Electronics Fulfillment: The Growing Role of Reverse Logistics

Scott Hothem • August 15, 2014

After a long spring and summer, football is finally back on the horizon. NFL teams are in camp, preseason games are quickly approaching and this is the year you’ve finally decided to upgrade your viewing experience. We’re not talking about season tickets. This is better. A brand new, 70-inch ultra HD television. The gameday experience is going to come alive in your living room. It will be as if you’re actually on the field. 


So the day finally comes. The delivery truck has left your driveway and as you peel the box back you notice a crack that spans from one corner to the center of the screen. Luckily for you, there are still a few days before the first game kicks off. For the electronics retailer and manufacturer, this will be another component that enters the reverse logistics cycle.


Reverse logistics is a long overlooked element of the total product lifecycle. While forward logistics commands focus (the flow of products from the factory to the end user), reverse logistics occurs after a product has reached the customer. The world of reverse logistics encompasses everything from returns, repairs, warranty recovery, recalls, refurbishment and everything that sends the product back away from the consumer.


Electronics and technology products boast the highest rate of return out of any industry, where 20% of devices are returned. The key reason that reverse logistics needs to be a focus in this industry is due to the quick lifecycle for these high velocity products. With the rapid development of new devices, the window to generate revenue from current models is increasingly short. Streamlining reverse logistics operations cannot only improve the bottom line, but also the customer experience.


Visibility in reverse logistics is historically low. Traditionally seen as a simple cost center, a poorly managed reverse logistics process leaves a lot of money on the table. In 2010, Aberdeen prepared a study showing that manufacturers spent anywhere from 9 to 15 percent of revenues on returns (wow!). Preparing a focused reverse logistics strategy can recoup some of this lost revenue. 


Obviously, the best way to recoup lost revenue from returns is to get products back to the marketplace as quickly as possible. A study by Resolve shows that 70 to 85 percent of electronics that are returned and tested have no defects. This is a key statistic, because when a finished product is priced and sold, it includes the potential costs of service and parts. When returns are mismanaged, these parts and products cost the company more than intended, meaning money is left on the table. However, when a company can deem a product as “No Fault Found” and navigate it back into its supply, that company just saved 100 percent of its material cost. So how can reverse logistics be an optimized element that enhances the entire supply chain?


  1. Increase visibility: Integrating technology to promote visibility across the entire fulfillment operation can streamline both forward and reverse logistics.
  2. Velocity: Focus on a strategy to get products and parts back into the market and to customers as quickly as possible. Build the infrastructure to be able to manage, repackage and remarket returns.


With companies shifting more resources to the end of the product lifecycle, reverse logistics will become a more defined competitive advantage for entities that can reclaim lost revenues quickly. At Barrett Distribution Centers, the resources, tools and skills required to meet the increasing retail and electronic sector demands have been developed and proven.

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Outgrowing Your Fulfillment? How to Scale Without Slowing Down

By Katherine Wroth • February 18, 2025
What happens when your business takes off overnight? E-commerce brands don’t fail because they can’t sell. They fail because they can’t fulfill. If you’re an e-Comm. brand, you probably started your business with a system that met your needs at the time. However, success can quickly become challenging without a flexible fulfillment strategy, leading to higher costs, bottlenecks and frustrated customers. In this post, we’ll discuss how scalable fulfillment impacts your business and how to find the right 3PL partner to keep operations running smoothly. What Is Scalable E-commerce Fulfillment? Scalable fulfillment refers to a logistics provider’s ability to adjust operations to accommodate fluctuating order volumes. This includes adapting labor resources, leveraging automation, optimizing warehouse management and fine-tuning order processing. If any part of this system fails to scale effectively, inefficiencies arise—delays, errors and unhappy customers. While early-stage businesses often prioritize affordability and convenience when selecting a fulfillment solution, building scalability into your strategy early on is key to long-term success. Why Scalability Matters in Fulfillment 1. Self-Fulfillment Can Only Take You So Far Most e-commerce businesses start by fulfilling orders themselves. This makes sense—it’s cost-effective and gives merchants complete control over packaging and shipping. In the early days, you only needed was storage space, shipping materials and a label printer. But as sales grow, the limitations of self-fulfillment become clear. More orders mean more inventory, packaging and labor. Maintaining order tracking, SKU management and shipping deadlines becomes a full-time job. Without the right infrastructure, delays mount, errors increase and customers look elsewhere. 2. Maintaining Quality as You Scale You can inspect every package with a low order volume, ensuring accuracy and crafting a great unboxing experience. But as demand grows, maintaining that same attention to detail becomes difficult. Many 3PLs struggle to replicate the same personalized experience, which can impact customer loyalty. Scaling fulfillment ensures that your customers continue to receive the quality they expect—even as order volumes grow. 3. Managing Seasonal Peaks and Slowdowns Many e-commerce businesses experience fluctuating demand. Whether it’s holiday shopping surges or slow post-season periods, fulfillment operations must be agile enough to scale up or down.  Without a flexible system, brands may overinvest in infrastructure they don’t always need or face fulfillment slowdowns when they need to ramp up. A scalable fulfillment partner helps you adjust resources, preventing costly inefficiencies. What to Look for in a Scalable Fulfillment Partner If your business is growing, choosing the right 3PL partner is critical. Here’s what to prioritize: 1. A Nationwide Fulfillment Network A single fulfillment center can quickly become overwhelmed. Instead, look for a partner with multiple strategically located warehouses . This allows you to: ✅ Speed up delivery times by distributing inventory closer to customers ✅ Prevent bottlenecks by shifting fulfillment to different locations ✅ Ensure seamless fulfillment even during unexpected surges 2. Automated Fulfillment Solutions Automation reduces reliance on seasonal labor, improves accuracy and speeds up order processing. With ongoing labor shortages, 3PLs integrating automation—such as robotic picking, AI-driven inventory management and automated sorting—offer a significant advantage. 3. Technology That Grows with You Your fulfillment partner’s tech stack should handle your business’s growth—not just for today but for years to come. Ask potential providers: ✔ Can their systems manage a rapid increase in order volume? ✔ Do they integrate with your e-commerce platform and order management system? ✔ Do they offer real-time inventory tracking and predictive analytics? 4. Scalable Value-Added Services Branded packaging , kitting and special inserts can enhance the customer experience—but can your fulfillment provider handle these extras as you scale? Ensure they can maintain the same level of personalization and quality even as order volumes rise. 5. Reliable Customer Support Fast fulfillment is only part of the equation. A scalable provider should also help you maintain strong customer service, offering: 🔹 Real-time order tracking to reduce customer inquiries 🔹 Streamlined returns processing 🔹 Dedicated support teams to handle peak-season demand The Bottom Line: Future-Proof Your Fulfillment Strategy Scaling your fulfillment operations isn’t just about keeping up with growth—it’s about setting your business up for long-term success. The right fulfillment partner will help you stay agile, efficient and prepared for whatever comes next. If you’re looking for a fulfillment provider who can support your business through every growth stage, Barrett is here to help. Let’s discuss how we can build a scalable, seamless fulfillment strategy for your brand. Contact us today for a complimentary supply chain consultation to meet with one of our Barrett experts.

Barrett Distribution Centers Select Enveyo as Strategic Technology Partner for Transportation Management, Advanced Logistics Visibility & Analytics, and Parcel Audit

By Katherine Wroth • February 17, 2025
PROVO, Utah, Feb. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Enveyo , the leading provider of logistics data management, visibility, and shipping optimization software, today announced that Barrett Distribution Centers , a leading North American third-party logistics (3PL) provider, selected Enveyo technology to power its transportation management, logistics visibility, advanced analytics, and parcel auditing processes. As a 3PL provider for DTC and B2B brands that operates 25+ locations across the United States, Barrett sought a technology provider that not only has substantial experience in supporting complex 3PL processes , but also has the ability to scale with them as their customer segment of e-commerce brands grow and their needs evolve. Barrett was looking for a technology platform that could: Streamline transportation management processes with a robust technology engine for the handling of multiple parcel carriers, rates and surcharges Support an infinite number of complex business rules, carrier rates, and processes Ingest any volume of data in any format from their business systems, carriers, and technology partners Enable real-time and easy access to a shipping data control tower with customizable dashboards Publish a white-labeled client portal delivering reporting and analytics on transportation spend in real-time Automatically audit carrier performance with extensive reporting on dispute reason, status, and results Display time in transit data across their network of carriers to gain visibility into package tracking and delivery status data in real-time Scale with Barrett and their customers' needs, at their pace Jude Plante, General Manager of Transportation at Barrett, explains, "We needed a technology partner with extensive knowledge of the complexities a 3PL of our size faces, who could also provide robust and holistic technology solutions that elevate our operations and strengthen our client relationships. Enveyo fit that profile perfectly." "We're honored to partner with Barrett to support their optimization initiatives around parcel program visibility for their growing customer base along with streamlining billing management processes," says Enveyo CEO & Co-Founder, Coby Nilsson . "More DTC and B2B brands are seeking modern 3PL operations with data-driven technology at the core. We're thrilled to be part of the value-added solutions Barrett is offering." "The market is more dynamic than ever before," Plante adds. "The supply chain and logistics complexities involved with fulfilling an order are plentiful. Enveyo understands the nuances and challenges of a modern 3PL, and we're excited to partner with their team and technology to add value to our clients and end customers' shipping experiences." To learn more about how Enveyo optimizes logistics operations for leading 3PL providers like Barrett and shippers worldwide, visit www.enveyo.com . About Enveyo Enveyo is the leading provider of logistics data management, visibility, and shipping optimization software, helping shippers and 3PLs of all sizes move their logistics forward through data-driven technology. From shipment analytics and automated carrier selection to post-purchase delivery experience management and carrier auditing, Enveyo is the only suite deploying solutions across the logistics lifecycle. Powered by a robust, enterprise data management platform, Enveyo Insights, Modeling, Cloudroute, Alerting, and Audit solutions enable organizations to make business-transforming shipping decisions. To learn more about how Enveyo moves logistics forward, visit enveyo.com . About Barrett Distribution Since 1941, Barrett has provided customized third-party logistics (3PL), direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce fulfillment, omnichannel distribution, managed transportation solutions and retail compliance for clients across all industries, with a focus on apparel & footwear, health & beauty, consumer packaged goods (CPG) and education. Barrett continues to be a leading 3rd party logistics provider in North America, known for superior execution, customer engagement and direct access to senior leadership decision makers. As a member of Inc's fastest growing companies list 15 times, Barrett is big enough to do the job and still small enough to deeply care about your business. eCommerce brands interested in a new 3PL partnership may contact Barrett directly here .  Official Release Here

Your 3PL RFP Playbook: What to Do & When

February 5, 2025
Here's a helpful timeline/guide that is applicable for clients with a "classical" peak season in Q4: 🎯 Use Q1 to add 3PLs to your RFP discovery list/search. This master list should not be more than 7-10 providers. 🎯 You should have your preferred 3PL partner list dwindled down to three no later than end of Q1. 🎯 Use the beginning of Q2 for site visits (3 max)—engage with operations and folks on the floor. At this stage, "pricing gaps" should be somewhat narrow between 2-3 companies. Focus on who will "get the job done" and who you envision your company working with for the next 2-3+ years! This is super important. 🎯 Aim to award a verbal "yes" halfway through Q2, no later than end of May. You'll want to allow another 30-45 days to work through legal discussions. 🎯 Ideally, you should sign an MSA with your chosen 3PL no later than the end of June. This allows inventory transfers over the summer and ensures the new operation has ample "time" to touch the product, test systems, etc. 🎯 Go-Live by Oct 1—You really don't want to "go live" in November, two weeks before the major holidays/peak, etc. Launching by Oct 1 allows for at least a 30-day period before the ultra-craziness begins! The Right 3PL Can Make All the Difference—Let’s Chat If you're just about to start your RFP or need help with any of the above, contact us - Barrett would love to be your next 3PL partner to run your supply chain!
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