FAQ: Delivery & Fulfillment

Can I create a delivery without a sales order?

No, deliveries are always tied to a sales order. Even if you ship goods separately from the order, you must link the shipment back to the original sales order so your records stay accurate and you can invoice correctly.

What happens if I deliver fewer items than the customer ordered?

You can record a partial delivery. Mark the delivered quantity, and the sales order remains open for the remaining items. You can create additional deliveries later as more items become available. Just make sure the sum of all deliveries does not exceed the ordered quantity.

How does a delivery affect my inventory?

When you create a delivery (for orders with inventory items), the system reduces your inventory stock for those items. This happens even before you invoice the customer. If you need to cancel a delivery, the inventory is returned to your stock.

Can I change a delivery after I've recorded it?

This depends on your system settings and whether an invoice has been created from that delivery. Generally, you can edit a delivery before it is invoiced, but once invoiced, you may only be able to create a return or credit memo to reverse it. Check with your administrator if you need to modify an existing delivery.

What is the difference between a sales order delivery and an invoice?

A sales order delivery records that the physical goods have left your warehouse or are ready to ship. An invoice is a billing document that requests payment. You must deliver goods before (or at the same time as) invoicing them. Always deliver first, then invoice.

Can I deliver items on a schedule (partial shipments)?

Yes. You can create multiple deliveries for the same sales order over time. Each delivery reduces your inventory and can be invoiced separately, allowing you to bill the customer as shipments go out rather than all at once.

What if the customer rejects the delivery?

If the customer refuses a delivery, you can create a return or cancel the delivery in the system. This reverses the inventory reduction and reopens that quantity on the sales order so you can correct it and try again.

How do I track which deliveries have been invoiced?

Each delivery shows a status indicating whether it has been invoiced. In your sales order details, you can see the list of deliveries and their billing status. This helps you ensure no delivery is missed or double-billed.