Audit Logs

Audit logs provide a complete record of all activities in ReturnMate. Use them for compliance, troubleshooting, and understanding what happened and when.

What Gets Logged

User Activities

System Events

Accessing Audit Logs

From Settings

1. Go to Settings → Audit Log
2. View recent activity
3. Use filters to narrow results

From RMA Details

1. Open any RMA
2. Scroll to Timeline
3. Click View Full History
4. See all logged events for that RMA

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Audit Log View

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Filtering Logs

Available Filters

Quick Filters

• Today
• Last 7 days
• Last 30 days
• Custom range

Search

Search logs by:

• RMA number
• Order number
• Customer email
• Action keywords

Log Entry Details

Entry Structure

Each log entry contains:

[Timestamp] [User] [Action] [Details]

Example:
2024-12-31 14:32:15 | john@company.com | Refund Processed |
RMA: RMA-2024-001234 | Amount: $129.00 | Method: Original Payment

Expanded Details

Click any entry to see:

• Full action details
• Before/after values
• Related records
• IP address and location
• Device information

Common Use Cases

Dispute Investigation

When a customer disputes an action:

1. Find the RMA in question
2. Review all timeline events
3. Identify who did what and when
4. Document for dispute response

Compliance Audits

For compliance requirements:

1. Export logs for audit period
2. Filter by relevant criteria
3. Provide auditor access if needed
4. Demonstrate data handling practices

Troubleshooting

When something goes wrong:

1. Search for the affected record
2. Review recent activities
3. Identify when issue occurred
4. Trace the cause

Team Training

Review logs to:

• Identify training needs
• Share best practices
• Monitor new team members
• Standardise processes

Exporting Logs

Export Options

Export logs as:

• CSV file
• Excel spreadsheet
• JSON (for technical use)

Export Process

1. Set desired filters
2. Click Export
3. Choose format
4. Download file

Export Limits

• Standard: Up to 10,000 entries
• Contact support for larger exports
• Scheduled exports available

Retention Policy

How Long Logs Are Kept

Permanent Records

Some records are kept permanently:

• RMA history
• Refund transactions
• Team changes

Security Logging

Security Events

Special logging for:

• Failed login attempts
• Permission changes
• Password resets
• API key usage
• Suspicious activity

Alerts

Configure alerts for:

• Multiple failed logins
• Access from new locations
• Unusual activity patterns

Best Practices

• Review logs regularly for unusual activity
• Export critical logs for backup
• Train team on log importance
• Document log retention policies
• Set up security alerts
• Use logs for process improvement

Privacy Considerations

Data in Logs

Logs may contain:

• Customer email addresses
• Order information
• Staff activity

Access Control

Limit log access to:

• Admins for full access
• Managers for team they supervise
• Compliance team for audits

Related Articles

• Roles & Permissions
• Return Exceptions
• Data Retention & Exports