Customer order and delivery tracker

What the customer order and delivery tracker does

Customers remember late deliveries. List each order with its customer, the date you promised it and the date it was delivered, and the tracker shows the days late, marks each order open, overdue, delivered on time or delivered late, and totals the value of the work still open.

Who it is for

Makers, caterers, printers and online sellers who deliver to order, and managers who want to improve on-time delivery.

How to use the workbook

1. Type today's date at the top.
2. Record each order with the customer, the order date, the promised date and the value.
3. Enter the delivery date when the order is delivered.
4. Read the status, the days late and the value of open work.
5. Save a copy under a new name for each month or year, so earlier records stay as they were.

What is inside

• Promised and delivered dates for every order
• Days late worked out for you
• Open, overdue, delivered on time or delivered late status
• Value of open orders at the top
• Summary of orders by status with a chart

The workbook has these sheets: Instructions, Orders, Summary. The main table has the columns Order no.; Customer; Order date; Promised date; Delivered on; Order value; Days late; Status. Yellow cells are for you to fill in and grey cells calculate by themselves, so leave the grey cells alone. The example rows show how it works; type over them with your own entries.

Tips for getting it right

• Promise only dates you can keep, and add a small buffer.
• Call the customer before a late order, not after.
• Record the reason for each late order and look for patterns.
• Review the on-time percentage every month.

Why keep this record

Running a business on memory works until it grows. Writing the numbers down turns opinions into facts you can compare month to month, and shows early which products, customers or costs deserve attention. Even a simple workbook, used every week, usually beats a sophisticated one that is opened once a year.

Questions people ask

Do I need to know Excel formulas? No. Type into the yellow cells and the rest is worked out for you. The formulas are visible if you want to see how a figure is reached.

Can I add rows or change the layout? You can add your own columns to the right and your own notes. If you insert rows inside a table, copy the grey formula cells down so the new rows calculate too.

Will it work on my phone or in Google Sheets? Yes for viewing and typing, but dropdown lists and the charts look best in desktop Excel or LibreOffice.

Keeping it safe and up to date

A plan is only as good as the numbers you put in. Start with honest estimates, update the workbook as real figures arrive, and compare the two so your next estimate is better. Save a dated copy each month so you can see how your thinking changed.

Read how to build a cash flow forecast for the wider picture. Free calculators that go with it: Vat calculator. See more business templates or ask us for a custom one.

The workbook works in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets. It is a tool to help you work out and record figures, not tax, legal or accounting advice, and it is not affiliated with the Kenya Revenue Authority. If something does not work as described, contact us and we will put it right.

Related guides, calculators and templates

• Free calculator: VAT Calculator
• Guide: VAT invoices and quotations in Kenya: what to include and common mistakes
• Guide: Buying off-plan property in Kenya: the risks and the checks to run
• Guide: Import VAT in Kenya: how to claim it back on your VAT return
• Another template: Pricing and markup calculator
• Another template: Product price list with VAT
• Another template: Product profitability analyser

Need something different? Request a custom template, browse all guides or see every Excel template.