As self-driving technology becomes increasingly advanced, many businesses are starting to explore how they can use this tech to improve their operations. This infographic guide from 2Flow delves into the subject of how the commerce and food sectors could benefit from delivery drones.
The Argument For Delivery Drones
McKinsey have projected that in the future up to 80% of all items will be delivered by autonomous vehicles and drones. Those in favor of cargo drone tech claim that it could bring about significant improvements in delivery logistics and could boost efficiency as well as make dramatic savings in time and money. For customers this could mean faster delivery times and lower delivery costs.
The Argument Against Delivery Drones
Before drone delivery technology becomes commonplace there are still a number of key issues that need to be resolved first. The primary issue is strict government regulation which restricts accessible air space for drones in most countries throughout the world. In addition to safety issues, regulators are also concerned about the noise and pollution aspects.
The Rise of Cargo Drone Technology
Over the past few years, we have seen a number of big companies experiment with delivery drones. For example, UPS placed mini-helipads on the top of their vans so that drones can take over the final mile of each delivery. UPS estimate that by eliminating just a single mile from the routes of each of their 66,000 delivery drivers could save up to $50 million.
And it’s not just retailers who could benefit from delivery drones. In 2016, Domino’s delivered the first pizza by drone to a couple in New Zealand. In October 2018, UberEats announced plans to launch a drone delivery service by 2021.
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