Reference the original purchase
This preserves product cost, supplier and quantity context.
Record the physical stock movement
Returned items must leave the correct location or be marked for dispatch.
Capture the reason
Damage, incorrect product, quality issue and excess supply should be distinguishable.
Update the supplier balance correctly
A credit, refund or replacement changes the financial outcome in different ways.
Track pending supplier action
A return can remain operationally open until credit, refund or replacement is confirmed.
Analyse repeated supplier returns
Patterns can support supplier-quality and purchasing decisions.
The operating principle
Every event should remain connected to the product, contact or transaction that created it. That is what lets ERP explain a number instead of only displaying it.