Paper documents are one of the biggest sources of error in transports. They must be produced in duplicate punctual, attached to the correct packages of all orders and returned to the client with the recipient's signature after successful delivery. For this purpose, the driving personnel must hand in the receipts at the office at the end of the shift or tour. In international long-distance transport, several days often pass before the truck returns to the freight forwarder. Until this time, the transport is not officially considered completed and the services can only be invoiced afterwards.

Process reliability

The electronic delivery note does not get lost

Electronic accompanying documents, on the other hand, are created automatically. Data flows into the digital documents via interfaces and electronic data interchange (EDI) and can be reproduced as often as required. They are reliably managed, legally compliant, legible and complete at all times. They can be commented on if necessary and the delivery of goods can be digitally acknowledged. At goods receipt they are transferred contactless, for example via QR codes. Address data from the orders can be sent directly to mobile devices, apps and navigation solutions. Suppliers, as the sender, receive the documents, including their signature, back in real time and can then send their invoice directly. In this way, the digital documents accelerate the course of the processes, provide more security and significantly improve their quality.

Application

How the electronic delivery note is used for transports

Before a shipment is handed over, the client creates the delivery note digitally. It is uploaded for transport and a link to the document is sent to the driver for the transport. On site, the deliverer and recipient can comment on, correct or add to the information and, for example, record the number of loading devices used. Mobile apps transmit the electronic delivery notes in real time. The documents are then archived by the freight forwarder in an audit-proof manner and a copy is automatically sent to the client.

Benefit

What the electronic delivery note improves

Electronic delivery notes considerably increase the transfer speed of the goods accompanying documents. They are transmitted in real time, are available immediately and cannot be lost. Since they are created without media discontinuity, further sources of error are eliminated. Their greatest advantage, however, is that they minimize the administrative effort required to handle the documents and reduce costs. A sustainable contribution to less paper waste included.

Conclusion

The electronic delivery note completes the digitization process

Logistics processes have been increasingly digitized for years. Order data is available electronically and is exchanged automatically via interfaces. Mobile apps control tours and guide drivers. Digital delivery receipts accelerate the process completion. On the way to fully paperless processes, electronic delivery notes close an important gap: They digitize the most time-consuming process, the handling of accompanying documents.