The principal objective of this paper is to conceptualize the scope of improving the responsiveness of logistics by eradicating the restrictions posed by unnecessary delays and human factors, in conjunction with underscoring the positive externalities that will emerge as societal benefits. Various attributes like ‘idle time’, ‘geographical & regional aspects’, ‘truckers limitations’, and ‘uncertainties’ have been taken into consideration to expand the outlook of logistics operations. This paper assembles knowledge to propose an approach to establish the convergence of various relevant aspects of the operational dimension of trade & transport facilitation. Furthermore, these are the aspects which although studied disjointedly were hitherto ignored as interrelated while planning logistics operations.

Reverse logistics plays a very critical role in the overall strategy of a business and hence need to be very effective in meeting its objectives. Studies have come up with various insights to optimize reverse logistics arrangements within a specific industry or a sector, but presently there is no study which provides an approach to share knowledge drawn out of reverse logistics arrangements, across dissimilar industries and sectors. Such a study is significant because the response to a reverse logistics arrangement is not uniform in an industry or sector in all the countries, due to different market maturity levels, dissimilar consumer behaviour, and the state of the economy itself. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a guide for logistics planners through which they can utilize the learning outcomes that emerge from dissimilar industries or sectors within the same economy also. The research findings show that the reverse logistics arrangements can be categorised into various types on the basis of origin and reason for return. It is shown that the products with dissimilar characteristics can be grouped together into six types depending on the common supply chain member interests. Further, the reverse logistics arrangements change from one type to another as a product moves across its life stages. It highlights an approach using which the knowledge drawn from a reverse logistics type in one sector/industry can be applied to the same type in another sector/industry, by focusing on the product types, whose return share similar supply chain member interests. Logistics network planners can apply the insights that have emerged from this analysis to effectively design reverse logistics channels.