New trends in reverse logistics management in e-commerce and the challenges they present.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62452/ra31h176Keywords:
E-commerce, automation, consumer, artificial intelligenceAbstract
This study aims to investigate new trends in reverse logistics in e-commerce and how e-commerce companies can address the associated challenges to achieve efficiency in their processes and customer satisfaction. A mixed methodology was used, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches through surveys of 86 users of e-commerce platforms in Guaranda. The results indicate that most respondents perceive reverse logistics as a competitive advantage, highlighting the importance of simple and free return policies. However, barriers were identified, such as the lack of infrastructure and resources to implement advanced technological solutions, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises. It is concluded that the adoption of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation is essential to improve reverse logistics, just as consumer confidence is key to the success of e-commerce and sustainability in this sector.
Downloads
References
Alvis, J., Aranda, Q., Celi, M., Martínez, S., Vargas, V., & Moscoso, J. (2023). Principales tendencias de investigación sobre la logística inversa publicadas durante los años 2013 y 2022. 21st LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education, and Technology. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ayala, K. G., Cordero, F., Campos, N., Maza, A. G., Manturano, R. K., & Rabanal, H. (2023). Logística inversa para optimizar recursos y ventas en el sector tecnológico. 21st LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education, and Technology. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Bustos, E. (2015). La logística inversa como fuente de producción sostenible. Actualidad Contable Faces, 18(30), 7–32. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/257/25739666002.pdf
Calle, K., Erazo, J., & Narváez, C. (2020). Marketing digital y estrategias online en el sector de fabricación de muebles de madera. Revista Arbitrada Interdisciplinaria Koinonía, 5(10), 339–369. https://doi.org/10.35381/r.k.v5i10.698
Cámara de Innovación y Tecnología Ecuatoriana. (2022). Mapeo del ecosistema E-Commerce en Ecuador. Mambo. https://observatorioecuadordigital.mintel.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CITEC-Situacion-del-E-Commerce-en-Ecuador.pdf
Cámara Ecuatoriana de Comercio Electrónico. (2024). Estudio de Transacciones No Presenciales en Ecuador (VII Medición). Universidad Espíritu. https://cece.ec/wp-content/uploads/estudios-ecommerce-ec/Estudio-Ecommerce-2025-VII-Medicion.pdf
Campoverde, J., Carrillo, M., Jiménez, J., Roldán, R., Loyola, D., & Coronel, K. (2022). Revisión de la literatura sobre logística inversa. Enfoque UTE, 13(2), 31–47. https://doi.org/10.29019/enfoqueute.782
Córdova, E., Abanto, F., Nuñez, K., & Bazan, A. (2024). Estrategias de logística inversa alineadas a la sostenibilidad en la industria textil sostenible: Una revisión sistemática. 22nd LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education, and Technology: Sustainable Engineering for a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Future at the Service. San José, Costa Rica.
Ecuador. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2023). Tecnologías de la información y comunicación. INEC. https://www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec/documentos/web-inec/Estadisticas_Sociales/TIC/2023/202307_Tecnologia_de_la_Informacion_y_Comunicacion-TICs.pdf
Ecuador. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2025). Registro Estadístico de Empresas (REEM) Evolución Histórica. INEC. https://www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec/documentos/web-inec/Estadisticas_Economicas/Registro_Empresas_Establecimientos/2024/Semestre_I/Evolucion_Historica_REEM.pdf
Erazo, J., & Narváez, C. (2023). Hacia la excelencia empresarial: competitividad, desarrollo sostenible y gestión del talento en sectores clave. Atena Editora.
Lasio, V., Espinosa, M., Amaya, A., Mahauad, M., & Sarango, P. (2024). Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Ecuador 2023–2024. ESPAE - Escuela de Negocios de la ESPOL.
León, P., Albán, P., & J., B. (2024). Tendencia de uso del comercio electrónico en el sector comercial de la ciudad de Guaranda, provincia de Bolívar. Revista Científica Suplemento CICA Multidisciplinario, 8(18), 40–62. https://doi.org/10.56124/scicam.v8i018.002
Mastos, T., Nizamis, A., Terzi, S., Gkortzis, D., Papadopoulos, A., Ioannidis, D., … Tzovaras, D. (2021). Presentación de una aplicación de una solución de la industria 4.0 para la gestión de la cadena de suministro circular. Journal of Cleaner Production, 300, 126886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126886
Montero Tapia, I. F., Erazo Álvarez, J. C., Narváez Zurita, C. I., & Ormaza Andrade, J. E. (2019). Desarrollo organizacional como estrategia de modernización de la calidad del servicio de alimentos y bebidas. Visionario Digital, 3(2), 103–119. https://doi.org/10.33262/visionariodigital.v3i2.2.618
Plaza, J., Abad, E., Burgos, J., Boteva, A., & Belmonte, L. (2021). Trends and new challenges in the green supply chain: The reverse logistics. Sustainability, 13(301), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010331
Serrano-Orellana, K., Sousa-Barros, I., & Chang-Fernández, A. (Comp.). (2025). Transformación digital, tributación y nuevas tecnologías: Estudios aplicados en el contexto empresarial ecuatoriano. Sophia Editions.
Velásquez, X. (2023). Industria 4.0 impacta la logística inversa. Revista Loginn: Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, 7(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.23850/25907441.5277
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Patricia de Lourdes León-Monar, Edwin Joselito Vásquez-Erazo (Autor/a)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in Revista Metropolitana de Ciencias Aplicadas (REMCA), agree to the following terms:
1. Copyright
Authors retain unrestricted copyright to their work. Authors grant the journal the right of first publication. To this end, they assign the journal non-exclusive exploitation rights (reproduction, distribution, public communication, and transformation). Authors may enter into additional agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal, provided that acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal is given.
© The authors.
2. License
The articles are published in the journal under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). The terms can be found at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en
This license allows:
- Sharing: Copying and redistributing the material in any medium or format.
- Adapting: Remixing, transforming, and building upon the material.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution: You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if any changes were made. You may do this in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses or sponsors your use.
- NonCommercial: You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- ShareAlike: If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your creation under the same license as the original work.
There are no additional restrictions. You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

