Factors affecting the adoption of drone delivery technology in the logistics industry

Abstract

Logistics organisations may struggle to implement commercial drone delivery as part of an innovative drive to improve the efficiency of last-mile logistics in South Africa. The inability of the local logistics industry to fully understand the factors that influence the adoption of the technology could lead to a failed initiative with no financial, social, or economic benefits realised. However, if it is possible to understand the potential customer, the process of deploying drones as a hybrid or complete alternative to traditional last-mile delivery is more likely to be successful. A better understanding of the local environment can allow logistics operators to better package the technology while also allowing the government to improve policies around the commercial use of drones. This research study is aimed at understanding the factors that influence the adoption of drones as a form of parcel delivery in South African organisations. A framework was developed using the TOE, DOI, and TAM models to identify technological, organisational, and environmental factors affecting the adoption of drone technologies. A questionnaire was administered to logistics experts within the local logistics industry. The collected data was analysed quantitatively to understand how the various identified factors affect the adoption of last-mile drone delivery in the South African context.