Why use a delivery note
A signed delivery note is your proof that the goods reached the customer. If a customer later says something was missing or damaged, the signature, the date and the quantities on the note settle the question. It also lets a warehouse check goods in against the purchase order before the invoice is paid.
- Proof of delivery for disputes and returns
- A checklist for the driver and the receiver
- Part deliveries: one note per load against the same order
- Matching the order, the delivery and the invoice
Delivery note, delivery challan and invoice
A delivery note and a delivery challan are the same document under different names; challan is the usual word in India and Pakistan. Neither is an invoice and neither asks for payment. The invoice is issued separately, often quoting the delivery note number, and in many countries a tax invoice has its own legal requirements that a delivery note does not meet.
Tips for a smooth delivery
Describe each item the same way as on the order so the receiver can tick it off. Use the reference field for the customer's purchase order or your invoice number. Print two copies: the receiver keeps one and signs the other, which you keep. Ask the receiver to write their name clearly and the date beside the signature, and to note any damaged or missing items on the note before signing.