# Flying High: Could Drones Help Address the Delivery Crisis? 
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-08-19
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: Are UAVs the Solution to the UK's Delivery Driver Shortage?
Meta Description: Explore the innovative use of UAVs in addressing the nationwide delivery driver shortage, from Amazon's incentives to Alphabet's successful drone
URL: https://financedigest.com/flying-high-could-drones-help-address-the-delivery-crisishtml

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_By_ **_Alex Stapleton,_** _Sales Director at_ [_Alexander Battery Technologies_](https://www.alexandertechnologies.com/)

The nation has been experiencing a shortage of delivery drivers in recent years. So much so, Amazon [enticed part-time workers with up to £3,000 in incentives](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59085835) to ensure this didn’t affect profits during the festive period.

As well as this, according to the Road Haulage Association, the industry was short of more than 100,000 HGV drivers in June 2021. This was due to a number of factors, from barriers to obtaining a licence to the introduction of Brexit.

In order to address these shortages, companies around the world are coming up with innovative alternatives. This includes the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Alphabet, for example, has successfully [delivered over 10,000 cups of coffee](https://time.com/6093371/amazon-drone-delivery-service/) and 1,000 loaves of bread in Logan, Australia alone.

Here, we will explore whether unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could be the solution.

## **Can we rely on UAVs?**

Commercial UAVs are leading the way for [innovative research](https://www.financedigest.com/stretch-marks-treatment-market-insights-new-innovations-research-and-growth-factor-till-2025.html "Stretch Marks Treatment Market Insights, New Innovations, Research and Growth Factor till 2025"). In addition to delivery services, drones are being [utilised for wildlife protection and research](https://enterprise-insights.dji.com/blog/commercial-drones-are-changing-work), historical preservation, and the improvement of renewable energy resources.

However, before the mass distribution of delivery drones, [businesses and customers alike must](https://www.financedigest.com/a-taxing-issue-ten-tax-invoicing-pitfalls-that-international-businesses-must-avoid.html "A taxing issue: Ten tax invoicing pitfalls that international businesses must avoid") decide if they are reliable. The thought of unmanned vehicles might seem concerning at first, but [technological innovations](https://www.financedigest.com/marine-mining-market-expand-substantially-owing-to-technological-innovations-during-2018-2026.html "Marine Mining Market Expand Substantially Owing to Technological Innovations During 2018-2026") are ensuring this is a safe and dependable process.

Alex Stapleton, Sales Director at [Alexander Technologies](https://www.alexandertechnologies.com/), a leading provider of customised lithium-ion batteries and chargers, shines a light on the use of UAVs:

“The question of how to [power a UAV or drone is influenced](https://www.financedigest.com/new-research-from-impact-com-shows-shifting-power-dynamic-that-puts-influencers-at-the-centre-of-the-brand-consumer-relationship.html "New Research from impact.com Shows Shifting Power Dynamic that Puts Influencers at the Centre of the Brand-Consumer Relationship") significantly by the nature of the application. In some cases, particularly for the largest equipment, combustion engines are still designed into this market, but more and more [models are being designed to run](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-empowers-cat-modellers-to-run-any-model-on-its-enhanced-elements-10-platform.html "AON EMPOWERS CAT MODELLERS TO RUN ANY MODEL ON ITS ENHANCED ELEMENTS 10 PLATFORM") on lithium-ion batteries.

“ [Lithium-ion battery packs](https://www.alexandertechnologies.com/lilon-custom-battery-pack) are powerful, comparatively small and light and can be charged quickly. We are seeing the first designs which use efficient [solar panels](https://www.financedigest.com/ahold-turns-to-solar-panels-lowers-thermostats-to-save-energy.html "Ahold turns to solar panels, lowers thermostats to save energy") within the design to extend the range and preclude the need for a dedicated charger at both ends of a flight path. Silent running, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities are attractive, and so is the environmental [benefit of designing away from the combustion solution](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-completes-acquisition-of-health-and-benefits-brokerage-and-solutions-firm-admix.html "Aon completes acquisition of health and benefits brokerage and solutions firm Admix").

“Batteries are particularly effective at the moment for short-range missions, similar to the last-mile delivery solutions, to increase bandwidth at the local delivery hub. They are more practical when delivering small-sized payloads.

“Perfecting the design of this solution is critical to a successful new development, and this is usually best achieved through iterative discussions around the application itself and key challenges (such as charging time, [operating temperature](https://www.financedigest.com/grid-operator-urges-ukrainians-to-save-electricity-as-temperatures-drop.html "Grid operator urges Ukrainians to save electricity as temperatures drop") or capacity).”

## **What are the benefits?**

UAVs are becoming the next futuristic piece of technology to dominate the [delivery market](https://www.financedigest.com/innovation-to-trigger-the-injectable-drug-delivery-market.html "Innovation to trigger the Injectable Drug Delivery Market"). Vikram Singh, CEO of TechEagle, a company that has delivered over a thousand packages in India, believes that [delivery drones are the future](https://www.nutanix.com/theforecastbynutanix/technology/why-drone-delivery-is-destined-to-make-a-difference): “Drones are autonomous, faster, more reliable, and more economical than conventional delivery methods.”

Here are three of the main [benefits of incorporating drones in delivery services](https://www.financedigest.com/how-guest-blogging-service-benefits-your-business.html "How Guest Blogging Service Benefits Your Business").

### **Ecological**

There are multiple [benefits to using a drone delivery service](https://www.financedigest.com/how-guest-blogging-service-benefits-your-small-business.html "How Guest Blogging Service Benefits Your small Business?"), including environmental perks. In fact, research shows that [drones use less energy per kilometre](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/01/27/2374584/0/en/Delivery-Drone-Services-Industry-Can-Aid-In-The-Reduction-Of-Carbon-Emission-As-Per-The-Business-Research-Company-s-Delivery-Drone-Services-Global-Market-Report-2022.html) than traditional delivery trucks. They are smaller and [powered by batteries](https://www.financedigest.com/bmw-to-make-solid-powers-battery-cells-under-expanded-agreement.html "BMW to make Solid Power’s battery cells under expanded agreement"), after all, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere.

### **Efficient**

In addition to any ecological benefits, [delivery drones are a more efficient service](https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/drone-delivery-services/).  So much so, the owner of TechEagle has gone on to argue that his [company’s drones have the ability to deliver parcels 20 times](https://www.financedigest.com/oxford-bus-company-outsources-for-the-first-time.html "Oxford Bus Company Outsources for the First Time") faster than any ground-based method of transportation. Over time, this will build a long-lasting relationship between customers and businesses.

### **Cost-effective**

Finally, drones are proving to be a more cost-effective delivery service. Due to the fact that [drones can deliver seven to eight packages within an hour](https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2021/08/18/drone-delivery-is-live-today-and-its-90-cheaper-than-car-based-services/?sh=20b82dad4d02%20%5C), considerably more than standard ground-based services, businesses will save money on both wages and petrol.

## **To summarise**

UAVs are on their [way to becoming the solution](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-data-integration-solutions-are-helping-financial-organizations-deliver-improved-outcomes.html "5 Ways Data Integration Solutions Are Helping Financial Organizations Deliver Improved Outcomes") to delivery shortages. [Companies around the world](https://www.financedigest.com/kelda-technology-selected-as-one-of-thetop-30-cleantech-companies-in-the-world.html "Kelda Technology selected as one of thetop 30 cleantech companies in the world") are adopting this approach, from Alphabet in Australia to TechEagle in India. Even in the UK, Mana, a drone company, is trialling processes in Galway, Ireland, [according to CEO](https://www.financedigest.com/senior-leaders-more-at-risk-of-burnout-than-ceos-according-to-new-research.html "Senior leaders more at risk of burnout than CEOs, according to new research") Bobby Healy. Over time, this can [reduce company costs](https://www.financedigest.com/cobots-in-the-financial-workplace-reducing-costs-attracting-talent-and-enhancing-sustainability.html "Cobots in the financial workplace: Reducing costs, attracting talent and enhancing sustainability") and environmental emissions.

## Sources

[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59085835](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59085835)

https://www.easyashgv.co.uk/news/how-serious-is-the-shortage-of-lorry-drivers-in-2022/

[https://tme.com/6093371/amazon-drone-delivery-service/](https://time.com/6093371/amazon-drone-delivery-service/)

[https://enterprise-insights.dji.com/blog/commercial-drones-are-changing-work](https://enterprise-insights.dji.com/blog/commercial-drones-are-changing-work)

[https://www.nutanix.com/theforecastbynutanix/technology/why-drone-delivery-is-destined-to-make-a-difference](https://www.nutanix.com/theforecastbynutanix/technology/why-drone-delivery-is-destined-to-make-a-difference)

[https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/01/27/2374584/0/en/Delivery-Drone-Services-Industry-Can-Aid-In-The-Reduction-Of-Carbon-Emission-As-Per-The-Business-Research-Company-s-Delivery-Drone-Services-Global-Market-Report-2022.html](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/01/27/2374584/0/en/Delivery-Drone-Services-Industry-Can-Aid-In-The-Reduction-Of-Carbon-Emission-As-Per-The-Business-Research-Company-s-Delivery-Drone-Services-Global-Market-Report-2022.html)

[https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2021/08/18/drone-delivery-is-live-today-and-its-90-cheaper-than-car-based-services/?sh=73d544584d02](https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2021/08/18/drone-delivery-is-live-today-and-its-90-cheaper-than-car-based-services/?sh=73d544584d02)

[https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/drone-delivery-services/](https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/drone-delivery-services/)


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