Today we are talking about Delivery Order (or delivery note).

What is a DO or delivery order for? Adding to the overly cluttered list of documents required for shipping, a DO is sometimes considered a nuisance by some. Adding more paperwork to the abundant dead trees in your office, a DO is actually quite important.

What is a DO for? (did I say this twice?) A DO is a document that guarantees that the items are delivered in the same quality and quantity as you would buy the items directly from the store. In a nutshell, a DO confirms that it receives the correct amount of things that it sends/receives.

How does it work? First of all, a DO is usually written by the supplier or shipper. He or she double-checks the number of items being delivered, then writes the items and quantity on a piece of paper. That’s your DO. Frankly, it’s actually exactly the same as a packing list (or packing slip). So a DO and a PL are essentially the same thing, just for different purposes. Packing lists are generally used for ‘packing’ (house moving, for example), while a delivery order is generally used for ‘delivery’ (shipping from supplier to buyer).

Why It Matters: If you’re supposed to receive 1,000 iPhone 4s, and only receive 998, you’ll know there’s something wrong with the delivery when you check your delivery order and count the quantity. Now you don’t want to miss 2 iPhone 4s, right? (Please send me one.)

Please note that in some countries, the terms are used interchangeably. Don’t take the name too seriously.

Glad shipping to malaysia!