Delivery date: A key element in logistics
Principles such as just-in-time deliveries, especially in the automotive or food industries, require a high degree of planning. It becomes particularly difficult when delivery dates are not met. In this case, goods can not be sold, moreover, may be missing. the capacity to store surplus goods. This means that, in addition to the ability to deliver (so-called delivery readiness level), the delivery time is of great importance, because it includes not only aspects such as order-related production and order handling, but also picking, packaging and loading times - all upstream before transport even takes place.
The delivery date or delivery time that is agreed upon can therefore also be summarized as delivery quality. The principle: the higher the delivery quality, the lower a customer's safety stocks must be in order to ensure the actual business activity.
Delivery time or delivery date: Definition
The time span defined between the submission of an order and the actual availability of the goods describes a basic element of plannability in logistics. It is of course dependent on factors such as incoming goods inspection, etc., but essentially depends on transport times. The lower the delivery times, the more likely it is that producers or retailers will be able to rely on reduced inventories. This in turn brings economic benefits, for example through higher margins or better adaptability to market changes.
The delivery date from a legal point of view
Section 286 of the German Civil Code (BGB) gives the Buyer the right to admonish the Seller in the event of a non-timely delivery and to set a grace period. If this period expires and no delivery is made, the purchaser may, under certain circumstances, withdraw from the purchase contract, claim damages for non-performance or compensation for so-called damage caused by delay.
The communication and planning of a delivery date is therefore important because refusal to accept e.g. in e-commerce leads to a high organizational effort for returns. This, in turn, is accompanied by follow-up costs.
The better production and transport processes can be planned, for example through the use of intralogistics software, the lower the risk of delivery dates not being met.
