Redefining the Future of Logistics: 5 Advantages of Delivery Drones
Long heralded as the future of the logistics industry, drone delivery is finally taking off. Big names such as Walmart and Amazon have already integrated drone delivery into their US operations, and Amazon recently announced the expansion of its drone delivery service into the UK and Italy. Parcel delivery from the skies is no longer a dream but increasingly a real-life phenomenon.
It’s not hard to see the appeal. Fast, reliable, efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective, drones offer a compelling solution to today’s logistics challenges, particularly when it comes to last-mile delivery. In this post, we’ll consider the top five advantages of drone delivery and why this exciting technology is uniquely equipped to meet the demands of modern consumers.
Speeding Up Deliveries: The Need for Swift and Efficient Transport
The e-commerce era has redefined customer expectations. Shopping online is a 24/7 activity, with limitless shelves and endless options. And customers expect the same level of convenience when it comes to delivery, too. Over 90% of consumers see two-to-three-day delivery as the baseline, with 30% wanting delivery on the same day.
The need for faster transport is even more acute when you consider the growth of the global e-commerce market, which is predicted to hit $6.3 trillion in 2023 and over $8.1 trillion by 2026. Retailers can’t afford to ignore solutions such as drone technology if they are to stay relevant in this competitive and growing market.
Precision and Consistency: Drones Ensure Accurate Deliveries
Consumers don’t just want fast delivery; they expect an accurate, convenient service, too. It’s increasingly important for consumers to have visibility of their delivery through real-time tracking and a defined time window so that they know when to expect their parcel.
Drones are perfectly placed to meet this demand. Thanks to artificial intelligence tools and GPS systems, drones can ensure precision as well as speed to boost customer satisfaction and loyalty.
5 Advantages of Delivery Drones
Expanding Access
One of the biggest advantages of delivery drones is their ability to access remote and rural areas. In northern Canada, for example, geography stands in the way of traditional delivery methods—it’s not easy to navigate a journey that includes large forest areas or an ice road that’s only open for half of the year.
Drones, however, can soar over obstacles such as mountains and large bodies of water to deliver goods and supplies to hard-to-reach regions. By expanding access in this way, drone delivery helps to connect communities and bring down the cost of living in remote areas.
Faster Deliveries
Drones pave the way for swift delivery. Unlike a van or a truck, which has to wind its way through the existing road network, a drone can simply fly through the air on the shortest possible direct route. This eliminates the risk of delays due to roadworks, diversions, and unexpected traffic jams.
Drone delivery, therefore, has a strong advantage over traditional delivery methods when it comes to urgent or time-sensitive deliveries such as pharmaceuticals or perishable goods. In an emergency situation, drone delivery can save lives.
Lower Costs
Traditional delivery is expensive, both in terms of maintaining the actual fleet and the day-to-day running of operations. Operational costs include the vehicles themselves, as well as servicing and maintenance. Then, there are fuel and labor costs to take into account.
Small and lightweight, drones cut down on energy use and manual labor, with operators capable of monitoring multiple drones at the same time. This makes drone delivery a very cost-effective option. In fact, according to Gartner, the operational costs of using drones to deliver a parcel are 70% less than van delivery.
Accuracy
One of the biggest challenges retailers face when it comes to delivery, and particularly last-mile delivery, is accuracy. Every failed delivery incurs a cost, not just in terms of the bottom line but also because it impacts customer satisfaction and ultimately makes it difficult to build loyalty.
This is where drones come in. One of the main advantages of drone delivery is its precision, with cutting-edge navigation systems and technologies such as artificial intelligence making it possible to deliver to the right location at the right time, every time. And as we saw over the COVID-19 pandemic, drones also make safe, contactless delivery a reality.
Sustainability
Companies are increasingly concerned with sustainability as investors, governments, and consumers push ESG to the top of the agenda. One area where organizations can really make a difference in terms of their carbon footprint is the supply chain, and integrating drone delivery into logistics operations can have a positive impact here.
Powered by batteries as opposed to fossil fuels, drones can help companies significantly reduce their fuel emissions and hit their environmental targets. They also open up opportunities to work more efficiently, for example, by using drones instead of heavy trucks to make individual deliveries of small items. For small packages traveling the last mile, the World Economic Forum cites that drones can use up to 94% less energy per package than other vehicles, making drone technology a key technology to factor into greener operations.
Beyond Delivery: The Future of Drones in Transportation
While drones offer many advantages when it comes to delivery, their role goes way beyond merely carrying cargo from A to B. In the logistics industry, for example, we expect to see drones increasingly being used to pick goods in warehouses. Drones are used in disaster management, delivering critical medical supplies and helping rescue teams in the search for survivors. From agriculture to mining and even cinematography, drones are increasingly being integrated into operations across a variety of sectors.
The age of the autonomous air taxi is also on the horizon. It’s telling that the new leader of the Federal Aviation Authority in the US, Michael Whitaker, was formerly an executive of a flying taxi company. Meanwhile, China approved the world’s first self-driving air taxi in October 2023.
Conclusion
Drone delivery brings many advantages, from lower costs to faster deliveries, improved accuracy, expanded reach, and a greener supply chain. Drone Delivery Canada is a leader in this space, helping governments, companies, and communities reap the benefits of drone technology thanks to our proprietary software, industrial-grade drones, and DroneSpot™ infrastructure. Get in touch with us today and find out more about our pioneering logistics solution.
