The DroneUp drone delivery model sets itself apart from other drone delivery services with its “second mover advantage” and collaborative approach, as explained by CEO Tom Walker and CSO Carl Smit at the Xponential 2022 show. As the primary partner for Walmart’s drone delivery service, DroneUp utilises the vast geographical spread of Walmart stores to its advantage and opts to buy rather than build technology, allowing for increased flexibility in response to industry changes. The company’s collaboration with U.S. drone manufacturers, focus on software development, and ability to adapt to regulatory changes have favored its growth. DroneUp is also working towards enabling local communities to outsource drone services, with Drone Hubs being established at Walmart properties nationwide. The DroneUp drone delivery model has facilitated the company’s rapid growth and ability to compete with retail giants.

The DroneUp Drone Delivery Model

The DroneUp drone delivery model is different than the approach other drone delivery and retail giants have chosen. In a DL Exclusive interview from the floor of last week’s Xponential 2022 show in Orlando, CEO Tom Walker and CSO Carl Smit explain how the “second mover advantage” and a collaborative approach have worked to put them out in front in the race to dominate the last mile.

Partnership with Walmart

DroneUp is the primary partner for Walmart’s drone delivery service. More than 90% of U.S. citizens live within 10 miles of a Walmart, making retail drone delivery a reasonable proposition – and a totally different effort than that of online giants like Amazon. Even more different is the choice that both Walmart and DroneUp made to buy vs. build, giving them the flexibility to respond quickly to regulatory and technology changes.

Collaborative Approach and Technology

It showed forward-thinking for DroneUp to decide to work with U.S. drone manufacturers to get their program up in the air. “We’re not drone manufacturers, we’ve focused on the software,” Smit says. “Over the last few years, we’ve seen the tech get better and better – we’re seeing a lot of technology that borrows from the automobile industry trickle into the drone industry at a much lower price.”

Regulatory Environment and Innovation

“We have the ‘second mover’ advantage over large companies who locked in their tech around what they thought the certification process looked like a couple of years ago,” Smit points out. Tom Walker is DroneUp’s Founder and CEO. “The regulations are changing quickly, and often, manufacturers just couldn’t build a technology solution to a particular regulation,” Walker says.

The Future of Flight Services

Next, DroneUp is working to allow local communities to also take the outsourcing approach. With Drone Hubs developing at Walmart properties, soon there will be drones ready to go – with a pilot ready to fly – all over the country. That creates an ideal solution for one big problem in deploying drones for emergency services.

Conclusion

The DroneUp drone delivery model says Walker, has allowed DroneUp to sustain rapid growth – and compete and win against retail titans. “A lot of companies have the technology debt, but they don’t have a big customer,” says Walker. “We don’t have a lot of technical debt, but we do have a big customer. That’s providing a gateway to scale.”

Question & Answer

What sets the DroneUp drone delivery model apart from other services?

The DroneUp drone delivery model sets itself apart with its “second mover advantage” and collaborative approach, as explained by CEO Tom Walker and CSO Carl Smit at the Xponential 2022 show.

Who is DroneUp’s primary partner for drone delivery service?

DroneUp is the primary partner for Walmart’s drone delivery service, leveraging the vast geographical spread of Walmart stores to its advantage.

How does DroneUp approach technology development?

DroneUp opts to buy rather than build technology, focusing on software development and collaborating with U.S. drone manufacturers to adapt quickly to industry changes.

How does DroneUp plan to enable local communities to utilize drone services?

DroneUp is working towards establishing Drone Hubs at Walmart properties nationwide, allowing local communities to outsource drone services for various needs.