Reverse Logistics*
How to realise an agile and efficient reverse chain within the Consumer Electronics industry
*connectedthinking
4
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Foreword
Welcome to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ first Reverse Logistics report in the Consumer Electronic industry. This report is designed to help companies in the Consumer Electronics industry to better explore, understand and share the ideas about today’s pressing business and strategic topic: Reverse Logistics. Our unique combination of a broad, web-based survey sent to supply chain managers and their tax/finance counterparts throughout Europe, one-to-one interviews with subject matter experts and field visits to industry leaders has allowed us to gain insights to current reverse chain strategies, organisations and processes. In this report, we will focus on examining the value drivers that trigger companies in setting up a reverse chain strategy and also how they embed this strategy into their processes, technology and organisation. A special focus in this survey was on how these drivers relate to a company’s tax policy and processes. Not surprisingly, environmental challenges, customer satisfaction, cost reduction and being compliant to increasing and complex regulations are driving companies to explore Reverse Logistics as one of their strategic challenges and opportunities. Our conclusion is clear: operational as well as tax & financial considerations must form an integral part of the reverse chain strategy to realise a “best practice” reverse chain. We hope this report provides interesting and useful reading to you and your colleagues and that it evokes discussions within your company about your reverse chain strategy and processes. We welcome your thoughts on the issues and ideas we have addressed herein as well as your ideas for future topics towards Reverse Logistics.
Sincerely, Mathieu Rosier Partner Advisory Performance Improvement