Resolving item returns of an electronic marketplace

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• receiving, by a computer system and from a device of a user, a digital image that comprises an identifier of an item via a first communication channel of a network connection, the network connection enabling communications between the device of the user and the computer system, the digital image being generated using an encoding or compression standard implemented by the device of the user, and the first communication channel comprising a function call or a network document request;
• identifying, by the computer system, the item by comparing the identifier in the digital image of the item with identifiers of stored images of the item;
• determining, by the computer system, that the item satisfies a constraint for a return of the item based on receiving the digital image of the item via the network connection;
• when the item is identified, initiating a return request confirmation, comprising:
• transmitting, via a second communication channel, a return query text message to the device of the user, the second communication channel comprising a short message service;
• and
• receiving, via the second communication channel, a return confirmation text message;
• and
• initiating a return workflow for the item based on the return confirmation text message.

A system, comprising:

• a memory that stores computer-executable instructions;
• and
• a processor configured to access the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to collectively at least:
• receive a digital image of an item from a user device via a first communication channel, the first communication channel comprising a function call or a network document request, the digital image comprising an identifier of the item;
• identify the item by comparing the identifier in the digital image with identifiers of stored images of the item;
• determine that the digital image was received from the user device within an allowable timeframe for returning the item to an item provider;
• when the item is identified, initiate a return request confirmation, comprising:
• transmitting, via a second communication channel, a return query text message to the user device, the second communication channel comprising a short message service;
• and
• receiving, via the second communication channel, a return confirmation text message;
• and
• initiate a return workflow for the item based at least in part on the return confirmation text message.