Overview of Returns

Using the Sales Orders window, you can enter, view, and update return material authorizations (RMAs) for your customers to return goods to you.

You can enter an order with both return material and outbound material or return material only using the Sales Orders window.

Order Management enables you to authorize the return of your sales orders. You can authorize returns for replacement that returns with or without credit. If you require that items be returned for credit, Order Management can prevent customer credits until the items have been inspected, if necessary, and accepted by your organization. You can also apply attachments to provide additional information about your returns.

You can enter information in the Sales Orders window as you receive it. You can also copy existing orders to begin a new return. Order acknowledgements can be sent for return orders and outbound orders.

You can enter returns in any operating unit accessible to you, however the selected operating unit should be the same as the operating unit in which you created your order.

The Operating Unit field works in the same way as it does in the Sales Orders window.

Processing Constraints

Order Management processing constraints can be configured to restrict the updating of your RMAs. The following constraints are imposed by default:

Additionally, a processing constraint is available to stop creation of return lines once the return approval is rejected on order.

Credit Order Origination

Credit Orders may originate in many departments, for example:

Credit Order Line Types

You can have several types of credit orders by specifying the order and line type. Each order and line type is associated with a workflow process. You can customize order types and RMA line types to meet your business needs.

Credit order types have an order type category of Return. A Mixed order type category can contain both sales order and return lines, however you cannot enter return lines into an order with a order type category of Regular.

RMA line types have a line type category of Return. The following are examples of the basic line return types:

The order and line transaction type are associated with the workflow process, and updates are not allowed after the workflow process has started, unless the workflow associated with the transaction type does not change.

See: Oracle Order Management Implementation Manual, Defining Order Management Transaction Types.

Credit Order Line Information

You can enter a RMA line in the Sales Orders window using the following information:

Note: The only restriction for entering the Revision number on an order line is if there are multiple revisions for the item, and the items returned need to be assigned to the correct revision number. You will need to create separate RMA lines for each item revision number returned. Order Management does not create separate RMA lines for each revision automatically.

For a lot and/or serial number controlled item, the Sales Orders window enables you to enter the lot and serial numbers that the customer reports for a return line. An RMA line can be associated with one or multiple lot and/or serial numbers. Actual received lot and/or serial numbers are stored on receipt upon delivery of the items.

Note: Since Order Management supports integration with other legacy systems, there is no validation for revision, lot, or serial numbers against inventory tables. These are numbers entered from the customer when creating a RMA. Additionally, the serial numbers are those which were shipped out on order lines, created in the same operating unit and for the specified customer and currency.

Order Management assists you in having order lines and credit lines in the same order. For example, if you have a customer who wants to purchase a new car, however, the customer also wants to trade-in an old vehicle, you can create an RMA order line in the sales order. A combination of the RMA line type and order type will process this RMA line appropriately. You indicate that you are entering a return line by keying a negative quantity, a return line type, and a return reason.

Related Transaction Information

You can record key originating transaction details for:

You can restrict the items available to be returned to items on the originating transaction. Order Management enables you to have a RMA without the originating transaction. For RMA lines without originating transactions, the pricing information needs to be available to calculate the credit for the order appropriately.

Order Management also validates that quantity returned cannot be more than quantity ordered.

Creating Credit Orders

You can create RMA orders by specifying in the Sales Orders window whether an order line is to be a standard or return item. For an RMA order or order lines creation, Order Management enables you to:

Order Management checks if the originating lines have been fulfilled. The OM: Return Unfulfilled Referenced Line Action profile option is used to enable un-fulfilled lines to be used as referenced lines.

You can use the Return Lot and Serial Number window to capture lot and serial numbers suggested by the customer for the RMA line. The Sales Orders window does not validate the lot and serial numbers against the inventory assigned lot and serial numbers because the lot or serial numbers may have been shipped from a legacy system or may be purged.

Pricing Credit Orders

Order Management enables you to create and price credit returns from the Sales Order window.

Pricing Options

  1. At the current price list value

  2. At the price list value ruling on the date of the original order

  3. At the original price paid by customer

    Create and Price credit return lines

    Creation Method Pricing option 1 Pricing option 2 Pricing option 3
    Copy order line within the Sales Order window Yes Yes Yes
    Reference the existing order line within the Sales Order window No No Yes
    Manually reference an RMA without referencing order line within the Sales Order window Yes No No

After a return line is created, users can change pricing options for the line by changing the Calculate Price value from the Line Pricing tab. Available options are:

Attachments

You can apply attachments to your RMA orders or order lines.