Google drones began to deliver products from supermarkets

In early February 2022, Google entered into an agreement with the large Australian supermarket chain Coles. The latter began to use Wing drones to deliver products from stores. This is the first such commercial project for Google, but Wing previously began to deliver other goods, but not from supermarkets.

The Coles chain ranks second after Woolworths with an Australian grocery market share of 30%. The network includes about 800 stores and its income is $28 billion per year. The presence of delivery drones will give her an additional advantage.

Google drones began to deliver products from supermarkets

By the beginning of March 2022, the Wing service reached 200 thousand commercial deliveries on world markets, not counting test flights. This number, according to the company, does not include test flights.

Wing claims that more than 1,000 deliveries are made per day, or approximately one delivery every 25 seconds. Australia, which is the main market for testing and commercial implementation, accounts for more than 30 thousand such deliveries in the first two months of 2022. As part of the deal with Coles, Wing drones began delivering 250 different goods, from food to medical and toiletries, in the Australian capital, Canberra. In 2021, Wing completed a little more than 100 thousand unmanned deliveries in Australia.

Despite the large round number, the effectiveness of delivery by drones in urban areas is still in question, as many services increasingly view terrestrial robotics as the future of last-mile delivery.

The technology makes significant sense for rural areas and other inaccessible places, but Wing insists that its approach will be effective for urban conditions.

Integrating unmanned delivery into everyday life is not just an additional convenience, "Google said in a blog post. - It promises to reduce traffic congestion, accidents and greenhouse gas emissions, increase sales for businesses, and return more time to people in their busy lives. If you want to look into this future, just look at Australia[1]

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