9 January 2022 They are more popular than ever, and although they have already revolutionized the entertainment and audiovisual industry, they now show great promise in other sectors, including logistics. Drones, also known as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), have captured the attention of the Supply Chain technology sector for their diverse possibilities of use in distribution centers, some already applied in practice and others under development. One of the pioneers in experimenting with drones in logistics was Amazon. In 2016, the e-commerce giant launched the Amazon Prime Air service, intended for the delivery of products weighing up to 2.2 kg. The first test, conducted in December of the same year, showed impressive numbers: the time between placing the order in the system and delivery was only 13 minutes. The result was so promising that the company has already patented part of this system. Order and Delivery Experiments with drones for deliveries continue at full speed, not only by Amazon but also by other major players. In China, JD.com also started tests in 2016, managing to deliver to the most remote villages at an impressive speed. Also in Chinese territory, DHL, a leader in international express transport, and EHang, a world leader in intelligent aerial vehicles, began drone deliveries last year, achieving a reduction of about 80% in shipping costs and reducing times from 40 to 8 minutes in the first tests conducted. In the United States, Wing, a subsidiary of Alphabet, the holding company that controls Google, has strengthened its drone delivery business since last year, with a significant increase during the pandemic. Monitoring Intralogistics Processes Supply chain companies are beginning to realize the great value of drones not only in external areas but – and especially – inside warehouses. These autonomous vehicles can be used to monitor the entire operation, including tracking product entry and exit, dock occupancy level, material movement, storage, among other intralogistics processes. This is possible because drones can perform indoor navigation completely autonomously and automatically read barcodes, QR codes, alphanumeric labels, RFID tags, etc. With the use of drones to monitor processes, identifying bottlenecks or issues becomes quick and more effective, benefiting the operation’s performance. Additionally, the device locates in real-time the movement of pallets, forklifts, and people, preventing incidents by sending notifications to employees. Inventory Drones have also shown their great potential in inventory counting. In a very fast, efficient, and safe manner, these devices fly over the stock, counting products using data collection technology, integrated with software and geolocation sensors. During movements in the warehouse, drones can count via barcode, RFID, or volume, generating data that is automatically cross-referenced with the WMS system. The counting occurs very quickly and with 100% accuracy and low operational costs. And the most interesting thing is that the drone can send real-time images of the stock through telemetry. The use of drones in inventories results in a high return on investment due to reduced labor and equipment costs. Furthermore, with the aid of drones in inventory, revenues increase due to reduced stockouts. But there’s more: the use of the equipment is very advantageous for hard-to-access areas, avoiding the risk of accidents. Load Security Drones can also help ensure safety during the transportation of goods. These devices help map routes and road conditions, monitor the route, and suggest route changes for faster deliveries. Another use is in the security and surveillance of warehouses: they can be used to inspect roofs, yards, and warehouse terminals. The advantages of using drones in logistics: Drones offer a compelling value proposition for the supply chain, with potential impacts on revenue, profits, employee safety, and customer satisfaction. Among its main advantages are: • Greater flexibility • Reduced operational costs • Reduced delivery times and reach in hard-to-access areas • Increased safety • Improved Last Mile service • Availability of video and image data for faster and more automated operational decisions. What to Consider When Using a Drone Before using a drone in a warehouse, it is important to analyze if your infrastructure is suitable for the use of the devices. For example, if you will use them for cycle counts, you will need to use full pallets without double positions, as the drone only photographs pallets in view. Additionally, it is necessary to have trained personnel to maneuver the drones in case of non-autonomous flight. It is also important to pay close attention to employee safety when using the drone, preferably using it in places with little or no movement to reduce risks. Regarding use for deliveries, it is essential to have authorization from ANAC. For the Future? Drone technology continues to evolve, with constant updates and improvements to its operating system. Today, we already have faster and more efficient devices, with longer flight autonomy, more modern sensors and cameras, 360° anti-collision systems, as well as shields to avoid interference. And the trend is that they will be increasingly adopted in logistics, anticipating a true revolution in internal processes and, above all, in the last mile. Drones in Logistics: How to Use Them to Benefit Your Business Deagor WMS per ecommerce può aiutarti!