In recent years, the use of drones has increased in various sectors—disaster response and management, journalism and construction being some of the more frequent users. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, UNICEF enlisted some ways in which drones could be used to “combat” the contagion. However, one sector dwarfs nearly everyone else when it comes to drone utilization —e-Commerce. Some of the biggest corporations in the world have worked on building their own drone delivery network in recent years. By 2030, the global drone delivery market is estimated to generate nearly US$ 5 billion in revenue. The main reason why drone deliveries are expected to slowly but surely replace standard deliveries is sustainability—from both environmental and business perspectives.
Business Sustainability Through Improved Accessibility
Drone utility is not just limited to the delivery of goods. Wireless service providers have recently used drones as hovering cellular network towers to improve coverage in obscure regions. Businesses such as Facebook are actively developing capabilities that will enable them to employ drones to create high-speed Wi-Fi networks across the world.
And that is perhaps the greatest benefit of drone deliveries for business sustainability. Often, customers living in isolated regions find it difficult to find vendors who can deliver their goods to their address. Drones, which also use AI and computer vision for autonomous operation, bypass traditional distribution networks to unlock boundaries for retail e-commerce companies and enable them to make deliveries to faraway locations. Newer, more robust Business-to-Customer (B2C) lines are created to keep businesses afloat, relevant, and consistently profitable for long periods.
Standard delivery routes have several roadblocks that can cause unnecessary delivery disruptions, causing dissatisfaction for end customers. Drone deliveries open new access channels for e-Commerce companies, reducing the time wasted in standard deliveries.
Environmental Sustainability Through Reduced Greenhouse Emissions
According to an estimate, delivery trucks cause about 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The emission rates of drones are almost negligible as they’re electronically or battery-operated. Additionally, they do avoid the unnecessary congestion and noise pollution associated with massive trucks. Environmental sustainability and green logistics are significant aspects of businesses in the present and the future. Climate change is imminent in the current era. So, organizations and governments around the world will need to find ways to slow down climate change so that the eventual impact can be dealt with. Opting for the drone delivery option for short and long-distance deliveries is one of the ways to ensure environmental sustainability.
All businesses plan to sustain themselves for as many years as possible to maximize earnings for their various stakeholders. Investing in infrastructure that supports drone deliveries creates opportunities for businesses to sustain not only themselves but also the environment.
