You can merge multiple delivery notes into a single PDF entirely on a company device using a browser-based PDF merger that processes files locally — no uploads, no software installation, and no sensitive shipment data leaving the device.
What You Will Need
- A company-issued computer or laptop (Windows, macOS, or Linux) with an up-to-date web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari)
- The delivery note files saved as PDFs on the local hard drive (e.g.,
delivery-note-001.pdf,delivery-note-002.pdf,delivery-note-003.pdf) - The order in which the notes should appear in the merged file (e.g., by date, by route, by shipment number)
- Internet connection only for loading the web page — the files themselves do not need an internet connection once the page is loaded
- A location to save the output file (e.g., a shared warehouse folder or a local archive)
If the delivery notes are not already in PDF format (for example, they are scanned images or Word documents), convert them to PDF first using your company's standard office software, since the merge tools described here operate on PDF files.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Collect and arrange the delivery note files
Place all delivery note PDFs in one folder on the company device. Make sure each file is named clearly so you can identify the order you want.
For example, rename files to include a leading number: 01_delivery_a.pdf, 02_delivery_b.pdf, 03_delivery_c.pdf. This makes it easier to select them in order in the next step.
Watch out: A merger combines files in the order you select them — not alphabetically by filename. If your tool lets you reorder files after selection, use that feature. If not, select files in the exact order you want them to appear.
Step 2. Open a browser-based PDF merge tool
Open your browser and go to a PDF merge tool that runs in the browser. One option is OctopusPDF's Merge PDF tool (https://octopuspdf.com/merge-pdf). Other equivalent options include Smallpdf's Merge PDF, iLovePDF's Merge PDF, or Adobe Acrobat online merge tools.
All of these follow the same pattern: you select files in the browser, the files are processed, and you download the result.
Watch out: Check whether the tool you are using processes files locally (on the device) or uploads them to a server. For delivery notes that may contain customer addresses, shipment contents, and other sensitive information, a tool that processes locally is the better choice for a company device. OctopusPDF states that its PDF processing runs entirely in the browser with no uploads [K4]. For other tools, review their privacy policy.
Note that some online tools require free registration or impose file size limits. For a warehouse batch, check the free tier limits before starting.
Step 3. Upload or drop the delivery note files
Click the upload button or drag and drop the PDF files into the designated area of the web page.
Select the delivery note files from the folder you organized in Step 1. Hold the Ctrl key (or Cmd on Mac) to select multiple files at once. If the tool supports it, drag and drop the whole group of files into the browser window.
Watch out: If the tool uploads files to a server, there may be a file size limit per file or per batch. OctopusPDF, for example, supports merge files up to 100 MB on its Pro plan [K1]. If your delivery notes include large scanned images, check the size before uploading.
Step 4. Reorder the files to match the desired sequence
After the files load, the tool will show them as a list or thumbnail grid. Arrange them so the first file in the list will be the first page of the merged PDF.
Use the drag-and-drop handles, or the up/down arrows, to move each file into its correct position. Verify the order against your list from Step 1.
Watch out: Scanning delivery notes often come out of a scanner in reverse page order. Double-check the first and last file in the list before proceeding.
Step 5. Choose merge options (if available)
Some tools offer optional settings before merging. Choose any that apply to your task:
| Option | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Page size match | Forces all pages to the same page size | When some delivery notes are A4 and others are Letter, and you want a uniform output |
| File name suffix | Adds text like _merged to the output filename |
When you want to keep the original files and clearly identify the merged file |
| Compression / file size reduction | Reduces the output file size | When emailing the merged PDF or when storing on a system with space limits |
| Metadata removal | Strips document properties such as author name, company name, or software version | When the delivery notes contain internal metadata not meant for external recipients [K2] |
If no options are offered, proceed directly to merging.
Watch out: If you need to remove metadata — for example, before sending the merged PDF outside the company — use a dedicated metadata tool rather than relying on a merge tool's optional setting. Not all merge tools offer metadata removal.
Step 6. Run the merge and download the result
Click the Merge button (or Combine, Apply, or Create PDF, depending on the tool). Wait for the processing to complete — with local processing this usually takes a few seconds to a minute, depending on the number of files and the device's processor.
Once the result is ready, click Download and save the merged PDF to your chosen destination folder on the company device.
Watch out: Some tools name the downloaded file automatically (e.g.,
Merged.pdforOctopusPDF_Merged.pdf). Rename it to something descriptive for the warehouse manager, such asDelivery_Notes_2026-08-12_merged.pdf.
Step 7. Verify the merged file opens correctly
Open the downloaded file in any PDF viewer and confirm:
- All delivery notes appear in the correct order.
- Each delivery note's pages are complete (no missing pages).
- The file is not corrupted (viewer displays it without errors).
- The file size looks reasonable (e.g., does not exceed the limits of your email or document management system).
If the merge produced an empty file or an error message, see the troubleshooting section below.
Common Mistakes / Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Merged file is missing pages or appears incomplete | Files were selected in the wrong order, or some pages were scanned as separate PDFs that were not included | Re-check the file list against the original batch; select all pages/files; re-run the merge |
| Page order is reversed (file 3 appears before file 1) | Some tools sort files by name or by modification date before you reorder; you skipped the reorder step | Use the reorder controls to move files into the exact order you want; if the tool does not allow reordering, select files one by one in order |
| The tool says the file is too large | The tool has a file size limit (e.g., free tier capped at 100 MB on Pro [K1]) | Reduce file size by compressing scanned images, split the batch into two smaller merges, or use a different tool without that limit |
| Download button gives an error or the PDF is corrupted | Browser caching, network interruption (if the tool uploads files), or a session timeout | Refresh the page, re-upload, re-merge, and download to a different folder such as Desktop first |
| The tool requires creating an account before merging | The free tier of some tools requires sign-up | Choose a tool that does not require an account — OctopusPDF's tools and several others work without registration [K2] |
How to Verify Success
- All delivery note PDFs that you intended to merge are included in the merged output (compare the page count in the merged file against the sum of pages in the individual files).
- The page order in the merged PDF matches the order you chose in Step 4 (check the first and last pages of each delivery note).
- The merged PDF opens on the warehouse manager's computer without errors and is searchable (use Ctrl+F / Cmd+F to find a known shipment number).
- No confidential data was uploaded to a server: for the highest level of privacy, the merge happened locally on the company device [K3][K4].
- The file is saved in a location accessible to the warehouse manager, with a descriptive filename including the date or batch reference.
FAQ
Q1. Can I merge delivery notes that are photos or scans, not PDFs?
Yes. If the delivery notes are images (JPG, PNG), convert them to PDF first. Some tools offer a direct "Images to PDF" feature that embeds each image into a new PDF, one image per page, with no upload required [K3]. Then use the merge tool to combine those PDFs.
Q2. Is it safe to use a web-based tool on a company device with confidential delivery notes?
That depends on the tool. Check whether the tool processes files locally or uploads them to a server. Tools that state zero uploads, such as OctopusPDF, process files entirely in the browser using libraries like PDF.js and pdf-lib [K4]. If your company policy requires no data to leave the device, choose a tool with local-only processing, or use an offline desktop PDF tool instead.
Q3. What is the easiest way to merge the same delivery notes every week without repeating the steps?
Save the folder path and the filenames in a standard naming convention (e.g., YYYY-MM-DD_delivery_notes.pdf). Open your browser bookmark for the merge tool, and drag the known files in the same order each time. Some browser-based tools retain the last session, but most do not remember file selections, so keeping a checklist or a tiny script that opens the same folder helps reduce repetition.
Key Facts
- Delivery note PDFs can be merged entirely in the browser without uploading files to a server, keeping sensitive warehouse data on the company device [K4].
- One option is OctopusPDF's Merge PDF tool, which supports merging files up to 100 MB on its Pro plan and runs processing with open-source libraries (PDF.js and pdf-lib) [K1][K4].
- The order of files in the merge result is determined by the order you select them — not by filename or date — so reorder explicitly before merging.
- Before merging, check the file size and tool limits (e.g., free tier caps, account requirements) to avoid failed merges.
- Some merge tools also offer an optional metadata removal step, useful when the merged PDF will be shared beyond the company [K2].
- Editable PDFs can be organized, page-numbered, or split in the same browser-based toolset, allowing the warehouse manager to extend the same workflow for other document tasks [K2].