#271 Reconfirming a Delivery Date with a Business Partner｜French Business Phrases

In business, it is important to reconfirm delivery dates and schedules in advance to avoid misunderstandings or discrepancies.

When communicating with a business partner, using polite and considerate language allows you to confirm details while maintaining a smooth professional relationship.

In this section, I will explain useful French expressions for reconfirming a delivery date with a business partner, together with important grammar points.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour, je me permets de vous contacter concernant la livraison du projet.
（Hello, I am contacting you regarding the project delivery.）

B

Bien sûr. Que puis-je faire pour vous ?
（Certainly. How may I assist you?）

A

Je voudrais simplement confirmer la date de livraison prévue. Nous sommes toujours sur le 15 mars ?
（I would simply like to confirm the scheduled delivery date. Are we still on track for March 15?）

B

Oui, tout à fait. À ce jour, aucun changement n’est à signaler.
（Yes, absolutely. As of today, there are no changes to report.）

A

Merci pour votre confirmation.
（Thank you for your confirmation.）

B

Avec plaisir. N’hésitez pas à nous contacter si besoin.
（You are welcome. Please do not hesitate to contact us if needed.）

1. Stating the Purpose of Your Contact

When you need to confirm a delivery date with a business partner, I recommend stating the purpose of your message first. This helps the other person understand the context immediately.

The expression “je me permets de + infinitive” literally means “I allow myself to …”.

In practice, however, it is commonly used as a polite and considerate business expression, similar to saying “Please allow me to …” or “I would like to respectfully …”

The verb “permettre” means “to allow.” When used reflexively as “se permettre,” it conveys a softer nuance, implying “I hope you do not mind me …” or “Please excuse me for …”

The word “concernant” means “regarding” or “concerning,” and helps clarify the topic of communication.

Although “concernant” originally comes from the present participle of “concerner” (to concern), it functions much like a preposition in modern French.

In business communication, clearly stating the subject at the beginning makes it easier for the other person to understand the purpose of your message.

2. Confirming the Scheduled Delivery Date

The main purpose of the conversation is to confirm the expected delivery date.

The phrase “je voudrais” uses the conditional form of “vouloir” (to want) and means “I would like to …”

If you use the present tense “je veux,” it may sound more direct or demanding. By contrast, “je voudrais” creates a softer tone and implies “if possible,” making it more suitable in situations that require politeness.

For this reason, the conditional mood is frequently used in business settings when making requests or confirmations.

Adding the adverb “simplement” (simply / just) also softens the sentence, making it sound like a routine confirmation rather than a reminder or complaint.

The phrase “la date de livraison prévue” means “the scheduled delivery date.”

Here, “prévue” is the past participle of “prévoir” (to plan / schedule). Since it modifies “date,” which is a feminine noun, it takes the feminine form “prévue.”

3. Reconfirming That the Schedule Has Not Changed

Next, you may want to confirm whether the delivery date remains unchanged.

In this sentence, “nous sommes” should not be understood literally as “we are.” Instead, it refers to the shared understanding or agreed schedule between both parties.

The preposition “sur” usually means “on,” but when discussing schedules, it carries the nuance of “scheduled for” or “set for.”

Meanwhile, “toujours” means “still” or “continuing.”

As a result, “Nous sommes toujours sur le 15 mars ?” naturally means: “Are we still scheduled for March 15?”

Summary