Australia Post has trialled new technology that may see parcels delivered by ground piloted drones in a bid to speed up services.
The embattled mailing giant has tested its latest solution for slowed parcel service by delivering the small packages through drones known as Remotely Piloted Aircrafts (RPA).
According to Aus Post, the prototype drones used for testing can carry parcels weighing up to 1.2kg, and trial participants included some 50 metropolitan businesses. The postal company says customer tests are set to take place in Victoria following the preliminary assessment period.
Aus Post’s technological investment follows news a number of businesses are selecting to dump mail delivery for more reliable electronic correspondence, including consumer lending body National Credit Providers Association (NCPA).
NCPA chief executive Philip Johns tells ProPrint the consumer lending industry relies on the prompt delivery of critical financial documents, and has lodged a government request to move to email instead of paper communication.
Commenting on Aus Post’s drone investment, Johns believes the average consumer ‘isn’t ready’ for drone delivery, and says resources should be redirected into speeding up ground delivery.
“I would rather see the model change into a two or three day delivery week if expenses needed to be cut,” says Johns.
“If drones were used to deliver directly to customers, the assumption would be that the customer was home. I’m not sure how it could work with letterbox delivery.”
[Related: Australia Post acts after flood of complaints]
Johns says the unreliable yet pricey postal service is ‘letting the consumer down at the end of the day’, and sides with most of the Australian public’s scepticism about how successful drone technology could be.
Aus Post chief executive Ahmed Fahour says drones will not replace human posties, and future customers of the drone service can elect where to have their parcel dropped.
“Today’s online shopper expects to receive their purchase whenever and wherever they want. RPAs may be another way to help make our customers’ lives easier and builds on our existing 24/7 Parcel Lockers and MyPost service,” says Fahour.
“Customers who sign up to MyPost can elect to have their parcel safe-dropped, or sent to an alternate location as well as receiving SMS and email notifications.
“We’re excited to be the first major parcels and logistics company in Australia to test RPA technology for commercial delivery applications. We will put this innovative technology through its paces over the coming weeks and months to understand what it can deliver, how far it can travel, and ultimately, how our customers could receive a parcel,” he adds.
It is unknown if the drones will be used for delivery of time sensitive documents or letters as a replacement for decelerated same day delivery. Australian Post tells ProPrint ‘as we are in the trial phase we are looking at how this technology can be adapted for certain needs, but it is too soon to speculate.’
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