Articles on: Tracking & Status

How to Set Up Auto-Import for Return Shipments

Plans: Enterprise Platforms: All platforms


Overview


The auto-import return shipments feature helps users streamline return logistics by automatically identifying and tracking return shipments by detecting new tracking numbers from carriers like UPS. These return shipments are then linked with the original forward shipments, offering end-to-end visibility into the entire order tracking information.


Key features


Module

Feature

Shipment tracking settings

Auto-import return shipments

Shipment filters

Filter return shipments using Has return shipment

Shipment details page

View return shipment information linked to the original forward shipment

Shipments export

Export the return shipments

What is Return to Sender (RTS) ?


Return to Sender (RTS) refers to a situation where packages are sent back to the sender due to delivery failure or other issues, unlike customer-initiated returns.


Common causes of RTS


  • Incorrect or incomplete delivery address
  • Failure to collect the package within the specified timeframe
  • Package delivered to the wrong address
  • Receiver refusing delivery


Feature details


Enabling auto-import for return shipments


To enable the auto-import feature for return shipments, follow the below-mentioned steps:


  1. Go to the AfterShip Tracking admin portal.
  2. Navigate to Settings > Shipment tracking.



  1. Under Return shipments, enable the Auto-import shipments returned with new tracking number toggle.


Enabling this feature will use your shipment quota whenever return shipments are detected and imported into the tracking dashboard.



This feature only supports return shipments with separate tracking numbers, associated with forward shipments for UPS


Steps to view return shipments in the shipment dashboard


  1. Filter shipments with return shipments


a. Navigate to Tracking dashboards > Shipments > Add filters.
b. Use the Has return shipment filter to find shipments with linked return shipments.



c. Select Yes to filter return shipments.



  1. View return shipment status in the forward shipment details page


a. Navigate to Tracking dashboards.
b. Click on a forward shipment.
c. View the shipment details page to see the status of the linked return shipment.



FAQs


Q1. Does AfterShip automatically import return shipments for all carriers?


Currently, AfterShip only supports the auto-import feature for return shipments with separate tracking numbers from UPS.


Q2. How can I track return shipments with separate tracking numbers if I use UPS?


If you're on the Enterprise plan and use UPS as your carriers, you can track return shipments that have separate tracking numbers by following these steps:


  1. Enable Auto-import return shipment in your Shipment tracking settings.
  2. Filter shipments using either:


  • Has return shipment filter



  • Auto-import as the value under the Source filter.



  1. Click on a forward shipment to view the current status of the linked return shipment.



  1. To export shipment data:


  • Filter by Has return shipment: Yes to export forward shipments with returns



  • Filter by auto-import to export return shipments from Source filter.


Updated on: 16/04/2025