What would happen if products could be delivered by drone? This is the latest battleground between Amazon and Walmart, with both retail giants eager to gain an edge in the delivery game with their own unique approaches.
Amazon’s latest push into drone delivery is rolling out in Texas. As reported by PYMNTS, Amazon Pharmacy is offering a drone drop delivery service option to customers in College Station, Texas. In an announcement on Wednesday (October 18), the retail giant said customers will be able to receive prescription drugs at their doorstep within 60 minutes of ordering.
“From day one of medical school, we have been taught that there is a critical golden window in clinical medicine,” said Dr. Bin Gupta, Chief Medical Officer of Amazon Pharmacy. “This is the time between when a patient feels unwell and when they can receive treatment. At Amazon, we are working hard to significantly narrow the golden window from diagnosis to treatment, and drone delivery is “This represents a major step forward. Early intervention is critical to improving patient outcomes, whether it’s an infectious disease or a respiratory disease.”
read more: Amazon’s drone delivery aims to close healthcare’s ‘golden window’
Amazon also plans to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service to additional locations in Italy, the UK, and the US.
“We are working closely with national regulators, international regulators and the EU, Italian, UK and US communities to develop this program. We are committed to building a secure and scalable service. “We have dedicated the time and resources necessary to improve our technology and are currently building the appropriate infrastructure to ensure our services offer the ultimate convenience to our customers.” I mentioned this in a blog post on May 19th.
These developments follow Amazon Pharmacy’s introduction of automated manufacturer-provided coupons aimed at easing the financial burden on patients purchasing insulin and other diabetes treatment products.
“Customers can save time and money on the most commonly prescribed products, including insulin vials, pens, continuous glucose monitors, and pumps,” the company said in a post. “Many insulin brands are available to eligible customers starting at $35 per month with automatically applied manufacturer-provided coupons.”
Also read: Amazon’s insulin coupons fuel retailer’s ambitions for patient-centered, accessible care
Walmart is also expanding its drone delivery service, which it launched two years ago.
Back in August, PYMNTS reported that Walmart partnered with Wing, an Alphabet-owned on-demand drone delivery provider, to bring the convenience of a last-mile delivery solution with a focus on serving customers in the Dallas, Texas, metro. It was reported that it would increase the number of employees and promote innovation. area.
Reports at the time indicated that the new service would be introduced in the coming months, further enhancing the drone delivery capabilities Walmart has been building over the past two years.
The retail giant has already launched drone delivery operations across seven states and 36 stores, making more than 10,000 successful deliveries. Through its collaboration with Wing, Walmart plans to expand its reach to an additional 60,000 homes. This is made possible by Wing’s drones, which have the ability to operate beyond visual line of sight, providing on-demand delivery services to customers living within a six-mile radius of participating Walmart stores.
“Working with Wing aligns directly with our passion for finding innovative and environmentally friendly last-mile delivery solutions to get our customers what they want, when they want it,” said Walmart US Senior, Innovation and Automation. Pratibha Rajashekar, vice president, said. At the time of announcement.
Two new stores will be added to Walmart’s expanding network of 11 drone hubs in the Dallas area that will use Wing-based drone delivery services. The service offers customers the convenience of ordering a wide range of products, from frozen foods and household items to last-minute meal solutions and delicate items.
read more: Walmart partners with Wing to expand drone deliveries in Dallas
Walmart made 6,000 drone deliveries to 36 stores across seven U.S. states before reaching the 10,000-delivery milestone this year, PYMNTS reported. It was also revealed during the announcement that Walmart is imposing a 10-pound weight limit.
DroneUp, a retailer partner that supplies drones, said in a May 2022 blog post that it had seen positive responses from Walmart customers who used the service. Walmart initially thought customers would use the service for emergency items, but now they’re using the service for its pure convenience, like a quick weeknight meal solution. It has been found. It was reported that the best-selling item in one of Walmart’s current hubs is Hamburger Helper.