Mail Delivery by Drone: Japan Post Invests 3 Billion Yen for Commercial Drone Delivery by 2023

Japan Post is committed to implementing mail delivery by drone in remote areas by 2023.

This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association.

Japan’s IT Media reports that Japan Post has invested 3 billion yen – more than 27,000,000 USD in drone manufacturer ACSL drone delivery technology, in order to implement commercial mail delivery by drone in 2023.

Delivering mail in an increasing challenge in depopulated and remote areas of Japan.  A shortage of delivery personnel increases the difficulty.  Drones present one solution to the problem, and Japan Post and ACSL have been conducting drone delivery experiments since 2016.

Current trials have successfully delivered packages and mail to private homes.  Japan Post and ACSL envision a logistics process that could include package and mail delivery by drones to community bases such as remote islands and mountain villages; private homes; and to local post offices and convenience stores.

Drone delivery is becoming an increasingly realistic and valuable solution to the challenges facing mail delivery services around the world.  Royal Mail has demonstrated successful mail delivery to Isle of Mull and inter-island parcel delivery across the Scillies.  Swiss Mail and Australian Post have also trialed mail delivery by drone.

The pandemic caused delivery backlogs and customer service problems with postal services around the world, and highlighted the need to find alternatives to conventional methods that rely heavily on human resources and ground-based transportation.  Delivery drones offer an environmentally friendly method of making mail delivery logistics more efficient, less labor intensive, and less expensive.

Since 2014, Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA) has been facilitating & supporting the development of UAS/UAM in Japan, ranging from education, legislation, tradeshow, business matching up to international collaborations with the public and the private sectors. With more than 13,000 members & 250 accredited drone pilot schools, JUIDA continues to be a key player in Japan and overseas.