Leading Japanese carrier Yamato Transport Co is working with UK delivery tech company Doddle to create an improved digital returns service for e-commerce merchants.

The first users of the Yamato/Doddle system will be Gap Japan and Banana Republic online stores.

The idea of the system is to digitise the returns process and thereby make it easier and more attractive for the customer. Up to now the returns process is handled in an analogue way but the Doddle API will simplify it, cutting out the need for customers to phone customer services to arrange a return or to print out a returns label. Once more, the API is offered to retailers as a ready-to-go returns website that can be plugged into their own with their branding.

This is not the first venture that Yamato and Doddle have entered into together. In 2020 they launched their pick-up/drop-off network that is underpinned by Doddle technology to begin to improve the returns process through the Yamato system. This latest move will make things even easier for its customers.