New technology from Worldpay could help drone delivery to take off in the UK.
The payment provider is exploring the use of a drone landing pad or doormat embedded with contactless payment card technology to verify the identity of the recipient, ensuring the parcel is delivered to the right person at the right address.
When the delivery drone lands to drop off the package, the card details stored within the doormat are read automatically. If the information matches that of the correct recipient, the parcel is released.
Drones could enable much faster home deliveries at a fraction of the cost, according to Visual Capitalist. While there are several obstacles to overcome before the technology is ready for commercial rollout, companies like Amazon and UPS are already testing drone delivery.
And with parcel fraud on the rise, Worldpay’s Drone Pay proof of concept demonstrates how drone technology could help provide a more reliable proof of delivery.
“There is undoubtedly a huge potential market for drone delivery when it becomes a reality,” said Motie Bring, Worldpay general manager for the UK, Global Enterprise eCommerce. “Along with cost cutting benefits, drones could also be the answer to reducing congestion and pollution, and enabling faster delivery times.”
Potential barriers to adoption include the weight of the package and flying distance, in addition to ensuring that parcels are delivered to the correct customer, Bring explained.
“By verifying the identity of the recipient before releasing the parcel, our proof of concept is an example of how technology can address the common problems associated with home delivery.”
Recent research by Worldpay found that the UK has reached a tipping point for drone adoption, with 39% ready to embrace delivery by drones, compared to 34% hanging back.
Tags: drones, delivery drone
