route resalable goods to reduce warehouse backlog and environmental waste. This aligns with the demand for sustainable supply chain practices. The acquisition extends Blue Yonder’s returns management solution, providing expanded capabilities to address the complexities of the returns lifecycle and enhance operational efficiency while promoting sustainable practices.

With this acquisition, returns processing can now be accelerated, reducing costs, labor expenses, and fraud risks. The solution also enhances environmental performance by reducing shipping, waste, and eliminating return labels. Blue Yonder’s momentum in delivering AI-enhanced supply chain solutions fortifies its leadership in creating sustainable and profitable operations for retailers, manufacturers, and logistics providers worldwide.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Blue Yonder acquires Optoro to streamline returns