Bentonville, Ark. — Walmart’s new drone delivery service is expanding. In partnership with DroneUp, Walmart will offer drone delivery in six states by the end of the year, including Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah and Virginia. In total, there will be 34 stores making drone delivery available in 23 cities nationwide by year end.
“Drone delivery makes it possible for our customers to shop those last-minute or forgotten items with ease, in a package that’s frankly really cool. Being on the forefront of that innovation at Walmart is something we’re proud of,” says Vik Gopalakrishnan, vice president, innovation & automation, Walmart U.S. “It may seem like a futuristic option, but it’s giving our customers what they’ve always wanted, and that’s time back to focus on what is most important to them.”
Earlier this year, the retailer had announced plans to expand its DroneUp network to reach 4 million additional households across those 6 states. From last-minute meal solutions to a package of Christmas cookies, Walmart has successfully executed thousands of same-day drone deliveries to date.
Customers living within a mile of a participating store can place orders through www.droneupdelivery.com between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. local time. Drones can deliver more than 10,000 eligible Walmart items up to 10 pounds, including fragile items like eggs, in as little as 30 minutes. There are no order minimums and the delivery fee is just $3.99. With use of a promo code, customers using drone delivery for the first time will have the delivery fee waived. Once the items are packaged and loaded into the drone, the order is then delivered using a cable that gently lowers the package into the customer’s yard.
“Our mission is to set the gold standard for drone delivery and by partnering with Walmart, bring the incredible benefits that drones offer to local communities, organizations and businesses,” says Tom Walker, CEO of DroneUp. “Our approach is unique; we practice safety above all else and incorporate state-of-the-art technology. Our strong relationship with the FAA has also been critical to our success as we build an infrastructure that supports growth and great career programs for operators now and in the future.”
Walmart Inc. operates more than 10,500 stores and numerous e-commerce websites under 46 banners in 24 countries. For more information, visit www.corporate.walmart.com.
DroneUp is an American technology company that combines airspace solutions, software applications, analytics platforms and a trusted team of industry leaders to help companies operate at scale with drone innovation. In 2021, DroneUp received a significant investment from the #1 retailer in the world, Walmart, Inc. DroneUp was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va. For more information, visit www.droneup.com.
SOURCE: DroneUp