11/24/22, 7:36 PM DroneUp has partnered with Walmart to make home deliveries even faster

F O L LOW 

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DroneUp has partnered with Walmart to make home

deliveries even faster
The drone operator is working with Walmart to get consumers their lightweight goods in as
little as half an hour.

[Photos: DroneUp; Michael Tuszynski/Pexels]

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BY J E S S I C A B U RS Z T Y N S K Y
2 MINUTE READ

This article is about one of the honorees of Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech awards for
2022. Read about all the winners here.
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11/24/22, 7:36 PM DroneUp has partnered with Walmart to make home deliveries even faster

In just a few years, drones have gone from a futuristic, Jetsons-like idea to something that’s routinely
delivering your Hamburger Helper. F O L LOW 

.Part
DESIGofNthatTsuccess
ECH Wis
O thanks
RK LIFE N E W S operator
to drone I M PACDroneUp,
T PODCA S T S has
which V I Dbeen
EO I F 3 6 0 with Walmart
working FA S TC O WO R
to get
consumers in a handful of states their lightweight goods in as little as half an hour.

The partnership marks a new era of success for the company. Founded in 2016 by CEO Tom Walker,
DroneUp uses a range of drones produced by third parties, and the model varies based on the client’s
needs. Other clients and partners reportedly include Brookfield Properties, Quest Diagnostics, and
NATO Allied Command.

Government agencies and companies are still figuring out where drones fit into daily life. Consumers,
meanwhile, are starting to get used to seeing drones operate. As use cases emerge, one of the
industry’s bright spots so far has come within the retail sector, which has long struggled with last-mile
delivery logistics and supply chain efficiency options.

The new kind of delivery fulfills orders quickly and at a low cost, also allowing for fewer emissions when
people need things like COVID-19 tests, diapers, or hot dog buns.

“When we started exploring drone delivery at DroneUp, we saw a tremendous opportunity to

revolutionize a key component of the retail and logistics industry by offering a unique alternative to last-
mile delivery,” Walker says.

“There was a clear need for a forward-thinking sustainable solution that complemented what was
currently in place,” he adds. “Drones checked the box for everything needed to make last-mile delivery
better for everyone—they are fast, efficient, safe, reduce greenhouse emissions, and rapidly becoming
cost-effective for businesses to implement.”

DroneUp first partnered with Walmart late last year to offer on-demand delivery at three locations in
Arkansas. Since then, Walmart and DroneUp have expanded their partnership to six states (Arizona,
Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah, and Virginia) to reach 4 million households. DroneUp declined to
comment on the number of deliveries it’s done so far with Walmart.

DroneUp has set up a delivery hub at the participating stores, which includes a team of certified pilots
that operate within FAA guidelines. The hubs operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to send
eligible customers items. Consumers pay a $3.99 delivery fee and can order items totaling up to 10
pounds. “Simply put, if it fits safely it flies,” Walmart executive David Guggina said earlier this year when
announcing the expanded partnership.

DroneUp is also working with customers in a number of other fields, including construction and
insurance. In total, the company has more than 22,000 network pilots and has flown more than 101,000
hours.

“In 2023, we’re on track to continue expanding drone delivery to more states and communities while
building out expanded drone service solutions for other industries like commercial real estate,
construction, insurance, maritime, utilities, and more,” Walker says.
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11/24/22, 7:36 PM DroneUp has partnered with Walmart to make home deliveries even faster

That means we could expect to see faster deliveries—and more crowded skies—in the not-too-distant
future. F O L LOW 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica Bursztynsky is a staff writer for Fast Company, covering the gig economy and other consumer internet
companies. She previously covered tech and breaking news for CNBC. More

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