8returns
8returns is a Berlin-based SaaS platform that provides DTC ecommerce brands with self-service returns automation, exchange and store-credit workflows, AI-driven fraud and anomaly detection, and EU-compliant withdrawal infrastructure, primarily serving fashion and apparel merchants on Shopify and Shopware.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What 8returns does
8returns GmbH is a Berlin-based SaaS company founded in 2020 that operates a Returns Intelligence Platform for direct-to-consumer ecommerce brands. The platform consolidates a branded self-service returns portal, dynamic policy rules, automated return logistics with carrier integrations, an EU-compliant withdrawal flow, and revenue-retention modules (exchanges, store credit, Shop Now) into a single product. An AI-powered Returns Assistant adds anomaly detection, fraud prevention, NLP-driven return-reason classification, and computer-vision image quality checks via third-party models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google/Gemini. The company targets DTC brands on Shopify and Shopware — with documented enterprise customers including FILA, Fielmann, Hunter, and Juicy Couture alongside a long tail of fashion, accessories, and lifestyle SMBs and mid-market accounts — and distributes through a product-led growth motion (Shopify App Store, direct self-serve sign-up) supplemented by enterprise field sales for larger deals. 8returns monetizes via a non-public SaaS subscription with monthly billing and optional usage-based transaction fees for return processing; the company has raised approximately €800,000 in an August 2021 angel round led by Mario Götze and senior operators from home24, Mister Spex, SumUp, Zalando, Flaconi, and kfzteile24, and operates with a 1-10 person team.
8returns firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 8returns
- Legal name
- 8returns GmbH
- Website
- https://8returns.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- 8returns is a Berlin-based SaaS platform that provides DTC ecommerce brands with self-service returns automation, exchange and store-credit workflows, AI-driven fraud and anomaly detection, and EU-compliant withdrawal infrastructure, primarily serving fashion and apparel merchants on Shopify and Shopware.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
8returns industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Returns Management Software
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Telephone Call Centers (56142), Business Service Centers (56143)
- SIC
- Retail-Catalog & Mail-Order Houses (5961), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Invoicing, Pay-by-Link & Virtual Accounts (CRAFALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Loyalty Commerce & Affiliate/Offer Platforms (Shopping Portals, Cashback, Offers) (THALAKAJ)
Keywords
Where 8returns is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
8returns business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscription Platform Fee: Monthly or annual subscription for access to the 8returns platform. Contract term is one month with automatic renewal. Usage-based transaction fees may apply on top of base subscription.
- Transaction-based Fees: Transaction fees based on return volume or transaction count. Platform supports monthly invoicing of usage-based fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscription-based pricing with monthly billing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
8returns product offering
Product offeringCore offering
8returns is a Returns Intelligence Platform for DTC ecommerce brands that automates the entire post-purchase returns workflow through a self-serve customer portal, automated logistics and carrier integrations, dynamic return policies, exchanges, store credit, and AI-powered analytics. The platform integrates with 200+ ecommerce platforms, carriers, and 3PLs to retain revenue that would otherwise be lost to refunds while reducing manual workload for merchants.
Product overview
8returns is a Returns Intelligence Platform designed for DTC (direct-to-consumer) brands, offering a unified platform with modular components. The core platform consists of the Self-Serve Returns Portal, Withdrawal Portal, Logistics, and Customizable Return Policy modules. Revenue retention is addressed through Exchanges, Store Credit, and Shop Now modules that convert refunds into exchanges and store credit. Analytics capabilities include Insights dashboard and the AI-powered Returns Assistant for anomaly detection and fraud prevention. The platform integrates with 200+ e-commerce platforms and tools including Shopify, Shopware, major carriers (DHL, EasyPost, Sendcloud), and supports customs/compliance for cross-border returns. Built for circular commerce with sustainability features including eco-friendly return routing and CO2-conscious options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Self-Serve Returns Portal Branded, customizable returns portal that lets ecommerce customers independently initiate returns, generate return labels, select exchange or refund options, and track return status without contacting support. Reduces support requests by 40% and boosts customer satisfaction by 25%.
- Withdrawal Portal Legally-compliant electronic withdrawal declaration portal that separates withdrawal from the returns workflow. Customers can declare withdrawal online with no reason required and receive immediate confirmation, aligned with EU Consumer Rights Directive (EU) 2023/2673 and Article 11a of Directive 2011/83/EU.
- Logistics Automated return logistics solution with carrier integrations (DHL, EasyPost, Sendcloud, shipcloud), real-time tracking, cross-border return handling including customs documentation, and automated QR-code label generation. Reduces shipping costs by 30% and speeds processing by 50%.
- Customizable Return Policy Dynamic return policy engine with rule-based automation for different products, customer segments, and return reasons. Enables efficient return routing to warehouses, stores, resale partners, or donation centers, including eco-friendly options like allowing customers to keep items. Reduces return shipping costs by 15% and increases customer loyalty by 30%.
- Exchanges Exchange management module allowing customers to select replacement items within the returns portal. Automated business logic handles new order creation, price differences, and refund adjustments, preserving revenue by converting refund requests into exchanges.
- Store Credit Automated store credit issuance as an alternative to refunds, including bonus credit incentives and instant store credit options. Increases repeat purchases by 50%, reduces refunds by 25%, and boosts upsells by 35%.
- Shop Now Exchange feature enabling customers to shop the entire product catalog directly within the returns portal. Handles price differences automatically and features instant store credit for faster exchanges. Increases exchange rate by 50% and revenue retention by 30%.
- Custom Return Types Flexible return type configuration for warranty repairs, recycling programs, trade-in items, and donation initiatives. Customizable workflows for specialized return handling. Increases customer retention by 35% and reduces processing time by 50%.
- Insights Returns analytics dashboard providing comprehensive visibility into returns performance, return rates, return reasons, customer behaviors, product-level patterns, and revenue retention metrics. Enables data-driven decisions to reduce return rates by 10%.
- Returns Assistant (AI) AI-powered returns intelligence feature that analyzes returns data to identify anomalies, uncover sizing and quality issues, reduce return rates by 20%, and prevent fraud by 40%. Detects wardrobing, false defect claims, and provides automated workflow actions and recommendations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15% reduction in return shipping costs
- +13 more outcomes
Companies that use 8returns
Customer profileNamed customers27 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
8returns technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration24 records
AI capability10 records
Feature9 records
8returns partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreCloud hosting provider for 8returns platform infrastructure. AWS provides compute, storage, and related platform services. EU hosting region where configured. Data transfers covered by Standard Contractual Clauses and EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.
- Google / GeminicoreAI model provider for image analysis and related AI processing within the 8returns platform. Handles AI-assisted image quality assessment for claim-related uploads.
- AnthropiccoreAI model provider for text generation, classification, summarization, recommendations, and analytics insights. Processes AI-assisted features where enabled.
- OpenAIcoreAI model provider for text classification, recommendations, analytics insights, summaries, and short generated text where enabled. EEA/Swiss customers served through Ireland entity.
- DHLcoreCarrier integration for labelling, tracking, and logistics workflows. Enables return label generation and tracking for DHL shipments. Established in Germany.
- shipcloudcoreCarrier integration for labelling, tracking, and logistics workflows. Connects 8returns with multiple carriers for automated return label generation.
- EasyPostcoreCarrier integration for labelling, tracking, and logistics workflows. US-based carrier integration service.
- SendcloudcoreCarrier integration for labelling, tracking, and logistics workflows. Netherlands-based carrier service.
- ShopifycoreNative platform integration with 200+ integrations. Shopify app available in Shopify App Store for one-click installation. Deep integration with Shopify ecosystem.
- ShopwarecoreNative platform integration for Shopware merchants, serving DACH region primarily.
Scale indicators21 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
8returns competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Narvar: Post-purchase experience platform covering shipping notifications, returns, and order tracking for enterprise retailers. Returns management is part of a broader suite, making Narvar a broader incumbent overlapping with 8returns' portal and analytics modules.
Emerging players
- Klarna Returns: Klarna's shopping app includes in-app returns and instant refund handling for participating merchants, partially overlapping with 8returns' returns portal and instant store credit features. As Klarna expands merchant partnerships in Europe, it represents an emerging competitive vector.
- ClickPost: Shipping and returns management SaaS with multi-carrier orchestration and returns portal. Emerging player with adjacent returns functionality targeting mid-market and enterprise retailers.
Direct peers
- Returnly (Affirm): Returns and exchange management platform acquired by Affirm in 2021, targeting DTC brands with instant credit-based exchanges. Directly comparable product offering and Shopify-centric GTM overlap with 8returns.
- Happy Returns (PayPal): Returns management platform acquired by PayPal, offering box-free returns, exchanges, and in-person drop-off. Competes with 8returns in the DTC returns space with the backing of a major payments platform.
- Loop Returns: US-based returns management SaaS for DTC ecommerce brands, offering exchanges, store credit, and analytics. Direct competitor to 8returns in the Shopify-anchored returns platform category with overlapping product surface (portal, exchanges, incentives, analytics).
- AfterShip Returns: AfterShip's returns module is part of a broader post-purchase experience platform, providing self-serve returns, exchanges, and tracking for global ecommerce brands. Directly comparable to 8returns on returns automation, carrier integrations, and analytics.
- ReturnGO: AI-powered returns management platform for ecommerce merchants offering exchanges, store credit, and automated workflows. Direct competitor to 8returns with similar Shopify focus and AI-driven feature positioning.
Regional players
- Sorted: UK-based delivery and returns management software provider serving European retailers. Comparable returns management functionality to 8returns with regional overlap in UK and EU markets.
- Returnista: Germany-based returns management service for fashion and lifestyle brands, offering a returns portal and circular commerce processing. Directly comparable regional competitor in 8returns' home DACH market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
8returns social profiles
Digital presence8returns compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
8returns financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
8returns leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
8returns funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
8returns M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 8returns
What does 8returns do?
8returns is a Returns Intelligence Platform for DTC ecommerce brands that automates the entire post-purchase returns workflow through a self-serve customer portal, automated logistics and carrier integrations, dynamic return policies, exchanges, store credit, and AI-powered analytics. The platform integrates with 200+ ecommerce platforms, carriers, and 3PLs to retain revenue that would otherwise be lost to refunds while reducing manual workload for merchants.
Is 8returns a public or private company?
8returns is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was 8returns founded?
8returns was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is 8returns based?
8returns is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does 8returns make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. SaaS Subscription Platform Fee is the primary driver. The others are transaction-based Fees.
Who are 8returns's main competitors?
Narvar is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Klarna Returns and ClickPost. Direct peers are Returnly (Affirm), Happy Returns (PayPal), Loop Returns, AfterShip Returns and ReturnGO. Regional players are Sorted and Returnista.
Does 8returns have an API?
Yes. 8returns provides API access for platform integration. The General Terms and Conditions reference API usage obligations, stating that customers and users must monitor and optimize their API usage and keep it within a 'fair use' volume. Excessive API usage may result in access restrictions without prior notice. The platform offers 200+ e-commerce platform integrations and custom integration capabilities for 3PL, ERP, and Customer Service tools.
What industry is 8returns in?
8returns's product category is Returns Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFALAJ, Invoicing, Pay-by-Link & Virtual Accounts, with a secondary code of THALAKAJ, Loyalty Commerce & Affiliate/Offer Platforms (Shopping Portals, Cashback, Offers). Its NAICS code is 5182 and its SIC code is 5961.