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How to make international e-commerce returns fast and easy? Return Helper can help
Return Helper, an e-commerce returns platform, turns the headache of international online returns into a breeze. From a pain point that could last months and cost a fortune, this Hong Kong-born, Taiwan-based startup is now serving over 1,200 businesses with its swift, cost-effective, and efficient returns network. The company announced that it secures $1.5 million in pre-A funding, fueling its expansion.
People who do online shopping return packages in the blink of an eye. That’s the case for local businesses. However, if you buy stuff from overseas sellers, the return process could take months, and often the case you need to pay high costs for international shipping. This Hongkongese startup based in Taiwan has built this returning network for over 1,200 businesses, dealing with over 60 thousand overseas returns monthly.
Founded in Hong Kong in 2019, Return Helper is a cross-border e-commerce returns platform, that simplifies the return process for overseas consumers. Connecting local logistical partners and e-commerce buyers, Return Helper is capable of providing a hassle-free experience that benefits brands by allowing them to handle returns locally. The startup just announced that it secures $1.5 million in pre-series A funding to support its expansion plan. The investment is led by AVA Fund, with follow-on investments from Japanese VC Colopl Next.
Co-founder of Return Helper Roy Wan, who himself had previously worked in the e-commerce sector for almost 10 years, pointed out that cross-border e-commerce enterprises have long grappled with two substantial obstacles in returns management: high logistics and processing costs, which fails to live up to the expectations of European and American consumers.
“The return rate of online shopping in Germany is 40%,” said Wan. According to European Consumers Protection Act, sellers need to refund within seven days after buyers return the items. However, overseas returns take at least two weeks. Before sellers can check the conditions of the item, they need to pay first.
These issues can result in unsatisfactory return experiences, diminished competitiveness, and even removal from major e-commerce platforms, creating a challenging environment for cross-border brands to prosper overseas.
In a strategic move to tackle these issues, Return Helper has partnered with warehouses in over 14 countries. These facilities offer a comprehensive range of services including local warehouse return collection, real-time return label generation, buyer return inspection, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) returns, and FBA restocking. It improves the ability of cross-border sellers to manage and access real-time information regarding overseas returns. By offering increased flexibility in handling returns, Return Helper effectively minimizes risks, logistics, and management costs, thereby greatly amplifying profit opportunities for its clients.
Return Helper empowers small and medium-sized businesses with AI, automizing the return process
Return Helper is improving the international logistics scene by reducing the exorbitant costs associated with it, while simultaneously enhancing the efficacy of cross-border returns. This vital service has become an indispensable asset for small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses aspiring to broaden their global footprint.
The startup plans to broaden its principal business activities and unveil new AI features and services tailored to the specific requirements of cross-border sellers. These innovative solutions encompass overseas warehouse return inspection systems, AI-driven return analysis tools, and comprehensive return data analysis reports. Return Helper also wants to automize the whole resale process, directing the items to second-handed markets in accordance with the product conditions.
This strategy is expected to expedite Return Helper's growth in Asia's burgeoning cross-border retail market. “We are growing fast on a global scale, having our revenue doubled in the last two years,” said Roy Wan, co-founder of Return Helper. Soon after its establishment, Return Helper quickly expanded to the Taiwanese market, becoming eBay and Amazon recommended return solution for Asian online sellers. The networks provided by these two e-commerce top dogs have helped Return Helper increase its service adoption.
To further boost its growth, Return Helper takes part in e-commerce campaigns all over the world, connecting partners in the local regions. In the beginning, they mostly dealt with returns from European countries to Asia. Now, they have made the service available to Japan, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Their tech solutions facilitate the connection not only between buyers and sellers but also between sellers and logistics providers. It helps create a win-win for cross-border e-commerce.
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