PEPPOL Despatch Advice (BIS)

The Despatch Advice BIS carries the shipping notification from supplier to buyer.

Definition

The despatch advice (also called a shipping notification or delivery note) is a document by which the supplier tells the buyer what has been shipped: items, quantities, packaging and expected despatch date. The PEPPOL BIS defines its structure and exchange over the network.

It is the dematerialised equivalent of a packing slip, but issued ahead of physical arrival so the receiving party can prepare.

Role in the logistics cycle

The despatch advice bridges the order and the goods receipt. It lets the buyer's warehouse:

• Anticipate and plan the receipt.
• Check on arrival that the delivery matches what was announced.
• Ease order / delivery / invoice reconciliation (three-way matching).

Good to know

The Despatch Advice usually references the original order, ensuring end-to-end traceability. As with the other procurement BIS, adoption varies by sector and country; it is widely used in retail and manufacturing, less systematic elsewhere.