Australia Post is currently trialling new technology to deliver small parcels by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS, also known as drones or UAV). The move makes Australia Post the first major parcels and logistics company in the country to do so and will see Australian customers as perhaps the first to benefit from unmanned logistics.
The closed-field trial will serve as an important next step in testing the new technology which will also support faster transportation of time critical goods like medication to remote or inaccessible locations.
On the back of this, a new conference and exhibition has been launched based on the last mile of the home delivery supply chain. Home Delivery Asia Pacific will take place in Melbourne on 16 November at the Automotive Centre of Excellence and will address the shift to on-demand retail services.
Brent Stafford from foundation sponsor and mapping innovation company HERE commented that “this year we have seen rapid growth and competition between many innovative solution providers.”
“Home Delivery is certainly THE hot topic with the likes of our partners at Navman Wireless & Dominos setting the pace and others such as Menulog, Deliveroo, Foodora and most recently Uber Eats going live.”
“Around the APAC region it is a similar story with GrabExpress, Foodpanda, Grubhub, McDonalds and Jollibee. A fiercely contested market spanning not only food delivery but also home shopping and parcel delivery.
“With many strategic alliances being formed right now, new payment methods and even autonomous delivery being explored and an explosion of the sharing economy generally, this event is perfectly timed.”
Simon Cooper Managing Director of event organisers Interpoint said “we are experiencing an age of faster deliveries and higher customer expectations. And we are seeing localised customer service and low cost delivery options.”
Home Delivery will address issues such as optimising fulfilment, bringing stores to customers and helping small, local businesses reach new customers. It will include transport options, different payment methods and many of the new IT technologies and apps that are rapidly becoming disruptors and innovators in the last mile of the supply chain.
Australia Post’s first customer trial is expected to follow later this year. Depending on its success, and the legal, security and privacy provisions that will need to support it, RPAS will be landing on your lawn soon after.
For further information please visit http://www.homedeliveryworld.com.au/
