THE ANALYSIS OF MARKET PARTICIPANTS MANAGING THE REVERSE LOGISTICS FLOWS AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS

While segregating the direct and reverse logistics flows, due to the complexity of the returns process management, there have emerged specific market players unique only for these flows. Regarding the organizational aspect, these entities can be formed by the participants of the direct flows, but can also be engaged as specialized external aid. The analyses carried out in practice concerning this topic show that the biggest number of entities involved in managing the reverse logistics processes are within the category of specialized business subjects, which only perform this type of work and which are independent from the actors of regular flows. The subject of this paper is to analyse in depth the volume and importance of reverse logistics flows, focusing on the specifics and types of entities specialized in managing these flows, such as centralized return centres, 3PL and 4PL providers for reverse flows, as well as various business entities of the secondary market. The aim of the paper is to indicate the complexity of tasks performed by specialized entities involved in the reverse logistics process, their scarcity in numbers on a global scale and thus the huge unexploited business potential lying in this market segment. That is a unique chance not only for regional, but also global business milieu.