Pioneering service worldwide
The Japanese e-commerce giant starts the first service of this type in the world that will be operational starting May 9.
Rakuten, Asian retail giant e-commerce y Internet services, has announced the launch of the delivery service for orders placed on its platform through drones. This pioneering service worldwide, called Sora Raku, will be operational starting May 9 this year, initially as a one-month pilot project at a golf course in the prefecture of ChibaNear Tokyo.
The first package delivery application will be available for sports club members Camel Golf Resort, which will use this technology to deliver snacks, drinks and equipment to players. This new and original form of messaging will allow for a fast and surprising service, without having to move staff to whatever hole the golfers are on. The agreement, which is part of the Japanese company's pilot project, will serve to gauge acceptance among the public in order to take the initiative to a more ambitious level.
In Sora Raku app, available for devices Android, golfers can order around 100 items from the Rakuten, including drinks, snacks or sports equipment such as balls and tees. The process is quite simple, first they register as users in the app, indicate the hole closest to their location in the field, place the order and, at the end, they have the option to pay both with a credit card and with points. from the online marketplace.
Rakuten is characterized by always being at the technological forefront both in research and in the application of innovative improvements and drones are one of the focuses in which many hopes are placed for the future.
According to Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani: “With automatic delivery of orders via drones, we would like to realize new types of shopping experiences. Although it is a commercial application that has gone a step forward from its experimental stage, the potential of drones is infinite” he concludes. Mikitani.
Drone in action
The pioneering drones of Rakuten They will be dispatched from a launch pad near the clubhouse and within minutes will arrive at designated landing zones along the course. Once the product is successfully delivered, they automatically return to the clubhouse. The order has a minimum cost of 100 yen (about 80 cents) and cannot exceed, for the moment, the weight of 2 kilos, the maximum load that the drone supports.
Another element that can influence the route is weather conditions such as wind or rain. Likewise, this delivery service via drones can only be carried out while there is natural light in the field, which is why a delivery schedule has been established from 8:30 a.m. to 15:00 p.m. to leave the packages using these aircraft. manned.
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