The winning AI-powered solution helps retailers turn returns into revenue opportunities by optimizing product repositioning and minimizing markdown losses

Invent.ai  has announced it has won “Returns Optimization Solution of the Year” in the 2025 RetailTech Breakthrough Awards, an annual program that highlights the world’s best companies, products and services in the retail technology industry. Invent.ai was honored for its AI-driven, Returns Positioning Solution, which helps retailers optimize the way they manage, position, and profit from product returns.

The RetailTech Breakthrough Awards celebrate the most innovative tools, services and companies pushing the boundaries of the retail experience. With nominations spanning across inventory management, merchandising awards and retail operations, the program highlights advancements shaping the future of retail. Invent.ai stood out for empowering retailers to navigate the growing complexity and cost of returns management with its innovative technology.

The invent.ai Returns Positioning Solution improves operations through:

• Intelligent rerouting: AI automatically determines the most profitable destination for each returned item in real-time
• Revenue maximization: Inventory is positioned where it’s most likely to sell at full price, while minimizing unnecessary routing and storage costs
• Future returns forecasting: Predictive insights help retailers anticipate returns trends to better allocate inventory and protect margins

As return rates climb across the retail industry, traditional returns strategies struggle to keep up, resulting in excess costs, markdowns and operational inefficiencies. Invent.ai’s technology turns that challenge into an opportunity—using machine learning to predict future return volumes and make intuitive decisions that streamline the entire process.

“Our goal is to help retailers see returns as a revenue opportunity instead of a burden,” said Gurhan Kok, Founder & CEO, invent.ai. “This award validates our vision for helping retailers rethink returns management as part of a more dynamic merchandising and inventory strategy.”