Order Number (Auftragsnummer)

The order number — in German, Auftragsnummer — is the unique identifier under which a company manages an order. It is assigned when the order is created — a purchase, a transport order, a service job — and follows the process through every step: confirmation, fulfilment, delivery, invoice.

What is the order number used for?

• Assignment: Every question, change, or complaint can instantly be matched to the right transaction.
• Linking documents: The same order number appears on the delivery note, invoice, and shipping confirmation — provably tying the documents together.
• Tracking: The order status can be looked up via the number in the customer account or through support.

Where do I find it?

Usually in the order confirmation email, in the customer account, on the delivery note, and on the invoice. For transport orders it also appears in the booking confirmation — with Maxmove you see your orders with status and live tracking directly in your account. Fleets and couriers managing their own orders assign order numbers automatically in their TMS — linked to the delivery note and proof of delivery.

Order number vs. reference number vs. tracking number

• Order number: assigned by the provider for the whole order.
• Reference number: a freely chosen extra identifier, often the customer's internal PO number.
• Tracking number: identifies the individual physical shipment at the carrier.

One order can span several shipments (partial deliveries) — then one order number maps to several tracking numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Is the order number the same as the purchase-order number? Usually yes — "PO number" is the customer-side term, "order number" the provider's. Some systems keep both separately.

Can I track my delivery with the order number? Typically yes: either directly (the provider links tracking to the order) or via the associated tracking number.

How is an order number structured? Each company defines its own format — sequential numbers are common, often prefixed with year, site, or order type.