Two big names in the construction industry have joined forces, as equipment supplier John Deere (NYSE: DE) and CA-based drone solutions company Kespry announce an exclusive global strategic alliance.
The agreement means that John Deere Construction & Forestry dealers will provide the Kespry Aerial Intelligence System to their customers on job sites around the world. Starting in North America, the alliance enables John Deere customers to use Kespry’s fully integrated industrial drone platform to capture topographic data in minutes with survey-grade accuracy.
“This technology will help our dealers offer a seamless workflow to site development and road building contractors from project planning through grading dirt,” said Andrew Kahler, product marketing manager, John Deere WorkSightTM. “The data gathered from the Kespry system will help our customers and equipment operators make decisions that reduce costs and improve productivity as they optimize the job site and spend less time on jobs.”
The alliance is another indication of the widespread use of drones across the industrial sector, which realizes a significant ROI in implementing drone programs. While industries like construction often recognize the benefits of drone technology, lack of training and the need to bring new suppliers and partnerships on board are significant barriers to entry. By forming an alliance with a known industry leader and providing a total solution, Kespry’s strategic move could have far reaching results.
“Our relationship with John Deere will accelerate the adoption of drone solutions in industrial markets and will rapidly change how business is done in construction, road building and other industrial sectors,” said George Mathew, chairman and CEO of Kespry. “These advanced aerial intelligence systems are already changing the face of work in industrial markets as surveyors and contractors are able to retool their skill sets for this increasingly connected world.”
The Kespry solution includes the Kespry Drone 2S, an easy-to-use fully autonomous aircraft that can be programmed to launch, fly a designated flight path, and land without operator intervention. The drone provides an on-board LiDAR sensor for obstacle avoidance. The company’s software and cloud services allow customers easy access to real-time 3D renderings and volumetric analysis – data can be exported from the Kespry cloud to other modeling packages. John Deere chose Kespry based on its interoperability with John Deere WorkSight technologies and ease of use for customers: the seamless end-to-end solution can eliminate much of the research and training burden for new adopters of drone programs. The agreement between the two companies includes Kespry working with John Deere dealers to train and certify them in the use of the Kespry 2s platform.
The partnership demonstrates a clear shift in perception of drones in industry. Traditional suppliers like John Deere are working to add drone solutions to their offering in response to growing customer demand – a clear sign that drone technology is approaching critical mass on worksites around the globe.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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