Building a digitally integrated vision
Drone deliveries’ true potential will only be realised until a larger number of 3PL/4PL logistics supply players are able to adopt it. As India Inc., explores the possibilities of emerging technologies, the logistics and supply chain sector is poised to embrace the disruption and drive its growth, notes Hector Patel, Executive Director & Board Member, Jeena & Company.
The recent Drone Liberalisation policy announced by the central government in 2021, is set to accelerate AI and roboticsenabled technology adoption across sectors, including defense, mining and logistics. This move is also in line with the government’s ambitious National Logistics policy, which aims at bringing a series of infrastructure and policy changes, and will aid in bringing down the overall logistics costs of the country.
The new policy comprises of a number of relaxations in the drone procurement and use by the private sector, making the technology affordable and accessible. The policy has also increased the permissible weight load for drones and drone taxis, increasing it from the previous 300 kg to 500 kg. For the logistics sector, this translates as major disrupter. The move, when implemented, will help logistics and supply chain players to cut costs, reduce delivery time and drive efficiency, while optimising human resources and minimising dependency on road transport, which is marred with delays and roadblocks. Not to mention the impact on environmental pollution, which is also set to reduce drastically, since road transport is one of the leading sources of air and sound pollution.
But all of the above is not without its challenges. Even as most drone deliveries are right now focussed on medical/pharma and will soon be adopted widely by e-Commerce players for last mile deliveries, the real potential of the technology will only be truly tapped when a wider set of 3PL/4PL logistics supply players are able to adopt the same. As India Inc., continues to gradually explore the possibilities of emerging technologies like AI, robotics and ML, the logistics and supply chain sector is also set to gradually embrace the disruption, putting it on the road to accelerated growth. And eventually, the aim of arresting the high logistics
When considering drone deliveries, one needs to analyse the specific geography where these may be most useful and add value to the existing brand reputation