What is a delivery note (packing slip) and how does it differ from an invoice?
A delivery note — often called a packing slip, dispatch note or goods received sheet — is a document that accompanies a shipment and lists the exact products, units and quantities being delivered. It allows the warehouse team and the receiving customer to verify that every item in the box matches what was ordered.
A delivery note (packing slip) is a shipping checklist that shows the description and quantity of goods delivered, usually without unit prices or totals. While an invoice is a financial document that requests payment and updates account balances, a delivery note is used to check physical quantities at handover.
What details are included on a delivery note?
When a warehouse worker packs a crate or a customer's receiving clerk unloads a van, they need to verify physical items and counts rather than prices or tax breakdowns. A clean delivery note strips away financial figures so the team can focus entirely on accurate picking and counting.
As each carton is opened at the destination, the recipient ticks off each line item against the sheet and notes any missing or damaged goods before signing. A standard delivery note contains four essential blocks of information.
- Document reference, dispatch date, related order number and contact names for both sender and recipient.
- Full delivery address, recipient contact phone and any special handling or delivery instructions.
- Each product's name, stock code (SKU) or barcode, unit of measure and quantity delivered (with no prices or taxes shown).
- Sign-off boxes for the person who prepared/dispatched the goods and the person who checked and received them.
Delivery note vs. invoice: what is the difference?
An invoice is a commercial billing document: it displays unit prices, discounts, tax amounts and the total due, and it records a receivable or payable balance on the contact's account. A delivery note omits pricing altogether and serves strictly as physical proof of what was handed over.
In many businesses, the person receiving boxes at the back door is not the person approving invoices in the office. Sending a price-free delivery note with the driver keeps negotiated wholesale prices private while giving the warehouse staff a clear checklist to sign.
How delivery slips work in GiroPS
GiroPS does not issue government-mandated electronic waybills or statutory transport documents. However, from any order in the **Orders** screen, you can generate and print a clean, price-free **Delivery / Packing Slip** PDF for warehouse picking and customer handover.
This slip lists the ordered items, stock codes, units, quantities, delivery address and signature lines for both dispatcher and receiver—designed for internal picking and physical delivery confirmation rather than statutory tax transport compliance. Once the goods are delivered, you can convert the same order into a sales invoice in one tap to deduct stock and update the customer's balance.
Practical scenario
Example: picking a wholesale order and getting a delivery signature
A cleaning supplies distributor receives an order from a hotel for 40 cases of paper towels and 25 drums of liquid soap. The owner records the order in GiroPS and prints a **Delivery / Packing Slip** without prices for the warehouse driver. The driver uses the stock codes and quantities on the slip to load the 65 items, and the hotel's storekeeper counts the shipment on arrival and signs the 'Received by' box. Back at the office, the owner converts the order into a sales invoice with one tap, deducting the stock and posting the amount to the hotel's account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are prices left off a delivery note?
Omitting prices keeps your negotiated customer rates and discounts confidential from third-party couriers and warehouse handlers, and keeps the document uncluttered so staff can focus on counting quantities.
Is the delivery slip printed from GiroPS an official statutory transport document?
No. The delivery/packing slip in GiroPS is a practical PDF checklist for warehouse picking and signed handover confirmation. If your jurisdiction requires a government-registered transport waybill, that must be issued through the relevant official system.
What happens if an item is short-delivered at the door?
The recipient notes the actual quantity received on the delivery slip before signing. When converting the order into an invoice in GiroPS, you simply adjust the line quantity to match what was actually delivered so your stock and contact balance stay accurate.