Many logistics business owners in Nigeria still use a big hardcover notebook to collect delivery information.
Every day, they draw lines with a ruler, write names, phone numbers, pickup and drop-off addresses, product details, and prices. Some even do this for every single delivery.
Later, they will sit down again and type all these same details into Excel or a dispatch software. That takes time. It also leads to mistakes. One wrong phone number or missing address can delay the whole delivery.
If you run a delivery business, you already know this is not the best way. But maybe you don’t know what else to do. The good news is, there are easier ways. You can collect customer delivery details faster and more accurately without writing anything down or typing everything by yourself.
In this post, I’ll show you different ways to do this using simple tools. You don’t need to be a tech expert. These ideas are easy to set up and can save you hours every week.
1. Create a Booking Form Customers Can Fill Themselves
Instead of writing down customer details in a notebook, you can create a form that customers will fill on their own. This form can collect all the important details you need for a delivery.
You can use a free tool like Google Forms to do this. It takes just a few minutes to set up. In the form, you can add questions like:
- Full Name
- Phone Number
- Pickup Address
- Delivery Address
- Description of the item
- Delivery Date
- Any other detail you usually write in your notebook
Once the form is ready, you can share it with customers. You can send them the link on WhatsApp or turn the link into a QR code they can scan. Some delivery businesses print the QR code and place it at their shop, office, or on their bikes.
When the customer fills the form, you get all the details directly in one place. No need to write or type anything. The form collects and stores the information for you.
This method helps you save time and reduce mistakes. You don’t have to ask the same questions over and over again. You don’t have to go back later and copy the details into your system. Everything is already organized for you.
2. Use Payment-Linked Forms for Fixed Price Deliveries
If your business has a fixed price for certain deliveries, you can make the process faster by collecting both delivery details and payment at the same time.
Let’s say you charge a flat rate for deliveries within a city like 2000 or 3000 Naira depending on the area. Instead of first collecting details, then chasing the customer for payment, you can do both in one step.
Here’s how:
- Use Dora’s Booking Form
Dora already has a booking form system that allows customers to fill in their delivery details and make payment right away. You can send the form to your customers as a link or QR code. Once they fill it and pay, the booking shows up on your dashboard. You can assign it to a rider immediately. - Use Paystack or Flutterwave
If you don’t want to use Dora’s form, you can create a simple Google Form and add a payment link inside. After filling the form, the customer is directed to pay through Paystack or Flutterwave. You’ll check the form responses and payment record before assigning the job.
This method saves you time. You don’t have to write anything. You don’t have to wait for the customer to confirm the transfer. You just get a full booking and payment in one go.
3. Accept Bulk Delivery Orders Using CSV Files
Some of your customers, like e-commerce vendors, send many deliveries at once. If they’re sending 10, 20, or even 50 packages per day, writing down each one or typing them into your system is too slow.
Instead of doing that, you can ask them to send their delivery list in a CSV file. A CSV file is like an Excel sheet. It has rows and columns where all the customer details are already written out.
Many online sellers already have this information stored on their website or sales platform. They can export the list of orders and send it to you. All you need to do is upload the CSV file into your fleet management system.
If you’re using Dora, it becomes even easier. Dora allows you to upload CSV files directly. The deliveries will show up on your dashboard. You can assign them to your riders without typing anything.
Some customers may not know how to prepare a CSV. You can help them by sending a simple example template. You can also use tools like ChatGPT or Excel to clean up messy files before uploading.
This method is best for clients who send orders every day. It keeps everything organized and saves you from copying and pasting one delivery at a time.
4. Automate WhatsApp Orders With Templates or AI Tools
Many customers like to place orders on WhatsApp. But if they send details in random voice notes or long messages, it becomes hard to manage. You still end up writing or typing the information by yourself.
Instead of doing that, you can give your customers a simple WhatsApp message format. This way, they will always send you the right details in the same order. For example:
Full Name:
Phone Number:
Pickup Address:
Delivery Address:
Item Description:
Price (if needed):
Once they send the message using that format, you can copy the info and paste it into your system or form no need to rewrite anything.
You can also take it a step further by using AI tools. Tools like ChatGPT or Google Sheets can help you quickly organize messages into clean data. For example, if a customer sends 10 orders in a message, you can use AI to turn it into a CSV file that you upload to Dora or your delivery dashboard.
This method works best for regular clients who are used to WhatsApp. It saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes when copying orders.
5. Give Frequent Clients Their Own Order Submission Link
If you work with the same clients every week — like a vendor who sells wigs, clothes, or electronics — you don’t need to ask them for the same details every time. You can create a special order form just for them.
In the form, you can fix some of their common details, like:
- Their name
- Their business phone number
- Their pickup address
That way, each time they want to book a delivery, they only need to fill in the new customer’s address, the item they’re sending, and the delivery date.
You can create this kind of form with Dora’s booking form tool or even with Google Forms. Share the link with your client and let them save it. They can use it any time to send delivery info without calling you or chatting you up on WhatsApp.
This method reduces errors, saves both of you time, and makes the process smooth. Your client gets used to the form, and you get clean, ready-to-use information.
6. Use Dora to Assign Deliveries and Print Labels Instantly
After collecting all your delivery details, the next stress is usually typing them into your fleet software, assigning them to riders, and preparing labels. This part can also take a lot of time if you do it manually.
With Dora, you don’t need to go through all that stress. Once a customer fills the booking form or you upload a CSV file, the delivery shows up on your dashboard automatically. From there, you can:
- Assign it to a rider with just one click
- Print the delivery label right away
- Track the progress of each delivery in real time
You don’t need to write names on paper or start copying phone numbers from WhatsApp into your system. The delivery info is already clean and ready. All you do is print the label and give it to the rider.
This method makes your whole process faster and more professional. It also helps you avoid common mistakes like mixing up addresses or sending items to the wrong place.
Conclusion
If you’re still writing customer delivery details in a notebook or typing everything by hand, it’s time to switch things up. These methods are not just faster. They also help you run your business better.
Whether you’re working with e-commerce vendors, regular clients, or daily walk-ins, there is a simple way to collect delivery information without stress. Tools like Dora make it even easier by putting everything in one place. From customer info to rider assignment and label printing.
You don’t need to be a tech expert to get started. Just try one method that fits your business, and you’ll start seeing the difference. Less writing. Fewer errors. Faster deliveries.
It’s not about doing more work. It’s about working smarter.
