Walmart Adds 300 More Drone Delivery Sites
Walmart is adding 300 drone delivery sites across the country, in a new multi-year agreement with Zipline, the company said Thursday. The retailer can deliver orders via drone in as little as 30 minutes.
The move expands on a partnership between Walmart and Zipline that started in 2021. According to the company, Walmart has already made more than 2 million deliveries by drone. The expansion of the retailer's partnership with Zipline has the potential for further growth in the future.
Tens of thousands of Walmart items are eligible for delivery via drone in the areas where the service is available, the company said. Ninety percent of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store.
"We see customers try drone delivery for the novelty and then continue to come back to it for the convenience when they need something in minutes," said Greg Cathey, Walmart's SVP of e-commerce fulfillment transformation. "Walmart's stores put us close to the communities we serve. With Zipline, we can build on that proximity and bring this fast delivery option to even more customers across the country."
Customers who live in areas where drone delivery is available will see delivery via drone as an option in the Walmart app or on Walmart.com. Shoppers in those areas can also place Walmart orders through the Zipline app. Drone deliveries are made to shoppers' front yards, backyards or driveways.
"Five years ago, Walmart and Zipline made our first deliveries together. Back then, the idea of autonomous delivery seemed impossible to most people. Today, customers order from us multiple times a day," Zipline co-founder and CEO Keller Cliffton said.
Zipline is the largest drone delivery service in the world by miles flown. Zipline's drones have traveled 150 million commercial autonomous miles without a major safety incident.
This article was originally published by P2PI sibling brand Progressive Grocer..
