The Background
Expert Transport (now part of Rohlig Suus) has been operating since 2010, offering end-to-end home delivery services with dropshipping logistics. The company specializes in deliveries of furniture, electronics, and non-standard packages for major retailers including Media Expert, Jysk, Komfort, Agata Furniture, Media Markt, and Neonet.
The Challenge
As coronavirus spread globally in early 2020, delivery services faced a critical problem. The simple solution of leaving packages at the door works for food delivery or small courier packages, but not for furniture, electronics, or large appliances. These deliveries require paperwork and signed confirmation documents. How could companies maintain safe operations when every physical contact posed a potential health risk?
Traditional delivery confirmation methods required customers and delivery personnel to share clipboards, pens, and mobile devices. With health authorities recommending minimal physical contact, the logistics industry needed an immediate solution that would protect both workers and customers while maintaining legal documentation standards.
The Solution
Working with Expert Transport, we developed two complementary touchless signing solutions that could be rapidly deployed across their delivery fleet.
Voice Sign enables customers to confirm delivery using their voice instead of physical signatures. Delivery personnel simply activate the feature in their mobile app with one click. The customer recites a confirmation statement, which is recorded as legally binding proof of delivery. This audio recording includes timestamp, location data, and delivery details, creating a complete digital record that meets legal requirements while eliminating the need for shared devices or physical documents.
Touch Free signing works through SMS verification. When the delivery person selects this option in their app, the customer receives an SMS with a unique, secure link to a webpage containing delivery details and a confirmation button. By using their own smartphone to sign electronically, customers minimize physical contact and health risks. The system generates a cryptographically signed confirmation that's immediately synced to the central database, providing instant proof of delivery for all stakeholders.
Both solutions were designed with speed and simplicity in mind. We implemented and deployed them within days of the initial concept, recognizing the urgent need as lockdowns began across Europe. The systems integrated seamlessly with Expert Transport's existing TMS, requiring minimal training for delivery personnel who were already familiar with the mobile app interface.
Impact and Results
The response was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. Within the first week of deployment, over 80% of deliveries used one of the touchless signing methods. Customers appreciated the safety measures, and delivery personnel felt more protected while performing their essential work. The solutions allowed Expert Transport to continue full operations during the most restrictive phases of lockdown, while competitors struggled with safety concerns and reduced capacity.
Beyond the immediate pandemic response, these innovations have become permanent features of the delivery process. Many customers now prefer the convenience of digital confirmation over traditional paper signatures, even in post-pandemic conditions. The system has reduced paperwork processing time, improved accuracy of delivery records, and provided better audit trails for both the company and its retail clients.
The success of Voice Sign and Touch Free demonstrated how rapid innovation in response to crisis can create lasting improvements in operational efficiency. What began as an emergency solution evolved into a competitive advantage, contributing to Expert Transport's growth and eventual acquisition by Rohlig Suus, a major European logistics provider.
Read more: Press release (PL) and Featured article in Inside Logistics.