ReturnGO

Developing a public Shopify app with AI for seamless e-commerce returns & exchanges

Building a smart automated returns & exchanges app

Location
Tel-Aviv, Israel & Delaware, USA
Cooperation model
Time and material/Dedicated team
Industry
E-commerce, Retail, IT industry
Partnership period
September 14, 2020 - – Ongoing maintenance and support
Improvements plan
Discovery phase, requirements and estimation analysis, prototyping and designing,new features development
Team size
Two FullStack engineers with the stack PHP, Laravel, Node.js, React
Technologies
Shopify, Shopify Plus, Node.js, React.js, Laravel

About the client

Established in 2020, ReturnGO is a company with incorporation in both Tel Aviv, Israel, and Delaware, US. Their team consists of skilled professionals who work from diverse locations across the globe. With the mission of transforming the post-purchase model into a win-win situation, the company has strived to save retailers from lost revenue, additional shipping costs, staff expenses, and dissatisfied customers. ReturnGO company has become the go-to solution for 2700+ trusted brands.

About the product

With the idea of simplifying the process of managing post-purchases at every stage, ReturnGO marked the beginning of new data visibility across the entire post-purchase ecosystem. We connected to the project of creating public Shopify app from the ground up and went through all the development challenges together, resulting in a top-notch AI-powered solution. Since 2020, this has been made possible by developing a sustainable returns management Shopify application that facilitates returns and exchanges within the portal, increasing revenue and upselling with an experience akin to shopping.

Challenges overview

At the outset of our partnership, the client initially engaged us to develop a segment of the product related to Shopify integration. During the collaboration process, ReturnGO were truly satisfied with our work, which resulted in decision to let us take part in the entire project. What moved the project' forward? The client realized that e-commerce businesses could boost profits by introducing a bonus or credit system for returned orders. In the event of a product return, an online store can choose to refund customers through bonuses or retain the funds as store credit. Such a solution would help businesses stay in charge of their money and cut down on transaction costs linked to old-school banking operations. It's a win-win for both customers and e-commerce companies.

Discover the main hurdles we faced throughout the Shopify app development journey:

Tackling technical complexity

The process involved navigating through the intricate details of creating an application equipped with UI dashboards, admin panels, and a Shopify plugin.

Syncing with Shopify

Crafting a seamless integration with the Shopify platform brought its own set of challenges. Ensuring alignment with Shopify's ecosystem and guaranteeing compatibility added layers of complexity to the development process.

Prioritizing user experience (UX)

Striving for a positive experience for both administrators and customers was key, especially with the introduction of new features. This demanded meticulous attention to detail in UX design and usability.

Scaling up responsibly

Designing a platform capable of handling potential growth and increased user activity was a challenge. Ensuring scalability was crucial, making certain that the application could manage higher transaction volumes and data loads.

Fortifying data security

Implementing robust security measures to safeguard sensitive user and business data, especially in financial transactions, was a paramount challenge demanding rigorous attention to detail.

Incorporating AI smoothly

Developing an AI-powered portal required expertise in artificial intelligence. Challenges included training models, ensuring accuracy, and maintaining efficiency throughout the integration process.

Navigating continuous development

The iterative nature of development, particularly with ongoing efforts to introduce new features such as a Shopify refund system, demanded a dynamic approach.

Ensuring cross-platform compatibility

Our developers needed to make sure the solution worked seamlessly across various devices, browsers, and operating systems.

Our solution

We initiated the development of the Shopify app with a UI dashboard and an admin panel catering to two user categories: administrators and customers. The plugin functions as a store credit system specifically designed for users who have previously initiated a purchase return. It provides users with two options: either a bonus or a cash balance credited to their account.

In the following step, our experts were involved in building an analytical system for orders and returns, with ongoing work to introduce a Shopify refund feature to the application. The final option that was introduced by our developers was a cash refund, subsequently building the foundations of a well-rounded ecosystem and enhancing the end-user experience of online purchases.

Working from the ground up allowed us to introduce a new purchase experience, combined to promote sustainable e-commerce. That was expected to result in cultivating lifelong shoppers and supporting environmentally conscious shopping practices. As a solution to our challenging joint project, we presented a secure, fully hosted solution.The Shopify application caters to the evolving needs of businesses and their customers, offering a variety of benefits. Among them:

Exchange-first approach

for embracing an exchange-centric returns platform, prioritizing one-click exchanges for a smoother process.

Customizable policies

are those that tailor return and exchange policy rules, eligibility conditions, resolutions, and reasons to suit your business needs.

Automated, branded, and AI-powered portal

for providing a seamless returns experience with an automated, branded, and AI-powered return portal.

Centralized management system

for managing returns and exchanges in a single, centralized location.

Comprehensive order tracking and notifications

for every shipment, ensuring a complete end-to-end post-purchase experience.

Automated RMA process

along with email notifications for enhanced efficiency.

Versatile functionality

includes product and variant exchange, gift returns, order cancellations, and store credit issuance.

Flexible return reasons:

follow-up questions and the ability to upload images and videos.

Automation rules,

such as auto-exchange, auto-refund, auto-approve, and auto-credits, for streamlined processes.

Pre-paid return labels

to simplify tracking and return logistics.

Seamless Integrations with shipping carriers,

3PLs, ERPs, helpdesks, APIs, and more for a unified returns management solution.

Result

We are immensely proud to have contributed to the development process of the public Shopify app. As a result, our client got an end-to-end platform that facilitates not only returns but also exchanges within the portal, increasing revenue and upselling for every merchant who chooses to use the app. The app is available in the Shopify portal and went through all the necessary steps of the app development certification exam.

With such features as tracking and notifications, our Shopify experts helped reduce customer support costs and engage customers by sending branded order tracking notifications for every shipment. By leveraging the platform, businesses can watch their numbers go up, with improvements such as 39% retained revenue, a $1.95 increase in revenue per return, $3.40 logistics costs saved per return, and a 15% reduced carbon footprint.

We are proud to take part in creating a platform that seamlessly integrates with any e-commerce stack, connecting to existing shipping carriers, platforms, and services worldwide. Backed by countless 5-star reviews, ReturnGO leads the returns management category globally and offers a solution that truly fits and makes informed decisions for businesses.

Possibility to facilitate not only returns but also exchanges within the portal
Seamless integration with any e-commerce stack
Tracking and notification features
Getting an increase in revenue
Introducing reduced logistics costs

What our clients say

Alexandre Robicquet

CEO & Co-founder

,Crossing Minds

5.0

“We had quite a complicated project, but DigitalSuits managed to lead and support us.”

DigitalSuits integrated Shopify with our APIs and then developed a corresponding app for the Shopify App Store. This project connected all of our services and APIs through a Shopify ecosystem. DigitalSuits has successfully completed the project on time, and we’re planning to begin another one quite soon.

Laurents Mohr

CEO & Co-founder

,Happyglam

5.0

"They provide good value for money and have kind staff."

The DigitalSuits team stepped in to take over the project from another vendor. The team demonstrated their effective workflow and compliance with industry best practices. As a result of this, the team was able to deliver on their tasks in a timely and professional manner. Now DigitalSuits is building and maintaining our four Shopify stores.

Michael Lewis

CEO

,Claim Technology

5.0

“The DigitalSuits team fully devoted themselves to producing a quality final product.”

Their team was responsible for the IT architecture, front- and backend web development work for the platform components, and API implementations. The main app is programmed using Ruby on Rails, and the frontend was developed using React.js. They delivered superior services, assigning only highly-experienced professionals to the project.

David Olkovetsky

Owner

,Artisan Revere

5.0

"They're extremely focused on making sure results achieve your standards."

We hired DigitalSuits to develop our website in conjunction with our designer. Our goals were to get the site pixel-perfect compared to our designs. DigitalSuits team was able to meet all of the expectations for the project. The company appreciated how well the team took their feedback and was always eager to fix any issues.

Sergei Gusev

Co-founder and CPO

,Scentbird

5.0

"They did everything possible to launch our website on time."

DigitalSuits successfully executed on time, adhering to requirements, and a strict budget. The team's project management was extremely efficient. The team lead, in particular, always maintained a positive attitude and showcased utmost professionalism at all times. They truly went above and beyond.

Nick Addyman

Chairman

,Laurus Law

5.0

"They quickly grasped what we wanted to do and have designed and delivered solutions to achieve this."

DigitalSuits delivered a robust application from which the client can anticipate significant results. The team was highly motivated and demonstrated real dedication to the project's success. They weren't afraid to dig deeper into the business idea behind the product to implement the best solutions.

Maarten Raaijmakers

Product Manager

,HappySoaps

5.0

"DigitalSuits has come to the rescue in our time of need."

DigitalSuits is able to take on any challenge the client throws at them and present viable solutions. Their team completes projects quickly and efficiently; they’ve met the client’s needs. The partners communicate clearly through several channels, including email, Slack, and regular meetings.

Kamran Doorsoun

Head of Marketing

,Janado GmbH

5.0

"The collaboration is insane! All previously discussed topics and promises were kept!"

Despite their situation in Ukraine, DigitalSuits delivered all their promises on time and within budget. Their team showcased consistent professionalism and team spirit. Moreover, they leveraged Figma to present and implement their outputs. Overall, the client was satisfied with their service.

Alexander Koshchits

Business Development Manager

,Azati

5.0

"They're always motivated and a great addition to our current team."

Overall, the provided resources have gelled seamlessly with the internal team, establishing a highly collaborative workflow. What's more, they have a thorough understanding of every task, allowing them to deliver exactly what's needed and offer alternative solutions. They're skilled and driven, too.

Alexandre Robicquet

CEO & Co-founder

,Crossing Minds

5.0

“We had quite a complicated project, but DigitalSuits managed to lead and support us.”

Laurents Mohr

CEO & Co-founder

,Happyglam

5.0

"They provide good value for money and have kind staff."

Michael Lewis

CEO

,Claim Technology

5.0

“The DigitalSuits team fully devoted themselves to producing a quality final product.”

David Olkovetsky

Owner

,Artisan Revere

5.0

"They're extremely focused on making sure results achieve your standards."

Sergei Gusev

Co-founder and CPO

,Scentbird

5.0

"They did everything possible to launch our website on time."

Nick Addyman

Chairman

,Laurus Law

5.0

"They quickly grasped what we wanted to do and have designed and delivered solutions to achieve this."

Maarten Raaijmakers

Product Manager

,HappySoaps

5.0

"DigitalSuits has come to the rescue in our time of need."

Kamran Doorsoun

Head of Marketing

,Janado GmbH

5.0

"The collaboration is insane! All previously discussed topics and promises were kept!"

Alexander Koshchits

Business Development Manager

,Azati

5.0

"They're always motivated and a great addition to our current team."

Alexandre Robicquet

CEO & Co-founder

,Crossing Minds

5.0

“We had quite a complicated project, but DigitalSuits managed to lead and support us.”

Laurents Mohr

CEO & Co-founder

,Happyglam

5.0

"They provide good value for money and have kind staff."

Check our cases

Shopify Pre-Order Plugin

A Norwegian agency that helps clients develop e-commerce solutions, asked us to join one of their projects. The aim was to resolve a few issues for a retail industry customer. We created a public Shopify app that allows customers to create pre-orders for items that aren't currently in stock.

Shopify Pre-Order Plugin

Data Tracking Shopify App

Our client is a Swedish B2B company specializing in the implementation of modern technologies to digital communication. The company offered marketing automation services that helped track, analyze, and stimulate purchases. Together, we've developed a public Shopify app for data tracking.

Data Tracking Shopify App

Product Information Management System for American Outlets

The marketplace that was developed by our client included a huge number of online shops. The products were grouped into various categories. The main query was the development of a product information management system. The system had to display each distributor's price for the exact item.

Product Information Management System for American Outlets