Electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) is the digital capture of delivery confirmation at the point of handover, replacing paper delivery notes with a mobile device record that includes recipient signature, timestamp and GPS location. ePOD systems are used by drivers on smartphones or ruggedised handheld devices, transmitting confirmation data back to the logistics management system in real time. For UK distribution businesses, ePOD reduces disputed invoices, speeds up billing and gives customer service teams immediate access to delivery evidence. When integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement, ePOD data flows directly into customer records and can trigger automated invoicing on delivery confirmation.
How ePOD integrates with Business Central
The ePOD application on the driver's device connects to the route management or delivery system, which receives the day's sales orders from Business Central. As each delivery is completed, the driver captures the recipient's signature and any notes on the device. The ePOD data is transmitted to the back-office system and, via Power Automate or an API connector, updates the corresponding sales shipment in Business Central with the POD reference. Customer service teams can retrieve the ePOD record directly from the customer account in Dynamics 365 Sales without contacting the transport team, and the finance team can use confirmed ePOD data to trigger invoice generation automatically.
ePOD in practice
- A UK food distributor reduces credit note requests by 62% in the first year after implementing ePOD integrated with Business Central, as GPS-located signed records resolve most delivery disputes on the first customer call.
- A logistics business uses ePOD confirmation as the trigger for automatic invoice generation in Business Central, reducing the average time from delivery to invoice from three days to same-day.
- A customer service team uses ePOD images stored in Business Central to confirm that goods were delivered in good condition, supporting a counter-claim when a customer raises a damage claim after accepting delivery.
- An operations manager uses ePOD timestamp data alongside route planning targets in Power BI to measure on-time delivery performance by driver, depot and route.
How Advantage connects ePOD to Business Central
Advantage integrates ePOD and route management platforms with Business Central, mapping delivery confirmation data to sales shipments and customer records and configuring automated invoice triggers on POD receipt. We help distribution businesses reduce the gap between delivery and billing while giving every customer-facing team the delivery evidence they need without manual retrieval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about electronic proof of delivery and Business Central integration.
What does an ePOD capture?
A typical ePOD captures the recipient's signature, the name of the person accepting delivery, the delivery timestamp, the GPS location at the point of signature, and optionally a photograph of the goods at the delivery point or of any damage noted on arrival. All data is transmitted back to the back-office system in real time.
How does ePOD reduce disputed invoices?
Disputed invoices most commonly arise when a customer claims goods were not delivered or arrived damaged. An ePOD provides a timestamped, GPS-located, signed record of delivery that is difficult to dispute. When this data is accessible directly from the customer record in Business Central or Dynamics 365 Sales, the customer service team can resolve most disputes on the first call without escalation to the transport team.
Can ePOD trigger automatic invoicing in Business Central?
Yes. With Power Automate connecting the ePOD system to Business Central, delivery confirmation from the ePOD application can trigger the automatic posting of a sales invoice in Business Central, reducing the time between delivery and billing. This is particularly valuable for businesses that invoice on delivery rather than at the end of a period.
