Why is RMA important in Magento 2?

Most entrepreneurs focus on promotion and products when establishing a business. It’s surely an important endeavor, but not those things often become a straw that breaks the camel’s back. Startups mostly fail because of poor user experience. One of the prominent business breakers is a lack of a proper return policy. To create one, you will need an RMA system, like one made by Mirasvit you can find here: https://mirasvit.com/magento-2-extensions/rma.html

What is an RMA?

So, okay, the RMA is important, but what is it? Abbreviation stands for Return Merchandise Authorization. It’s a procedure through which customers send requests to replace, return, or repair goods they bought. Each store, of course, has a different policy on those actions. Some stores only replace items, and others refund in bonus points, but anyhow, the process is called an RMA.

The RMA procedure usually goes like this:

1. Customer creates a request through a special form.
2. Someone (owner, admins, or other staff) reviews pending requests and decides whether to grant them or not.
3. Item in question gets shipped from the customer to a store, warehouse, etc.
4. Buyer receives his compensation in some form or another.

Of course, all those steps are usually done through an RMA system. It is usually a built-in tool or a module, like one by Mirasvit, that helps to do and document each step. For example, the RMA system usually saves all requests. Some systems can also automatically mail users. Without it, manually handling even a handful of RMA requests is a tedious job with a high risk of losing data or encountering shipping issues.

Why RMA is so important?

Earlier, we said a subpar return policy could become a startup’s downfall. Why is that? Why the RMA process is so crucial for business? Here are three reasons:

• Revenue. It’s counterintuitive, but with a proper RMA process at hand, customers tend to spend more money in your store. And why wouldn’t they? If they don’t like the item or it arrived broken, they can just request a return. This safety entices larger purchases.
• Reputation. Care for customers is one of the biggest contributions to the reputation of your business. A loyal customer base often creates the backbone of a company. So, create trust between you and buyers by setting up an RMA process.
• Compliance. Consumer protection laws are important, there is no denying it. Some of them dictate specific processes for returning goods, and RMA systems help you to comply with those regulations.

Benefits of RMA from Mirasvit

While the standard Magento RMA system is functional, it can lack some finesse in certain departments. Extensions add more features and quality-of-life changes to the process. For example, here are reasons why RMA from Mirasvit is better than the basic system:

• Better UI. All the info about requests is placed in one coherent grid. No more clicking through menus and searching for needed information. There is also color coding to guide your gaze.
• Customization. You may change what information is shown on the grid. The module also allows you to create custom statuses and resolutions and change the details of active requests.
• History. All interactions with customers are recorded in the communication history. You may easily revisit it, read emails, and draw useful information from old requests.
• Diversity. The extension allows you to manage RMA requests not only from your online store but also from the physical retail points.