--- description: In this article, we will learn about drone delivery in the UK along with the uses of drones and their benefits to the consumers and companies. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/getapp/og_logo-94fd2a03a6c7a0e54fc0c9e21a1c0ce9.png title: The use of drone delivery in the UK --- # The use of drone delivery in the UK Canonical: https://www.getapp.co.uk/blog/2358/the-use-of-drones-in-delivery Published on 15/11/2022 | Written by Sukanya Awasthi. ![The use of drone delivery in the UK](https://images.ctfassets.net/63bmaubptoky/aEXECPQqtulCynPjEUlW4irFfGOz89ZetM0HlihAXns/6c23fe38a80b032f2ac9ac3e5d5012e9/The-use-of-drones-UK-GA-Header-scaled.jpg) > This article was originally published on 15/12/2021. ----- ## Article Content This article was originally published on 15/12/2021. Many companies are planning to use drone delivery services in the next few years according to The Telegraph. SMEs can take advantage of this new way of delivery and adapt accordingly. Read along to learn more about the use of drone delivery in the UK.In this articleSwitching from manual processes to delivery dronesThe use of drone delivery in the UKBenefits of using dronesThe futureIn the battle to stay ahead of the competition, many firms may be looking to adopt business automation processes by leveraging the latest technology. That —combined with the way the pandemic has adversely affected the delivery of goods and services— may have led to companies reconsidering alternate ways of making deliveries. One such way could be offering deliveries using drones. Research firm MarketsAndMarkets predicts that the global market for drone delivery will grow from $528 million in 2020 to $39 billion by 2030.Drones can be used for business transportation applications such as parcels and shipments, which saves time and money. When used for logistics, drones also make for an efficient transportation method by taking the item of delivery from the storage house to the delivery point in a timely manner.In this article, we will look at the use of drone delivery in the UK, learn about drone food delivery and drone transport —along with the benefits they have to offer— as well as the future of delivery drones. Before we move on, let us answer the question: What is a drone?What is a drone?As per Builtin.com, any unpiloted or unmanned aircraft is commonly referred to as a ‘drone’. These devices —sometimes known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)— are capable of a wide range of functions including military operations and package deliveries. Drones could range in size from the size of a plane to the size of your palm and may travel at different heights. Drones can potentially be ideal candidates for delivering goods across distances since they can be controlled remotely and flown at varying heights. The cost of a delivery drone depends on the complexity of the technology used to make it and how sophisticated a delivery drone is.Switching from manual processes to delivery dronesAccording to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the drone logistics and transportation industry is expected to be valued at US $17.881 million by 2030. Drone delivery companies like Google Wing, Walmart, Amazon, and DHL are frontrunners for drone delivery in the UK and across the globe.According to an article by Verdict, drone delivery companies like Altitude Angel, BT and tech startups will create the world’s first drone superhighway in the UK. The same article also states that ‘the Skyway project will connect the airspace between Cambridge, Oxford, Rugby, Milton Keynes and Coventry. ’According to a World Economic Forum report, supply networks have been stressed to breaking point as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the problem of adequate and prompt access to life-critical items is more important than ever. The report also highlights that the current vehicle-based logistics network is becoming increasingly ineffective and unsustainable as customers seek on-demand, next-day, or same-day delivery. The long-term viability of global logistics may depend on investments in new types of robust and sustainable infrastructure, such as a delivery drone.The use of drone delivery in the UKThe Civil Aviation Authority announced in a report that it had authorised plans for Sees.ai —developer of a remote-controlled drone platform that allows industrial companies to capture large-scale aerial data— to begin testing flights using remote piloting earlier this year.According to an article by UAS weekly, the Royal Mail also became the first countrywide UK package carrier to deliver a parcel to a lighthouse on the Isle of Mull in Scotland via the use of a delivery drone in December 2020. Additionally, a survey conducted by Strive Insight found that nearly half of the British public (49%) wants to see drones used for jobs that could be considered hazardous instead of people. The same report stated that over two-thirds (68%) of the British people believe drones will have a positive impact on their lives in the future, with nearly half (49%) saying that they are optimistic or excited about the potential that drone technology holds.Benefits of using dronesIn this section, we will look at how delivery drones could benefit both organisations and individuals, and provide alternatives to manual deliveries.Faster deliveries of goodsAccording to an article by Cyzerg.com, an item may no longer need to be loaded into a carrier’s vehicle and delivered to a client via traditional routes in the future. Rather, such tasks could be carried out through the use of drones. The delivery drone can speed up the process of deliveries by eliminating external factors like traffic and other logistical challenges, as well as potentially offering customers same-day delivery capabilities.Reduced costsIf companies are able to surpass the technological limitations (weight and height limits), they can also likely cut down on the transportation costs associated with vehicle capital expenditures such as maintenance and fuel, among other things. Drone delivery in the UK may also potentially lower the manpower needed to make deliveries and can help companies reduce resource expenditure.Larger geographical penetration According to a report by Embention, drones could enable penetration to locations that are inaccessible to traditional kinds of transportation. As such,  delivery drones can become valuable in emergencies where medical and relief supplies must be delivered quickly to isolated areas.Environmentally friendlyReduced traffic congestion in cities, decreased greenhouse gas emissions and more efficient transportation operations are all possible benefits of drone-based deliveries. Drone-based delivery of small, express packages could positively impact urban transportation.Quicker delivery of medical suppliesPick-up and delivery of test samples —as well as transportation of medical supplies— to help reduce transit delays and infection risk could be another benefit of using drones. The futureDuring COVID-19, many companies may have thought about launching drone delivery in the UK  because of the high demand for quick and frequent deliveries. Many companies around the world have started using or trialling the use of drones for deliveries. Since many people may be expecting contactless deliveries due to the pandemic, drones may prove to be an effective alternative. Moreover, drones may contribute to logistics operations worldwide over the next few years owing to the potential benefits they can offer to companies. However, their full potential for boosting logistics and delivery operations remains to be seen.Looking for geospatial information systems (GIS) software? Check our catalogue\! ## About the author ### Sukanya Awasthi Sukanya Awasthi is a content analyst for Capterra, covering emerging technology trends with a focus on retail, construction and ERP. With an educational background in Computer Science, she brings 8 years of hands-on experience to her writing, translating intricate technical concepts into accessible and informative insights. Sukanya’s research and analysis is informed by nearly 200,000 authentic user reviews on Capterra and over 40,000 interactions between Capterra software advisors and software buyers. Sukanya also regularly analyzes market sentiment by conducting surveys of business leaders in the construction space, as well as retail leaders and consumers, so she can provide the most up-to-date and helpful information to small and midsize businesses purchasing software or services. Her work has been featured in Financial Express, Economic Times, and Bloomberg Quint, among other publications. 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