Sales Returns

Overview of the sales returns process in Numera

Introduction

Sales Returns allow businesses to reverse completed sales transactions when goods are returned by customers or when a financial correction is required.

Numera supports two types of sales return scenarios:

  • Product Return - Inventory + Financial Correction
  • Financial Credit Note - Financial Correction Only

The appropriate return process depends on whether inventory should be returned to stock.

Sales Return Process Overview

When goods are physically returned by a customer, the full sales return process includes inventory and accounting updates.

Product Return Workflow

Outbound Delivery

Original delivery to customer

Sales Return

Process returned goods

Credit Note

Financial correction document

Inventory Update

Return stock to inventory

Accounting

Record financial transactions

When only a financial correction is needed without inventory changes, use the credit note workflow.

Financial Correction Workflow

Understanding Sales Returns

A Sales Return is used when:

  • Goods are physically returned by a customer
  • An incorrect quantity was delivered
  • Damaged goods are returned
  • A customer receives the wrong product
  • A financial correction is required

Numera provides separate workflows for inventory returns and invoice corrections.

Return Goods to Inventory

Create Sales Return from an Outbound Delivery

When goods are physically returned, create the Sales Return from the original Outbound Delivery.

Result

Numera automatically:

  • Creates a Sales Return document
  • Creates a Credit Note
  • Updates inventory quantities
  • Reverses the stock movement associated with the original delivery
  • Creates the necessary accounting impact

Best Practice

Use this process whenever products physically return to inventory.

Documents Available

From a Sales Return document users can download:

Sales Return Order

Formal document describing the returned items and quantities.

Credit Note

Financial document used to reduce the customer's balance.

Creating a Sales Return from an Outbound Delivery.

Financial Correction Only

Create Credit Note from an Outbound Invoice

When inventory should NOT be returned to stock, create a Credit Note directly from the Outbound Invoice.

Typical examples:

  • Pricing correction
  • Discount adjustment
  • Billing error
  • Service invoice correction
  • Customer goodwill credit

Result

Numera automatically:

  • Creates a Credit Note
  • Updates accounting balances
  • Updates customer receivables

Numera does NOT:

  • Create a Sales Return document
  • Update inventory
  • Reverse stock movements

Important

Use this process only when inventory should remain unchanged or when the original sale contains services only.
Creating a Credit Note directly from an Outbound Invoice.

Choosing the Correct Process

CriteriaSales ReturnCredit Note
Source DocumentOutbound DeliveryOutbound Invoice
Inventory UpdateYesNo
Credit Note CreatedYesYes
Sales Return DocumentYesNo
Use CasePhysical goods returned by customerFinancial correction only

Credit Note Formats

Numera supports two PDF versions of Credit Notes. Users can select the format when generating the PDF.

Detailed Credit Note

Displays all returned or credited items exactly as they were entered in the original transaction.

Features:

  • Original item lines
  • Original quantities
  • Original prices
  • Original taxes
  • Full transaction detail

Recommended for:

  • Customer documentation
  • Auditing
  • Detailed financial review
Detailed Credit Note format.

Aggregated Credit Note

Displays a simplified credit note using a single summarized line.

Features:

  • One credit note line
  • Total credited amount
  • Simplified presentation

Recommended for:

  • Simple customer refunds
  • Accounting documentation
  • Customers requesting summarized documents
Aggregated Credit Note format.

Inventory Impact

Sales Returns automatically return stock to inventory. The following diagram illustrates the inventory flow.

Inventory Flow Example

Original Inventory

Starting stock: 100 units

Outbound Delivery

Shipped: -10 units

After Delivery

Remaining: 90 units

Sales Return

Returned: +10 units

Final Inventory

Restored: 100 units

Key Difference

Sales Returns automatically return stock to inventory. Credit Notes created directly from invoices do not affect inventory quantities.

Accounting Impact

Sales Return

Creates:

  • Credit Note
  • Revenue reversal
  • Tax adjustment
  • Inventory adjustment

Credit Note

Creates:

  • Credit Note
  • Revenue reversal
  • Tax adjustment

No inventory transactions are created.

Best Practices

Use Sales Returns for Returned Products

If goods are physically received back, always create a Sales Return from the Outbound Delivery.

Use Credit Notes for Financial Corrections

If inventory should remain unchanged, create a Credit Note from the Outbound Invoice.

Preserve Audit Trail

Always create return documents from the original transaction rather than manually recreating information.

Keep Customer Communication Consistent

Use the same credit note format consistently across your organization.

Process Summary

Use this decision flow to determine the correct return process:

Did products physically return?

Yes

Create Sales Return from Outbound Delivery

  • Credit Note Created
  • Inventory Updated

No

Create Credit Note from Outbound Invoice

  • Credit Note Created
  • No Inventory Update

This decision determines whether inventory is updated as part of the return process.