DroneDeploy Opens New Markets in Japan

Drone software startup DroneDeploy has launched its ”DroneDeploy Cloud Service” in Japan with SoftBank C&S as the distributor.

“With DroneDeploy as an industry innovator in drone operations technology, and with SoftBank C&S’s successful track record in bringing software giants to market in Japan, this partnership paves the way for DroneDeploy to continue its rapid international expansion in the aerial data space,” a DroneDeploy press release states.

SoftBank C&S markets drones and related IT products in Japan. Partnering with DroneDeploy allows the company to ascend to the leading drone systems provider across the nation.

The partnership paves the way for DroneDeploy to continue its rapid international expansion in the aerial data space.

“We’re excited to be working with SoftBank C&S in Japan. It provides us immediate global reach into one of the most mature enterprise drone markets,” said Scott Lumish, Vice President of Business Development at DroneDeploy. “We believe SoftBank C&S will help DroneDeploy dominate the aerial data space and become the operating system for all drones in Japan, and eventually the rest of world.”

Combining sales, distribution and marketing of SoftBank C&S with DroneDeploy’s Cloud Platform and app market poises the California-based firm to become a universal drone operating system.

The partnership announcement comes on the heels of several recent victories for DroneDeploy. The company recently released the beta version of Fieldscanner with real-time drone mapping for farmers, enabling real-time, offline mapping for immediate in-field analysis.

In 2017, DroneDeploy launched major updates to its enterprise solution through other partnerships that “enable more accurate map production, enable users to get drone training from industry leaders, and add support for the DJI Matrice 200.”

The updates, while targeted at enterprise users, are available to a variety of businesses and organizations regardless of size.

Earlier that year, DroneDeploy previewed Live Map – “the first-of-its-kind solution allowing for operators to create real-time maps in the field with an iOS device” – at the company’s user conference. The solution allowed users to plan a flight, take off, and see maps render on-screen during flight without an online data connection, providing a real-time aerial view in the field.