The project complements the logistics of delivering orders together with couriers, and will carry out intercity flights crossing the Sergipe River
iFood, a leading foodtech in Latin America, will be the first company to deliver delivery via drones to the Northeast, starting in the capital of Sergipe. Drone flights will be carried out daily with yet another innovation: intercity delivery, with the difference of crossing the Sergipe River. Connecting the capital to the municipality of Barra dos Coqueiros, leaving from the Riomar Aracaju shopping mall, transforming a route that varies from 25 to 55 minutes by land into just 5 minutes and 20 seconds by air. The project takes place in partnership with the company Speedbird Aero, responsible for supplying and operating unmanned aircraft.
“A delivery carried out by drone takes much more than innovation, it also expands the possibilities of delivery reach, as in this case of Aracajú. We chose the city – the first in the northeast – to test new models and promote a new experience for customers in the region. Furthermore, the partnership with the local government and parliamentarians who are enthusiastic about developing innovation there was essential. Our objective is to increase the efficiency of deliveries for everyone: consumers, restaurants and delivery people, in addition to offering technological and alternative solutions for delivery in non-polluting modes”, comments Fernando Martins, head of logistics and innovation at iFood.
What are iFood deliveries like by drones?
Drone deliveries take place on specific aircraft designed for this purpose. The flight takes place on a pre-established route – from a take-off and landing point of the equipment, reducing on average 70% of the total time on the routes. From the droneport pickup point, the delivery person uses traditional modes (motorcycle, bicycle or scooter) and transports it to the customer's home.
The drone operation is managed by Speedbird Aero, an iFood partner and the first Brazilian company to develop and operate drone deliveries in Latin America. “Unmanned aircraft are being increasingly used in product delivery logistics in some countries around the world – and Brazil has played a disruptive role. It is a constant evolution, bringing not only more safety, efficiency, and time reduction, but also contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions”, highlights Manoel Coelho, CEO of Speedbird Aero.