Today, many people have the luxury of being able to do bulk shopping online and then have what they clicked on delivered ready packed in bags to the door. For many people, driving home is both convenient and a way to put the puzzle of life together.
Now an Ica Nära store has taken the home delivery concept to the next level.
They have, together with the Norwegian drone company Aviant, started a pilot project where people have the opportunity to shop and then have the goods delivered to their door.
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Photo: Fredrik Sandberg /TT Get food home with drone delivery
The project will run for weeks nine and 22, to see if it works as well in winter conditions as it does in summer. The final report for the project is currently expected to arrive in early autumn 2024.
The project is currently financed by the European Agricultural Fund, Region Värmland and Torsby municipality.
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Customer: “Worked unexpectedly smoothly”
One who has already had time to try the new service with drone delivery of food from Ica Nära in Östmark is Caroline Maule. She ordered bread, liver pate and coffee beans and only after a while the drone came and delivered the goods, Torsby municipality writes in a press release.
– It worked unexpectedly smoothly! I texted in my order, paid with Swish and a moment later I had the goods at home. I see great benefit with the delivery method for those of us who live far away,” says Carolin.
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Demand for drone deliveries was high
The municipality sees home deliveries with drones as an opportunity to increase the level of service and strengthen the shops in the countryside.
Before starting the pilot project, a study was carried out and it was established that there was a demand for the service.
In the survey, many expressed that drones would have been very convenient and especially good if you were at home with sick children and couldn’t get far to a store.
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The regulation of the airspace is a challenge
A challenge that has already been encountered is the regulation of the airspace where the drone is.
– With today’s regulations, it is very cumbersome to get permission to carry out deliveries with drones, and once permission is granted, the requirements for the operator are stricter than in our neighboring country Norway, says the project manager Johan Erlandsson in the municipality’s press release and continues:
– There are also questions about the new regulations currently being prepared by the Swedish Transport Agency and the Civil Aviation Authority, especially whether it will be cost-justifiable for use in sparsely populated areas.
Hope to be able to deliver under 90 kroner
The drone company’s hope is that deliveries to people’s homes will cost under SEK 90, even in sparsely populated areas with drones.
– During this week, we are up and running at three locations in Norway and Sweden and carry out home deliveries. We are convinced that we will be able to offer a home delivery solution with drones for under SEK 90, even in sparsely populated areas, if the business is fully developed,” says Lars Erik FagernæsCEO at Aviant.
The deliveries will be made to all residents in Torsby’s surroundings.
Read more news about Ica here.