Reverse logistics in Indian retail chains

Abstract

MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY hough the area of reverse logistics has been extensively covered and discussed, reverse logistics in the Indian retail segment especially in handling provisions, groceries as well as processed food has not been afforded the required attention. One of the prime reasons for this is the smaller scale of retail chains in India as well as the lack of strict guidelines or laws to enforce reverse logistics for efficient reprocessing or disposal. However, given the high growth foreseen in Indian retail as well as the regulations which would be put in place in the future, similar to the western legislations, reverse logistics will become a vital part of retail supply chains. That apart, reverse logistics could also be used as a source of competitive advantage which could differentiate retail players from one another. Thus we believe that the necessity for reverse logistics will be even more emphasized in the near future and it is therefore essential to capture the best practices and implementations as well as address the current issues in this area.