Technology is flying past us every day — literally — in the form of new airborne inventions. But did you realize the sky is on the verge of opening up a big new world for small and large businesses?
Without a doubt, drones are a big topic of today's tech talk. And with the talk comes innovation — innovation that could change the way business is done.
Several companies are exploring using drones for business operations — Google, Coca-Cola, GE, just to name a few — and the next few years will determine which companies emerge from this "game of drones."
For example, Sony just announced July 22 that it plans to create a company called Aerosene, which would offer drone for services like surveying land that's difficult for people to access.
And Amazon has been working on using drones to deliver packages for several years. But regulatory issues had slowed progress until the FAA ruled earlier this year that the company could start testing its delivery system, called Prime Air.
In the meantime, another company has beat Amazon to the skies. On July 10, Australian startup Flirtey Inc. delivered medicine to a rural Virginia clinic, making it the first government-approved drone delivery in the United States.
"It was absolutely a Kitty Hawk moment," said Matthew Sweeny, head of Flirtey.
Drones are not only being used to benefit rapid response for organizations, but also for safety.
Texas-based BNSF Railway became the first to be granted permission from the FAA to use drones to inspect some of the 32,500 miles of track in its territory. Currently, the railway company sends out humans to inspect the tracks, which can be a dangerous and difficult job. They feel using drones could be safer for workers and more efficient.
It's clear that we're entering a new era of flight, especially with exemptions from the FAA to the federal ban on commercial use of drones. The exemptions allow small drones to fly for several reasons, including real estate promotion, television filming, safety inspections and delivery. The use of commercial unmanned aircraft systems has been granted in 42 states, including Puerto Rico.
Despite the technology's increase in popularity, the FAA is unsure whether Americans are prepared for this new era. A final rule — requiring vetting and a written test rather than a pilot's certificate — governing small drones is set to be in place early next year, according to the FAA.
According to Brad Howarth, contributor to INTHEBLACK, uses for drones could benefit all types of businesses including:
Deliveries: We've talked about this one earlier in this article, but why not mention it again? Using a drone could cut delivery costs and deliver to hard-to-reach locations.
Emergency personnel: Using drones could expand the search for missing persons and create a safer environment for emergency personnel. Drones are cheaper than helicopters to operate, and they have high-resolution cameras to use as "eyes in the sky" during dangerous situations.
Inspections and surveys: Reaching those dangerous places in farmland, railways, highways, bridges, etc., drones can inspect the structures and survey land to have the answers you need.
Sports: Not only would photos/videos from drones enhance the sports outlook, but sports officials can now view their athletes' performance better. Some physicians are using footage from drones to understand more about collisions that lead to concussions.
Photography/videography: Have you seen a wedding from a drone? If not, you should check it out below. Aerial shots have always been around, but photography and videography are taking things in new directions with drones since they are able to get all angles of shots.
"Commercial use of [drones] has the potential to boost the U.S. economy, bringing research and manufacturing jobs to our country along with a new crop of small businesses specializing in their uses," the National Association of Realtors said.
With the good comes the bad, though. In this case, privacy — a large concern with the use of drones — creates a liability issue for businesses. When Amazon first brought up the idea of using drones for Prime Air, some declared they would shoot down any drones they saw over their house. Some also claimed they owned a certain amount of space above their property lines.
Although concerns are being raised, they are unlikely to hinder the progression of drones as the next big thing in business. Is your company ready to compete in this battle for the skies?
