How Drones Are Changing Delivery Services
While drones are just beginning to make their presence known in the broader culture, their impact is growing every year. In fact, the number of American drones is expected to increase tenfold between 2016 and 2021. They are already being applied to specific situations such as search and rescue, photography, and racing.
Part of the continued growth of drones in the market is due to their being updated for modern business needs. While early drones were typically aimed at entertainment, newer models with features such as GPS and Bluetooth can be applied to a much broader range of fields including things like agriculture and delivery services.
For example, imagine you’re looking into developing an iOS app in London for your delivery service. You may even be debating whether or not you should make it drone-compatible. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits drone delivery services could offer your business.
How Can Drones Improve on Existing Options?
One of the most important problems for delivery services is costs associated with last-mile delivery. Labor and fuel costs can be reduced significantly through the use of drones, which can make final deliveries without the usual need for a human courier.
Drones also make shipping more reliable for both businesses and customers, increasing customer satisfaction. Decreasing the need for fossil fuels and other nonrenewable resources during deliveries could also have a significant impact on our environment.
Challenges Related to Drone Implementation
Although drones have the potential to change delivery services in a variety of ways, they also come with a new set of challenges that will have to be worked out before they can be implemented. This starts with the fact that the technology likely won’t be ready for large-scale use until at least 2021.
Drones also face skepticism from the general population who see them as risky and have concerns about safety. It will take time for people to grow accustomed to the presence of drones in their daily lives, as this is a slow process which can’t be expected to happen overnight.
Some of those worries are also present in the form of regulations that have limited growth across the drone industry. Testing is especially strictly regulated within the United States and China, making it difficult for businesses to start using drones in practical situations.
The Effect of Drones on Delivery Services
As drones continue to take over more of the market, businesses will be forced to adjust their practices. Warehouses, for example, will be under increased pressure to prepare shipments quickly as other aspects of the supply chain begin to work more efficiently.
The possibility of extremely fast delivery also threatens traditional brick and mortar retailers. While Amazon currently takes two days for free shipping, drones could significantly reduce that time, making online shopping even more attractive and driving physical stores to look for new ways to compete.
Drone technology is just beginning to be implemented in various industries, but it has the potential to affect how business is done in many fields, including delivery services. Although there are short- and long-term obstacles that can’t be discounted, drones offer exciting possibilities for the future.
