Woman returning item at Encora kiosk in retail store

About Encora

Built to verify
what comes back

Encora captures proof of return at the moment it happens—so retailers and operators can stop guessing and start trusting their data.

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Patent pending · Seattle, WA

Why returns need their own infrastructure

Returns are a $101B fraud problem in the US alone. Yet most of that loss happens in the first thirty seconds—at the point of drop-off—before anyone has looked at what was actually returned.

Retailers process an average of $29 in cost for every return they handle. Almost none of that investment includes any actual verification.

The result is predictable:

  • Empty boxes and wrong items accepted as valid returns.
  • No timestamped record of what was dropped off, or when.
  • Refunds issued before condition is ever checked.
  • Fraud that looks identical to a legitimate return.
  • Manual audits that can't scale across locations.

Encora puts a verification layer at the intake point—capturing photo, weight, and item data the moment the return is made.

What Encora provides

⟲

Smart intake

  • Kiosk hardware for stores, malls, and logistics hubs.
  • QR scan or receipt lookup at drop-off.
  • Guided customer flow—no staff required.
  • Live visibility into volume and location.
✓

Proof at drop-off

  • Photo and timestamp captured at the moment of return.
  • Weight and item validation before acceptance.
  • Automatic flags for wrong items and empty boxes.
  • Tamper-evident record stored per transaction.
⧉

Connected data

  • Works alongside your existing POS and OMS.
  • APIs and webhooks for system-to-system routing.
  • Refund holds until verification is complete.
  • Audit-ready reporting across all locations.

Built for audit-ready return records

Every return event is logged with photo evidence, timestamps, and structured data—ready for internal audit and chargeback disputes without custom integrations.

Our story

Encora began by solving one of the hardest problems in reuse: getting physical items back reliably. We built smart bins and traceability tools for reuse programs at campuses, restaurants, and public venues—the goal was simple: make it possible to run a reuse program without the spreadsheets.

That work exposed a broader infrastructure gap. Every operator we worked with had the same problem underneath the reuse question: they couldn't prove what came back. Reusable containers, retail merchandise, or returned goods—the moment of drop-off was a black hole. Items went in, but there was no reliable record of what they were, when they arrived, or whether they matched what was expected.

That insight led us to pivot to verification. The same hardware and software we built for reuse intake—kiosks, weight sensors, computer vision—turned out to be exactly what retail returns needed. We focused the platform on one thing: creating a tamper-evident record at the moment of drop-off.

Today, Encora is focused on verified retail return intake through RetAI, while continuing to support select reuse pilots through Encora Reuse. We're evaluating select 2026 pilot partners, with hardware deployed and integrations with major POS and OMS systems underway.

2022

Founded to solve traceability in reuse programs. Deployed first smart bins on campuses and at public venues.

2023

Expanded hardware with weight sensors and computer vision. Identified the same intake verification gap across retail returns.

2024

Pivoted to retail returns verification. Developed RetAI—the AI layer that validates items at drop-off. Filed patents on intake verification hardware and workflow.

2025

Began evaluating retail pilot partners with apparel retailers, mall operators, and 3PL partners. Now accepting select 2026 pilot conversations.

FAQ

What is Encora?

Encora is a returns verification platform. Our kiosk hardware and RetAI software capture photo, weight, and item data at the moment of drop-off—creating a tamper-evident record of every return before a refund is issued.

Do we have to replace our existing systems?

No. Encora is designed to sit alongside your existing POS, OMS, or logistics systems. We send structured return events via APIs and webhooks so you keep using the tools you already have.

What hardware is involved?

Encora kiosks are freestanding units roughly the size of an ATM—suitable for store floors, mall corridors, and logistics hubs. Each unit includes a camera, weight sensor, and receipt or QR scanner. We handle installation and maintenance.

How do pilots work?

Pilots typically run 60–90 days across a defined set of locations. We set baseline metrics at the start, integrate with your existing return flow, and report fraud catch rates and processing cost changes at the end.

Can Encora hold refunds until verification is complete?

Yes. Encora can trigger a refund hold in your OMS while the item is being verified, releasing it automatically once the return is confirmed—or flagging it for manual review if something doesn't match.

Ready to verify your returns?

We're evaluating select 2026 pilot partners. Talk to us about your locations and volume.

Request a Pilot Conversation