DTDC Express Ltd, one of India’s leading express logistics service providers, enters its 35th foundation year with the launch of its latest last-mile innovation – Drone-based Deliveries. Through a strategic partnership with Skye Air Mobility, the company has taken an integral step in embracing new-age tech solutions to enable efficient and sustainable last-mile delivery for its customers. The first drone delivery happened from Bilaspur to Gurgaon sector 92 covering a distance of 7.5 km in just 3-4 mins instead of a usual road route of ~15 minutes. This marks a step forward in its commitment to adopting cutting-edge technology and setting new industry standards with the changing times.
Building upon its vast physical network of 16,000+ channel partners covering nearly 96% of the Indian population, DTDC aims to further optimize the management of approximately 155 million parcels annually.
This new development promises agile and hassle-free deliveries while contributing to eco-friendly logistics by reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion. Following the successful launch in Gurgaon, DTDC plans to expand its drone delivery service to other key locations across India. The next phase of this initiative will focus on identifying strategic regions where drone deliveries can offer the most significant impact.
Speaking on the occasion, Abhishek Chakraborty, Chief Executive Officer of DTDC Express Ltd. said, “As we commence the 35th year of DTDC’s journey, our strategic partnership with Skye Air marks a significant milestone in setting new benchmarks for last-mile delivery. The partnership aims to address the evolving logistics landscape, driven by digitalization and changing consumer behaviours, presenting us with an opportunity to redefine last-mile logistics in this country.
At DTDC, we embrace the transformative journey, our technological advancements must align seamlessly with societal and environmental needs, reflecting the vision. We aim to leveraging our leadership position to enhance our digital capabilities and drive exponential growth across Express Parcels, International, and Integrated E-commerce Logistics.”
Ankit Kumar, Founder & CEO of Skye Air, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership with DTDC and the potential of their cutting-edge drone technology to revolutionize urban logistics. He said “We are thrilled to collaborate with DTDC on its 35th Foundation Day, leveraging our advanced drone delivery infrastructure to redefine last-mile deliveries in urban areas. By integrating drones into the delivery network, we can bypass traffic congestion, enhancing delivery speed, efficiency, and sustainability. Each drone delivery can save over 520 grams of CO2 emissions compared to traditional methods. Our goal is to reduce the distance and time for last-mile deliveries, significantly impacting the logistics infrastructure. Bharat is poised to lead the drone delivery and aerial taxi industry on a global scale, with countries worldwide likely to adopt the innovative models being developed here. From drone manufacturers to service providers and R&D institutions, there is a concerted effort to establish Bharat as the global drone hub by 2030.”
Since its inception, DTDC has always remained steadfast in its commitment to adapt, innovate and lead. Moving on the path towards achieving its vision ‘to be the most admired Express Logistics Company in India’, over the years DTDC has achieved key milestones. This includes the launch of ‘MyDTDC app’ – India’s first logistics app, DTDCShipAssure- India’s First 100% Money back promise for express premium shipments and Smile Code Delivery- India’s First OTP-based logistics delivery.
All set to mark yet another milestone, the newly launched, drone delivery service represents an advancement in its journey, highlighting the company’s unwavering commitment to innovation, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
