5 Surprising uses of drones in modern businesses
Drones are skyrocketing, both literally and figuratively. While drones are commonly known to be used for recreational purposes, a growing number of businesses is discovering the many different ways in which drones can create value for them. How can drones add value to your business?
1. Transportation
Source: Shutterstock
If your business is involved in the transportation sector, drones could be used as delivery tools. Several companies, such as Amazon, DHL and Royal Mail are already experimenting with a delivery service that uses drones to deliver goods to a customer (Murphy, 2016). Drones are a cheaper alternative to traditional delivery services because they are autonomous, and they care faster because they do not rely on local infrastructure and congestion.
2. Farming
Source: Marketwatch
If your business operates in the agriuclture sector, look no further: drones are capable of performing a large variety of agricultural processes with higher efficiency than conventional farming machinery (French, 2015). For this reason, the agricultural sector already accounts for almost half of the commercial drone sales (Murphy, 2016).
3. Construction
Source: Unfittie
Drones have some useful applications in the construction business too. Drones can be used to give an aerial overview of complex buildings, which can help speed up their construction or restauration. Drones are already being used as construction aids by workers on Spain’s famous Segrada Familia (Techworld, 2016)
4. Aerial Photography
Source: Media20
Journalists embrace drones for their ability to make graphical footage of large events. For some large events, it is almost impossible for a photographer to get a good overview shot, but drones can effortlessly take pictures from impressive angles we have never seen before (Murphy, 2016).
5. Geographical Mapping
Source: wpsandbox
In the geographical mapping industry, drones are highly valuable as they are able to easily reach terrain that is difficult to reach for humans or other mechanical equipment, and they are able to make detailed scans of specific geographical regions, giving geologists certain insights they never had access to before (Airdronecraze, 2016).
Can drones be used in your business?
If your business operates in one of the sectors mentioned in this blog, then you might be in luck: it is likely that there is a profitable application for drones in your business! If your business does not operate in one of these fields, there is still hope. People are discovering creative new uses for drones every single day. With some creative thought and a little bit of luck, you can also find a way to make drones valuable to your buisiness!
Casper Notenboom
References
Murphy M 2016. 16 UK companies using drones: Royal Mail, Asda, the BBC and more - Here's how drones are being used in 2016. Accessed 29 April 2016: <http://www.techworld.com/picture-gallery/personal-tech/6-best-uses-of-drones-in-business-3605145/#1>,
Airdronecraze 2016. TOP 12 NON MILITARY USES FOR DRONES. Accessed 29 April 2016: <http://www.airdronecraze.com/drones-action-top-12-non-military-uses/>,
Picture 1: Drone transporting a box. (2016) At: <http://cdni.wired.co.uk/620x413/d_f/Drone_02.jpg> (Accessed 29 April 2016),
Picture 2: Drone being used for farming. (2015) At: <http://ei.marketwatch.com//Multimedia/2015/11/16/Photos/ZH/MW-DZ389_drone__20151116120611_ZH.jpg?uuid=561a18c0-8c84-11e5-9111-0015c588e0f6> (Accessed 29 April 2016),
Picture 3: Construction of Segrada Familia. (2010) At: <http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8O6c7K4DVTQ/S8OEoPLLmrI/AAAAAAAAAV0/a2bHJ9SWtP0/s400/100_3109.JPG> (Accessed 29 April 2016),
Picture 4: Aerial picture from a drone’s perspective. (2014) At: <http://m.cdn.blog.hu/me/media20/image/dr%C3%B3n01.jpg> (Accessed 29 April 2016),
Picture 5: Aerial surveys made by drone. (2016) At: <http://wpsandbox1.identifiedtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Strati.jpg> (Accessed 29 April 2016).