Articles on: Analytics

Learn More About Return Analytics

Platforms: All platforms

Overview



The analytics dashboard allows businesses to track their returns and exchange performance. With detailed insights into key metrics, businesses can identify return reasons, reduce costs, improve their return policy, and retain more revenue from returns. This guide will provide an in-depth look at the key features of the analytics dashboard.

For Commerce API merchants, activating the analytic dashboard requires a store and connection to sync data.

What you’ll learn



Overview dashboard
Product dashboard
Operations dashboard
Upsell performance dashboard
Customers dashboard

Common settings



Following are the settings and configurations that are consistent across all dashboards within the analytics:

Order created date: Analytics shown are according to the order creation date and not the date the return was processed. For example, the last 30 days will show all return data associated with orders placed in the last 30 days, not necessarily all returns placed in the last 30 days.

The maximum time frame for analytics is 365 days.

Store: The analytics dashboard is store-specific. You can switch between different stores connected to your account.


Overview dashboard



Plans: Essentials, Pro, Premium, Enterprise

The Overview dashboard provides a view of your overall return performance, including metrics like retained revenue, item return rates, and return value.

Key metrics


Here’s a detailed breakdown of key metrics displayed in the overview dashboard:

MetricDescriptionCalculation
Retained revenueThe total revenue retained from returns via store credit and exchanges
Retained revenue ratioThe percentage of the revenue retained via store credit and exchanges from the total value of return itemsRetained revenue ratio = (retained revenue / return value) * 100
Requested refundThis is the total value of items for which customers chose a refund. Please note that this is the expected refund value of a return item and not the actual refunded amount.
Refund ratioThe percentage of the total return value requested as a refund to the original payment methodRefund ratio = (requested refund / total return value) * 100
Return requestsThe number of return requests
Return valueThe total value of items returned by customers. Please note that this value excludes the cost of return.Return value = Retained revenue + Requested refund
Order return rateThe percentage of orders with return requestsOrder return rate = (orders with returns / total orders) * 100
Item return rateThe percentage of items customers requested a returnItem return rate = (total return items / total items sold) * 100


Retained revenue ratio + Refund ratio = 100%

Other metrics


Here’s a detailed breakdown of the metrics:

MetricDescription
Top 5 return reasonsTop five return reasons that have the most return items. Details are available in the return reason report.
Top 5 customers by return valueTop five customers who have the highest return value
Returns by shipping methodThe distribution of the shipping options your customers chose to return items
Return label costs by carrierThe total amount spent on prepaid return labels by carrier

Overview dashboard
Reports


Return rate over time

This report allows you to view the return rate over time based on order created date. You can also export the data by clicking Export.


The report provides insights into:

Order created date: The date when the order was created.
Orders with returns: The total number of orders that had return requests.
Total orders: The total number of orders placed within the selected time frame.
Order return rate: The percentage of orders with return requests compared to total number of orders.
Return items: The total quantity of items that were returned.
Total items sold: The total quantity of items sold within the selected time period.
Item return rate: The percentage of items that were returned compared to the total items sold.

Products dashboard



Plans: Premium, Enterprise

The Product dashboard is helpful for understanding which products have the highest return rates and what are the top return reasons.

Key metrics


Here’s a detailed breakdown of key metrics displayed in the product dashboard:

MetricDescription
Top 5 products by return quantityThe top five products with the most returned items. Please note that this metric is at the product level and not the variant level.
Top 5 products by return rateTop five products that have the highest item return rate. Please note that this metric is at the product level and not the variant level.
Top 5 return reasons by return quantityThe top five return reasons chosen by the customer.

Products dashboard
Reports


Returned product

The report lists all returned products based on the order created date and the store connection. You can also export the data by clicking Export.

The report provides insights into:

Product title: Displays the name or title of the product
Return value: The total estimated value of the returned items based on product prices
Return quantity: The total number of the product items returned by customers
Total items sold: The total number of items sold for this product during the selected time period.
Item return rate: The percentage of items returned compared to the total items sold

The reports can be filtered on the basis of:

Order created: Based on a specific date range
Store: Data associated with the particular store
Product title: Based on the product name or title
Collection: Based on the collection the product belongs to.
Variant: Based on the specific product variants.
SKU: Based on the SKU.


Return reasons

The report lists the return reasons chosen by the customers. You can also export the data by clicking Export.

The report provides insights into:

Product title: Displays the name or title of the product
Variant SKU: Shows the unique SKU for the specific product variant being returned
Return reason: Indicates the reason for the product return
Sub-reason: Provides additional detail on the specific cause for the return
Return items: Shows the total number of the products being returned.
Return value: Displays the total monetary value associated with the returned products.


The report can be filtered on the basis of:

Order created: Based on a specific date range
Store: Data associated with the particular store
Return reason: Based on the reason for the product return
Sub-reason: Based on the additional detail on the specific cause for the return
Product title: Based on the product name or title
SKU: Based on the SKU.

Operations dashboard



Plans: Premium, Enterprise

The operations dashboard helps you monitor your return process efficiency, with key insights into return operations, processing time, and cost savings through automation.

Key metrics


Here’s a detailed breakdown of key metrics displayed in the operations dashboard:

MetricDescriptionCalculation
Retained revenueThe total revenue retained through exchanges, refunds to store credits, and replacements rather than issuing a refund.Retained revenue = Exchange revenue + Store credit revenue + Shop now revenue
Exchange revenueThe total value retained when customers exchange for the same item rather than return them for a refund to their original payment method.
Store credit revenueThe total value retained when the customers chose store credit instead of a refund to their original payment method.
Shop now revenueThe total value retained when customers use the “Shop now” option. Please note that the maximum retained value by shop now is return value, any value exceeding return value is treated as upsell value.
Retained revenue ratioThe percentage of retained revenue from the total value of return itemsRetained revenue ratio = (retained revenue / return value) * 100
Exchange revenue ratioThe percentage of the total return value retained through exchanges for the same itemExchange revenue ratio = (exchange revenue / total return value) * 100
Store credit revenue ratioThe percentage of the total return value retained as store creditStore credit revenue ratio = (store credit revenue / total return value) * 100
Shop now revenue ratioThe percentage of the total return value retained through the “Shop now” optionShop now revenue ratio = (Shop now revenue / total return value) * 100


Retained revenue ratio = Exchange revenue ratio + Store credit revenue ratio + Shop now revenue ratio

Other metrics


Here’s a detailed breakdown of the metrics:

MetricDescription
Retained revenue over timeThe total revenue retained with refunds to store credit, replacements, and exchanges over a particular time
Return countries / regionsThe countries / regions of customers who requested a return
Avg. processing timeAverage time from
1. Order placed to return requested
2. Return requested to request approved
3. Return requested to return refunded
4. Return requested to request resolved
Return automationsIncludes RMAs that trigger automation rules
1. Auto-approval
2. Auto-refund
3. Auto-marked as received
4. Auto-marked as resolved
This displays the RMA request quantity and estimated saved time. For e.g., every automation rule saves 5 minutes
Top 5 return item tagsTop five return tags counted by return item quantity
Return label costs by carrierThe total amount spent on prepaid return labels by carrier

Operations dashboard
Reports


Return label costs

The report lists the details of the total amount spent on prepaid return labels by carrier. You can also export the data by clicking Export.

The report provides insights into:

RMA no.: Displays the RMA number assigned to the return.
Return requested date: Shows the date when the RMA was created for the return
Tracking no.: Shows the carrier tracking number associated with the return shipment.
Carrier: Displays the carrier name associated with the return shipment.
Service: Indicates the shipping method used for the return
Label costs: Displays the cost of the return label in the store's currency



Return item tags

The report lists the details of the return tags counted by return item quantity. You can also export the data by clicking Export.

The report provides insights into:
Item tag: Represents the item tag assigned to a returned item.
Quantity: Indicates the total count of items associated with each tag.


Upsell performance



Plans: Premium, Enterprise

The Upsell Performance section tracks additional revenue generated through exchanges. This is important for understanding how your return process can also drive sales.

Key metrics


Here’s a detailed breakdown of key metrics displayed in the product dashboard:

MetricDescriptionCalculation
Upsell revenueAdditional upsell value generated from exchanges for a higher value product. Please note that the upsell value is calculated by the estimated product value only, and the cost of return and exchange shipping won’t be involved in the analysis.
Upsell rateThe percentage of RMAs (return requests) that resulted in upsell compared to total RMAs.Upsell rate = (return requests with upsells / total return requests) * 100
Upsell value per returnThe additional upsell revenue generated per return request.Upsell revenue per return = upsell revenue / total return requests
Average upsellThe average amount of additional revenue for each return request that resulted in an upsellAverage upsell = upsell revenue / return requests with upsells

Upsell perfomance dashboard

Other metrics


Here’s a detailed breakdown of metrics:

MetricDescription
Upsell revenue over timeThe additional revenue generated from exchanges
Upsell rate over timeThe percentage of return requests that resulted in upsells
Top 5 products by exchange quantityThe top five products which have the highest number of exchange requests
Top 5 requests by upsell revenueThe top five products which have the highest upsell revenue


Reports


Exchange products

The report lists the products which have the highest number of exchange requests. You can also export the data by clicking Export.

The report provides insights into:

Product title: Displays the name or title of the product.
Product type: Indicates the category of the product.
Collection: Specifies the product collection it belongs to.
Variant title: Shows the specific variant title of the product.
Variant SKU: Indicates the SKU of the variant being replaced through the exchange.
Exchange quantity: Displays the total number of units exchanged for the product variant.



Upsell revenue from exchanges

The report lists the products that have the upsell revenue from exchanges. You can also export the data by clicking Export.

The report provides insights into:

RMA no.: Displays the RMA number associated with the exchange request.
Return request date: Shows the date when the RMA was created for the exchange request.
Return value: Displays the monetary value of the returned product.
Exchange value: Indicates the monetary value of the product being exchanged.
Credit for exchange: Shows the amount of bonus credits issued to the customer in the store’s currency.
Upsell revenue: Represents the additional revenue generated from the upsell, displayed in the store’s currency.



Customers dashboard



Plans: Premium, Enterprise

The customers dashboard allows you to track return activity by customer, helping identify repeat returns and improve your return policy to avoid policy abuse.

Key metrics


Here’s a detailed breakdown of key metrics displayed in the product dashboard:

MetricDescription
Customers with returnsThe number of customers who raised return requests
Customer return rateThe percentage of customers who requested a return


Customer return rate = (customers with return requests / total customers who placed an order) * 100


Other metrics


Here’s a detailed breakdown of the metrics:

MetricDescription
Top 5 customers by return valueTop five customers who have the highest return value
Top 5 customers by value return rateTop five customers who have the highest percentage of the total order item value that has been requested for return
Top 5 customers by order with returnsTop five customers who return the most of number of orders
Top 5 customers by order return rateTop five customers who have the highest order return rate
Top 5 customers by return item quantityTop five customers who return the most number of items
Top 5 customers by item return rateTop five customers who have the highest item return rate


Value return rate = (return item value / total order item value) * 100

Customers dashboard
Reports


Customers with returns

The reports provided for the above metrics list the customers who have the highest return value, value return rate, return orders, order return rate, return item quantity and item return rate. You can also export the data by clicking Export.

The report provides insights into:

Customer: Identifies the specific customer associated with the return via customer’s email.
Return value: The total value of items that the customer has returned. This is calculated based on the product prices, excluding any shipping costs.
Order value: The total value of all orders placed by the customer.
Value return rate: The percentage of the customer's total order value that has been returned.
Orders with returns: The number of orders placed by the customer that include returned items.
Total orders: The total number of orders placed by the customer.
Order return rate: The percentage of the customer’s orders that include returns.
Return quantity: The total number of items returned by the customer.
Total items sold: The total number of items purchased by the customer.
Item return rate: the percentage of items returned by the customer compared to the total item purchased.


Use cases



Track the effectiveness of your return policy: By analyzing the Retained Revenue Ratio, you can assess how much value your return policy is retaining through exchanges and store credits rather than issuing refunds.
Optimize return costs: Monitor Return Label Costs to ensure your return shipping policies are cost-efficient.
Identify high-risk products: If a product has a high Return Rate, it may indicate quality issues, inaccurate descriptions, or customer dissatisfaction.
Increase revenue through exchanges: By optimizing your return policy to encourage exchanges, businesses can generate more revenue with upsells rather than issuing refunds.
Identify high-risk customers: Track customers who frequently return products. These insights can help flag potentially problematic customers.

FAQs



Q1. Can I see the returns for a specific product variant?


Yes, you can filter return data by variant title in the Product dashboard.

Q2. Can I export the return data?


Yes, you can export the return data to an email address if the Export option is available. This option appears when a particular metric is expanded.

Q3. What types of return statuses are included in the analytics data?


Only returns marked as Approved or Resolved are included in the analytics data.

Q4. Does the return value include shipping costs?


No, the return value is based only on the product prices and does not include any shipping costs associated with the return.

Q5. How does the dashboard handle stores that use multiple currencies?


For stores with multiple currencies, the analytics dashboard will automatically convert return values based on the latest exchange rates. This ensures that all data is presented in your store’s default currency.

Updated on: 27/03/2025

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