Recently, Coca-Cola partnered with DroneUP to deliver their coffee-flavored soda by drone to customers of Coffee County, Georgia. In the past, drones have been discussed as an alternate method of conveyance for lightweight packages that are delivered on the same day. Amazon is a company that brought more awareness to this type of transport with Prime Air. Also, with how popular e-commerce has gotten over the past decade, other companies have followed the trend. With the potential of freight being moved by drones becoming more common, what could be some pros and cons with drone delivery?
Benefits of Drone Delivery
One of the main benefits of using drones is the swiftness of the delivery. Clients can expect their packages in less than a day or in Amazon’s case, in 30 minutes. Shipping costs may also be reduced for last-mile deliveries. Unlike more common methods of conveyance, drones have the advantage of going into distinct places such as rural areas. There is a particular number of locations that cannot be delivered by road. Also, most road vehicles emit carbon dioxide into the air which makes drones more environmentally friendly.
Issues with Drone Delivery
Despite the benefits associated with drone delivery, there have been several complications associated with this method of conveyance such as regulatory regulations. For instance, the Federal Aviation Administration may not give certain companies the approval for the usage of drones as a delivery method. Also, customers may worry that damages to the packages may occur in unfavorable weather conditions or even burglary.
Another issue is that with everyday tasks becoming more automated, drone delivery may replace various jobs. Likewise, drones can also lead to jobs being created. Employees may have to be hired to build and program the drones. Another concern is that the privacy and security of the customer can be affected. Technology such as cameras and GPS will have to be put in place to mitigate any goods being stolen and to guarantee customer protection. Stringent regulations may also be needed to ensure security.
What’s Next
The emergence of drones opened possibilities for new technological advancements in freight forwarding. Currently, drones are only used for small packages that tend to not weigh a large amount and for short distances. What lies ahead could possibly be larger drones that carry heavier freight for greater distances. UPS also plans on collaborating with Verizon to test out the usage of 5G for delivering packages. This partnership may lead to innovations in other aspects of the supply chain for delivering goods to the customer efficiently.
