A Review of the Impacts of Reverse Logistics on Retailers of Fast Moving Consumer Goods

Abstract

Companies worked hard to stay ahead of the competition in the market by providing high quality products and services to satisfied customers. This goal was met with the development of Supply Chain Management (SCM) strategies, which improved business coordination between the supply and demand sides of operations. Reverse Logistics (RL) is the process by which damaged goods from the forward flow of products from suppliers of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) to end-customers are amassed and returned to suppliers. The purpose of this research was to identify the effects of RL on the top FMCGs merchants in South Africa. The study's theoretical underpinnings were the notions of sustainability and competitive advantage, and it used a qualitative studies technique based on the constructionist research methodology. Thirteen people were questioned through a non-probabilistic sampling technique. Atlas ti.8 was used for the transcription, translation, coding, and analysis of the interviews. The research found that retailers benefited from RL because damaged items were replaced, competitiveness and sustainability were enhanced because of continual value recovery, and waste reduction contributed to a cleaner environment. Recovering damaged goods via the RL process boosted business competitiveness by providing value-added resources that increased profits. Continuous processing with few byproducts guaranteed.