Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Key Takeaways Plan returns handling in advance. Forward-thinking ecommerce retailers treat returns as a predictable flow, eschewing reactive problem-solving in favor of structured workflows. Implement a defined intake and triage process. The speed of returns evaluation and processing matters more than perfection. While consumers might not think twice about sending back an ill-fitting pair of jeans or a duvet cover that isn’t the color they’d envisioned, retailers are thinking long and hard about returns. They’re lying awake at night mulling over how to protect margins as high volumes of returns pile up in their warehouses. And they’re right to be worried. As much as returns are an unavoidable part of retail operations, volumes are increasing and placing a heavy burden on fulfillment teams and the bottom line. According to National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates, U.S.…