How important is proof of delivery?

Using a proof of delivery system is key for helping businesses ensure their goods are efficiently and promptly sent and delivered. It acts as confirmation when a package reaches its destination, ensuring all deliveries are accounted for and completing the chain of custody.

Electronic proof of delivery (EPOD) allows customers to provide an electronic signature on receipt of delivery which helps to reduce paperwork. It also provides better traceability and visibility of delivery operations, and how they sit within the wide manufacturing and distribution journey.   

Why is proof of delivery important?

Proof of delivery is important for both businesses and their clients, allowing both sides to be kept informed and have visibility of the delivery process and to provide information if there’s a misplaced delivery. It also safeguards all of those involved from being deceived and avoids unnecessary conflict. There are also other benefits of proof of delivery including:

Reducing customer disputes

One benefit of a proof of delivery system is that all deliveries are tracked and confirmed so you have evidence in the event of an unsatisfied client. Having this evidence may prevent you from having to spend money on unnecessary refunds or having to send out replacement orders based on a delivery dispute. This is especially key with high-value, smaller items which don’t need to be signed for but are valuable to the client and your business.

Not only can a proof of delivery system reduce client disputes, but it can have a positive impact on the overall client experience. The business you’re delivering to may be reliant on the products arriving and therefore need to be kept informed. Receiving regular, real-time updates on the process such as when the item has been dispatched or a delivery attempt has been made is important to ensure a positive working relationship is established and maintained.

Reduced paperwork

With an electronic proof of delivery system such as PODStar, when a product is successfully delivered, an automatic confirmation is sent from the EPOD system to your office. Not only does this prevent drivers from having to submit paperwork at the end of each shift, but it also helps the back office staff by cutting down on sorting the paperwork. It reduces manual tasks from each party and the amount of paperwork which needs to be filed and stored. This in the long run can save time and money, both in staffing costs but also in allowing for quick invoicing for completed jobs, helping to maximise your cash flow.

Efficient deliveries

It’s not only reducing paperwork that can save your business time and money. Implementing an EPOD system allows for more efficient deliveries through job planning and scheduling, as well as route planning. With PODStar, as jobs are entered into the system, they are logically allocated to a vehicle through the planning tool which also provides run lists based on this information. Through the ‘drag and drop’ methodology, jobs and routes can be assigned to drivers and shared remotely with those in the field to optimise each delivery, saving fuel and time on the road.

Increase delivery reliability

Running a reliable distribution operation is key to building trust with your clients and presenting a brand that can be trusted. Having an electronic proof of delivery system that shares information between the drivers and the office means that your services are more transparent, traceable and provide real-time tracking. This flow of information means that a reliable service can be offered as any concerns can be detected early and prevented from becoming a larger issue. Not only this but the inbuilt vehicle inspection reminds the driver to complete regular checks on their vehicles to ensure there are no issues on the road, helping to ensure the jobs are successfully and reliably completed.

TouchStar allows drivers to complete checks using a mobile device, which then uploads the reports directly to a back office system. These checks can include photographs of any damage or low tyre treads, record a driver’s digital signature and capture the date, time and GPS location at the time of the check. All of this vehicle information ensures the highest levels of accuracy and eliminates paperwork.

How TouchStar can help

If you’re looking to introduce a new electronic proof of delivery system, or upgrade your existing delivery system, TouchStar is on hand to help. Our EPOD software combines job planning, route optimisation and regular vehicle maintenance checks in one easy solution. Get in touch with our expert team today to find out more.