1 Scope

This document covers the track and trace events for the return flow of e-Commerce items, more specifically, the events that are most useful to the original recipient (if any) and the E-Commerce company that sent the item in the first place.

It provides a minimum set of events formulated in language that is understood by sellers and buyers of E-Commerce products. The logistic service providers (LSPs) involved can “map” their own internal events to the events described in this document.

A return flow is always linked to a forward flow that is the subject of CEN/TS 18055‑1.

This document aims to describe only those events that are related to the returns flow. Therefore, this document defines and describes the exact moment that the forward flows stop and the associated return flow starts.

This document covers the following four cases of return flows:

• unsuccessful delivery (item remains in possession of the last mile operator);

• return to sender or equivalent party (delivered and later returned parcel);

• a service for recipients to send (parts of) a received shipment back;

• returns caused by failure to meet regulatory or cross-border procedure requirements.

Each of these cases will be covered in separate clauses of the document.

This document will not describe those “precursor” processes in any detail, but it will describe the minimum requirements in terms of information needed by the first LSP to be able to start to execute the Return Flow effectively and efficiently. The precursor process is similar to the RMA (= Return Materials Authorization) process used in business-to-business environments.

This document does not cover the logistical flows within the facilities of the producers and sellers of the items. These fall outside the responsibility of the CEN/TC 331 domain.

This document does not cover all events necessary for an LSP to track items within its own facilities.