SuiteQL query for Identifying most returned Inventory items in NetSuite

Overview: Tracking product returns is essential for improving quality, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction. This SuiteQL query helps NetSuite users identify which inventory items are returned most frequently, offering actionable insights for product and operations teams.

What It Does:

Targets return authorization transactions (RtnAuth) from NetSuite

Filters out voided or cancelled records

Focuses specifically on inventory parts (InvtPart)

Aggregates return quantities by item ID, name, display name, and manufacturer

Sorts results to highlight the highest-returned items first

This query looks at product return records to find out which items are returned most often. It checks valid return transactions from a chosen date, adds up how many units of each item were returned, and lists them from most to least. It also shows helpful details like item name and manufacturer to make analysis easier.

SuiteQL Query:

SELECT
    Item.ID AS Item,
    Item.ItemID,
    Item.DisplayName,
    Item.Manufacturer,
    SUM(TransactionLine.Quantity) AS QtyReturned
FROM
    Transaction
INNER JOIN TransactionLine ON
    TransactionLine.Transaction = Transaction.ID
INNER JOIN Item ON
    Item.ID = TransactionLine.Item
WHERE
    Transaction.Type = 'RtnAuth'
    AND Transaction.TranDate >= TO_DATE(:1, 'MM/DD/YYYY')
    AND Transaction.Void = 'F'
    AND Transaction.Voided = 'F'
    AND Item.ItemType = 'InvtPart'
GROUP BY
    Item.ID,
    Item.ItemID,
    Item.DisplayName,
    Item.Manufacturer
ORDER BY
    QtyReturned DESC,
    Item.ItemID

This SuiteQL query retrieves a list of inventory items that have been returned through return authorization transactions. It starts by selecting key item details—such as internal ID, item name, display name, and manufacturer—and calculates the total quantity returned for each item. To do this, it joins three tables: Transaction, TransactionLine, and Item, linking them through their respective IDs. The query filters for transactions of type 'RtnAuth' (Return Authorization), excludes any voided or canceled entries, and focuses only on items classified as 'InvtPart' (Inventory Part). It also limits results to transactions occurring on or after a specified date. Finally, it groups the data by item attributes and sorts the output by the total quantity returned in descending order, followed by item ID—making it easy to identify the most frequently returned products.

Use Case: Perfect for product managers, quality assurance teams, and operations leaders who want to identify problematic SKUs, reduce return rates, and improve customer satisfaction.