Following in the footsteps of companies like Walmart and Amazon, DoorDash is the latest company testing drone deliveries in the U.S.
The company has been working with Wing, a drone delivery provider that also works with Walmart in Australia, where drones have successfully been delivering DoorDash orders in Queensland since 2022. Now, DoorDash has started testing the drone delivery system in Christiansburg, Virginia.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Wing in the U.S. to integrate drone delivery into DoorDash’s ecosystem,” said Harrison Shih, senior director of DoorDash Labs. “At DoorDash, we are committed to advancing last-mile logistics by building a multi-modal delivery platform that serves all sides of our marketplace."
Wendy’s is the first test subject
DoorDash’s pilot drone delivery program is officially underway in Christiansburg, Virginia, and the local Wendy’s is the first restaurant to take part in this phase of testing.
Customers in the area who place a DoorDash order from Wendy’s will have the option to choose drone delivery when they’re confirming their orders. Once confirmed, the rest of the delivery process will take place as usual.
Wendy’s will pack up the order, and a Wing drone will pick it up and deliver it to its final destination. Wing explained that its drones travel 65 mph, and once they reach the delivery address, orders are lowered from the drone via tether onto customers’ doorsteps.
Consumers also shouldn’t worry about the quality of their food with drone deliveries. Wing says that deliveries typically take 30 minutes or less, and because of how quickly they’re able to deliver, quality is never compromised by travel time.
Small, short deliveries
The goal of drone delivery is to make small, short deliveries faster and more convenient for DoorDash customers.
Another primary goal is sustainability. Drone delivery allows for fewer drivers on the roads and an overall smaller environmental footprint.
“Wing has now made over 350,000 deliveries across three countries, and looking ahead, we are focused on providing a fast, affordable, and safe service to our partners so they can better serve their customers,” said Cosimo Leipold, head of partnerships at Wing. “This moment continues our meaningful expansion of this service in the U.S. and advances our shared goal to better the last-mile delivery ecosystem.”
To get a better idea of how drone delivery works, watch this video:
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2024-03-22 12:19:15
