Retail has certainly taken notice of the rise of the drone, eager to enable delivery of products by drone, and solve once and for all the issue of “last mile” delivery. The logistics of getting a product from a warehouse to a customer’s home in a cost-effective manner are more complex than many people think, and drones may offer a novel solution that offers convenience and speed. Several major tech giants, like Amazon, believe drone delivery is the future of e-commerce, and many medical companies are exploring the opportunities for drone delivery of drugs and medical devices.
Medical Delivery Drones on the Horizon in Europe
Starting in October, hospitals in Switzerland will be outfitted with nodes in an autonomous drone network. Named the “Matternet Station,” each drone station consists of a drone loading dock and smart launch and landing pad. It allows hospitals to quickly send critical medical resources and samples by drone.
It should not only improve predictability over the use of human couriers, it should result in significant cost savings. Matternet will operate over densely populated cities, and all drones will load cargo, take off from, and land at Matternet stations while remaining in constant communication with users by (what else?) an app.
Keeping Packages Secure and Confidential
Another drone delivery trial for both the morning after pill and Viagra was recently successful in the UK as well. In this case, products were delivered to people in a neighborhood in Kent under controlled conditions. The purpose was partly to learn if medicine could be delivered safely, having been kept in optimal temperature conditions. As for keeping the contents of packages confidential, if the program is implemented, suppliers insist that purchase details will be blacked out on sales records and in customer bank accounts. Though test deliveries worked well, the people behind drone delivery of Viagra still have to gain regulatory approval, but they hope to have it soon.
Will Drones Replace Delivery Trucks?
Drones probably won’t replace those big delivery trucks anytime soon, because there are still many logistics to work out. However, drones are being pressed into service in limited areas and have been met with enthusiasm. For example, in November 2016, Dominoes made its first food delivery through drone delivery partner Flirtey in Whangaparaoa, New Zealand. For this delivery, the drone delivery team used GPS navigation to drop off the order at the right location.
Amazon is seriously contemplating adding drone delivery to its options. Its Prime Air delivery system is expected to ultimately cost the company less than a dollar per shipment. Though Amazon hasn’t tested drone delivery in the United States yet, they did test it with two customers who lived near one of their fulfillment centers in Cambridge, England last year. Once any unforeseen problems are ironed out, you can expect drone delivery to expand in the US, offering American customers yet another delivery option that’s faster than any delivery method ever has been.
Obtaining Viagra by drone probably won’t be a reality for the ordinary consumer for at least a few years, but it’s great to know it’s a possibility. One thing you can do right now is work with a medical facilitator like eDrugstore to order products like Viagra quickly, conveniently, and with the ultimate discretion. Give us a click and see how you can get your prescription medications online!
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