Learn How Digital BOL Signing Fits Into Opendock's Workflow

A bill of lading (BOL) is a legally binding shipment document that records the terms of freight transportation, including what's being shipped, where it's going, and who's responsible for it. Historically, managing BOLs meant physical paperwork changing hands at every stop, creating friction at the dock and administrative overhead long after the truck left the facility.

Naturally, a bill of lading has strict standards and guidelines that must be followed in order to ensure that information is not tampered with. However, this presents a drawback when it comes to overall flexibility in how business owners use this shipping documentation.

At Opendock, we're constantly seeking to innovate and streamline transportation supply chain operations. To that end, we’ve recently adopted what we're terming a "Digital BOL Signing Workflow," which allows our software’s users greater flexibility when it comes to handling BOLs.

How Opendock Approaches Digital BOL Signing Differently

Opendock is now capable of creating an automatic electronic signature for bills of lading upon delivery. This process can happen nearly instantaneously once a shipment arrives at a designated location, thanks to the use of functions such as GPS geolocation tracking and QR code scanning. Transportation managers can choose from various options for how they want their drivers to complete the digital bill of lading scan.

The result is carriers and recipients being able to instantly confirm the time, mode, and arrival of freight shipments, with digital copies being sent to all relevant parties. No hassle, no physical interaction (unless desired), and no extended wait times at delivery locations potentially leading to delays, fees, and even accidents.

Workflow Automation at Every Stage of the Shipping Process

Our main goal with creating this digital BOL signing workflow was to introduce more automation into the process of verifying deliveries. Rather than requiring signatures on a physical BOL as a standard, drivers can make use of contactless, instantaneous functions in Opendock in order to streamline the delivery verification process.

The shift toward automation across freight operations is accelerating, and documentation is one of the clearest opportunities. The global logistics automation market is projected to grow from $99.43 billion in 2026 to $260.75 billion by 2034, according to Fortune Business Insights — and BOL management is a direct beneficiary of that investment. Teams that digitize documentation workflows earlier capture efficiency gains that compound as volume scales.

How Digital BOL Signing Connects with Your Existing Shipping Documentation

Opendock's digital BOL workflow is integrated into our overall software, which means that carriers and recipients have access to digital backups confirming deliveries along with other logistical information such as asset tracking and staff monitoring.

All logistical information is consolidated in one place, which makes it easy to check back into historical records to either monitor performance or to verify facts in the case of a dispute. Additionally, Opendock is cloud-based, which creates an additional layer of safety when it comes to data storage and protection.

Frequently Asked Questions About Opendock's Digital BOL Workflow

We know that our digital BOL workflow might catch some carriers off guard. When it comes to shipping documentation as important as a bill of lading, it makes sense to be hesitant with the idea of overhauling your process from ones that are more established to something newer. That said, we hope that answering a few of the frequently asked questions below might help carriers see the potential value in innovating how they use and store BOLs.

Does Opendock's Digital BOL Integrate with My TMS?

Yes, Opendock's digital BOL records can be connected to your TMS, keeping shipment documentation aligned with the systems already managing scheduling and execution. Compatibility depends on your existing setup, but Opendock is built with integration in mind.

How Quickly Can We Implement Opendock's Digital BOL Signing?

Most teams are up and running within days. The workflow is designed to fit into existing dock operations without requiring significant process changes, which means the ramp-up period is typically short. Dock staff generally need minimal onboarding because the signing steps are built into the same platform they already use for check-in and scheduling.

What Training Do Dock Workers Need?

Dock workers interact with a straightforward signing interface that's designed for speed at the dock. Most staff are comfortable with the workflow after a single walkthrough. Because the digital BOL steps are embedded in the existing check-in process, there's no separate system to learn.

See Opendock's Digital BOL Workflow in Action

The adoption of our new digital BOL signing workflow is just one way that Opendock consistently embraces the power of workflow automation. Our software also provides tools for simplified dock scheduling through self-service, digitized driver check-ins, and live asset tracking for simplified yard management. Trying out our new digital bill of lading workflow may naturally showcase other areas of driver and yard management where our software is delivering top-notch optimization.

Schedule your free demo of Opendock!