Drones in Logistics: What is the logistic Industry?

Bill gates rightly quoted, Drones overall will be more impactful than I think people recognize in positive ways to help the society. 

Logistic industry is basically a chain which involves two major processes. This involves the material reaching the logistics center and the material that is getting dispatched from the logistic center to the person who has ordered. The drone technology is a major league seen in the latter process where the deliverables are and reach the consumers. Let’s dive into the details of how the process generally takes place and its various advantages and the uses of drones in logistics ever since drones have started to make this industry a better place to work in.

Firstly, let’s understand what is a good logistic system. Any supply chain that works efficiently without using too much money to produce better and efficient results as well as delivering things on time is known as good logistics. With the advent of drones, good logistics graph has basically increased. This is happening majorly because drones do not indulge in any kind of traffic, and can deliver at various different places in lesser amount of time as compare to manual movements. Globally drones have been used in various different fields like that of agriculture, defense, forestry, mining and other major activities to prove the inspections right and produce accurate results. When it comes to logistics, drones, basically step in the last processes. Drones basically functions as a part of transportation of merchandise from the nearest possible hub to the final destination. To incur the process of last mile delivery. This involves delivering in high terrain, rugged topography and in areas which are difficult and out of human reach.

Advantages of having drones in logistics-

Drones don’t work in shifts. They are operational 24 x 7.

If all these processes were to happen manually, people do not function in all hours of the day. But when it comes to drones, the process is not time bound. A delivery can happen at night with the same speed the way it would happen in the morning. Understanding that drones or not working at a certain period of time the logistic industry has basically understood that deliveries need not happen between 11 to 7 but can happen at all times of the day and the urgency of the people’s needs can be met immediately.

Indoor flying of drones can help in checking stock. 

Manual checking of stocks gets difficult after a point but scanning the entire warehouse with the help of drones makes it extremely easy to understand and analyze the amount of stock that is a left and the amount to stop that is yet to be delivered. This is a perfect method of doing inventory control in warehouses. It also tends to offer the possibility of the integration of information on the entire integral systems that involve management and analytics of artificial intelligence.

Lost merchandise can be searched in places that are difficult to access.

Finding things that have been lost in the processes can also be searched with the help of drones as they fly at a height which makes it easier for one to understand where is the thing has been lost because one gets a bird’s eye view.

Reduction of the carbon emissions. 

When one uses drones in the process of deliveries, they are basically reducing the amount of carbon emissions that are taking place with the use of fossil fuels that involve in delivery in the drone logistics ecosystem. For example, if a person has to deliver an object from one place to another, he would rather use a bike or a car which would use a lot of fuel. In case of drones, they do not use any of the fossil fuels, but they completely work on battery which become extremely eco-friendly as well as time managing and avoiding the traffic. These are some perks of drone logistics ecosystem.

Reduction of the delivery cost.

Entire cost of delivery can be eliminated if those can be used in the process of logistics.

Delivery at the speed of the click.  

As soon as the Delivery is made the process of drone operations will begin. No longer will the any person pick any item from the ware house or the delivery center; or any truck will be loaded. The package will be directly to be picked a headed to the customer. 

Figure 1 Delivering Vada Pav to MostlySane

Limitations

Understanding the advantages of drones in logistics helps prove a point that the industry is only going to flourish once drones step in. Use of drones and logistics will not only prove to be a plus point but also helps a lot many people in the country to get their deliveries, faster, better and at lesser price. As we talked about the advantages of drones in logistics there are certain limitations that hinder the spread of drones in logistics. Some of these include 

Tech Vulnerabilities. 

Even though emerging technology has led drones in logistics, there are still parameters that curb their growth. Currently drones are only limited to small packages and minor distances. This is because drones sent at longer times can be of threat and are vulnerable to hacking. Destruction to the drones is similarly possible when there is no supervision to observe its flight. The upgradation of civilian drone technology is on its way to almost meet or enhance the advancement rates. But the silver lining to all this is that drone developers are on their journey of process to manage and solve such issues that might arise in the future. 

Liability issues.

Another legal specifications of drones in logistics is that it that needs time to develop the liability that tends to fall in regarding drone delivery. One needs to predict the possibility of a drone crash and the possible accidents and make sure of their insurances. The incorporation of applicability and feasibility of drones in logistics will more likely be seen. While the logistics executives certainly aren’t planning on selling their truck fleets overnight, now’s its high time to examine that there are potentialities in the progress of the same in the future of drone technology.

Taking into consideration all of the uses of drones in logistics we can definitely expect certain changes in the near future

 AUTHOR

– Smruti Sachin Puntambekar 

(Data Processing)