Systems and methods for managing product returns using return authorization numbers
First Claim
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1. A method for managing a return of a product, the method comprising:
- receiving a return request for the product;
determining whether the return request is authorized;
issuing, from a first management system, a return authorization number (RAN) for the return request when the return request is determined to be authorized;
creating a record in a second management system for the return request, the record comprising the RAN; and
updating the record in the second management system after the product has been returned.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing product returns. In one embodiment, when a request from a customer to return a product is authorized, a record in each of a plurality of systems for managing the product return is created and a unique identifier is assigned to the product return. The unique identifier may then be associated with each record corresponding the product to be returned and, thereafter, information regarding the product return may be exchanged between the plurality of management systems utilizing the unique identifier.
49 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for managing a return of a product, the method comprising:
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receiving a return request for the product;
determining whether the return request is authorized;
issuing, from a first management system, a return authorization number (RAN) for the return request when the return request is determined to be authorized;
creating a record in a second management system for the return request, the record comprising the RAN; and
updating the record in the second management system after the product has been returned. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for managing a product return, the method comprising:
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authorizing a request from a customer to return a product;
creating at least one record in each of a plurality of management systems when the request for the product return is authorized;
assigning a unique identifier to the product return;
associating the unique identifier with each record corresponding the product to be returned;
exchanging information regarding the product return between the plurality of management systems utilizing the unique identifier. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for managing a product return, the method comprising:
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assigning at least one return authorization number (RAN) to the product return;
creating in a first database a return authorization record for the product return, the return authorization record comprising the RAN;
creating, in a second database, a warehouse record for the product return, the pending delivery record comprising the RAN; and
updating the return authorization and the pending delivery records using the RAN. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for managing a product return, the method comprising:
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indexing a record in a first database for a product return using at least one unique identifier;
creating a record for the product return in a second database, the record in the second database comprising the unique identifier; and
exchanging, between the first and second databases, information related to the product return, wherein each item of exchanged information is identified by the unique identifier.
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21. A computer readable medium containing instructions for carrying out a method for managing a product return, the method comprising:
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creating a record in a customer relationship management (CRM) system for a product return using at least one return authorization number;
creating a record for the product return in a warehouse management (WM) system using the return authorization number; and
exchanging between the management systems information related to the product return, wherein each item of exchanged information is identified by the return authorization number. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A computer readable medium containing instructions for carrying out a method, the method comprising:
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assigning a return authorization number (RAN) to an approved product return;
creating in a first database a return authorization record for the approved product return, the return authorization record comprising the RAN;
creating, in a second database, a pending delivery record comprising the RAN; and
updating the return authorization and the pending delivery records using the RAN. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer readable medium containing instructions for carrying out a method for managing a product return, the method comprising:
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authorizing a request from a customer to return a product;
creating at least one record in each of a plurality of management systems for handling the product return;
assigning a unique identifier to the product return;
associating the unique identifier with each record corresponding to the product to be returned; and
exchanging information regarding the product return between the plurality of management systems utilizing the unique identifier.
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32. A system for managing a return of a product, the method comprising:
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a first database configured to receive a return request for the product, and to generate a first record comprising a return authorization number (RAN) for the product if the return request is authorized;
a second database, in communication with the first database, configured to create a second record corresponding to the return, the second record comprising the RAN; and
wherein the first and second database are each configured to exchange information regarding the return utilizing the RAN. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A system for managing a product return, the method comprising:
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a computer configured to assign a return authorization number (RAN) to a product return;
a plurality of databases, each configured to receive the RAN and to create at least one record corresponding to the product return, wherein each record corresponding to the return item is uniquely associated with the RAN.
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41. A system for managing a product return, the method comprising:
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a first computer comprising a user interface for receiving a return request from a customer, creating a first record comprising a return authorization number (RAN), and transmitting to the customer an authorization for a product return comprising the RAN;
a second computer, in communication with the first computer, configured to receive the RAN, and to create, upon receipt of the return authorization, a record in a database comprising the RAN. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification