BVL and GS1 Germany Launch the Digital Delivery Note

Delivery notes in paper form still accompany the goods deliveries from consumer goods manufacturers to retailers. Due to the diverse functions and requirements, delivery notes cannot be easily digitized. Upon delivery in retail, the delivery note often serves as a receipt, confirming to the seller the proper receipt of the delivery. The return of paper documents to the sender is usually carried out by the logistics service provider’s driving personnel.

(Bremen/Cologne) In 2020, the Federal Association of Logistics (BVL) and GS1 Germany launched the “Digital Delivery Note” project to finally optimize the mostly manual and cumbersome processes digitally. After a successful “Proof of Concept” in 2021 with 20 renowned companies from the consumer goods industry, retail, and logistics, the partners are now moving into realization.

All participants are to exchange delivery notes digitally via a central cloud platform in an initial phase, and later also other transport documents. The goal is to establish and put the platform into operation in close coordination with industry, retail, and logistics by the end of 2022.

Neutral Solution

“The uniqueness of the proposed solution is its neutrality and the community approach, which takes into account the interests of all process participants,” says Dr. Martin Schwemmer, Managing Director of BVL. Open, standardized interfaces enable shippers, recipients, and logistics service providers to connect technically without discrimination. They can already use existing application providers if they complement the corresponding functionalities in their systems. This allows digital transport documents to be exchanged between different supply chain partners through a central instance and enriched with information according to a standardized procedure. “This collaboratively developed approach aims to eliminate the cumbersome paperwork in everyday logistics and thus holds great potential for faster, more cost-effective processes for the benefit of all parties involved,” explains Thomas Fell, Lead GS1 Germany. Additionally, this solution offers opportunities for scaling in other industries, markets, and countries as well as for further applications.

New Website for Interested Parties

Interested potential users of the digital delivery note, as well as IT service providers interested in services with the digital delivery note, can find further information and contact options at https://bvl-digital.de/cloud4log.

The results of the Proof of Concept conducted in the third quarter of 2021 are also available on the website. At that time, the process previously agreed upon with the project group was practically tested. A cloud platform developed in cooperation with T-Systems was used for this.

Contactless Handover

Participants particularly appreciated the contactless handover of the access link on the digital delivery note using a QR code, the digital signature at the loading and unloading points, and the savings from not printing delivery notes. They also believe that timely and complete availability of delivery receipts, including easily readable information on delivery discrepancies, is an advantage. Last but not least, the duration of individual delivery processes was sometimes reduced by up to ten days.

Photo: © EHI / Caption: Signing of the contract for the joint realization of the Digital Delivery Note. Thomas Fell (left), Managing Director GS1 Germany and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Wimmer (right), Chairman of the Board BVL