Pilot with Wing and DoorDash brings tools, paint products and household essentials to customers near Charlotte in as fast as 20 minutes
Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW) has launched its first drone delivery service, offering customers a new way to receive small home improvement supplies without making a trip to the store.
The retailer is piloting the service from its store in Matthews, North Carolina, near Charlotte. Customers can order eligible products through DoorDash, with Wing drones handling the flights. Lowe’s says deliveries can arrive in as fast as 20 minutes.
The program makes Lowe’s the first home improvement retailer to offer drone delivery, according to the company. It also expands existing drone delivery operations from Wing and DoorDash in the Charlotte area.
The use case targets a familiar problem for both homeowners and professionals: discovering a missing item in the middle of a project. Instead of leaving a project or jobsite for a small purchase, customers within the service area may be able to have the item delivered by drone.
The initial product list includes hand tools, paint products and common household supplies. Examples include soap, tape, all-purpose cleaner and batteries.
“At Lowe’s, our mission is to solve problems and fulfill dreams for the home. To achieve this mission, we’re removing friction from home improvement and making it easier for customers to enjoy their home. Any technology we implement is designed to eliminate that friction so our customers can complete their projects quickly,” said Seemantini Godbole, chief information and AI officer at Lowe’s. “By piloting drone delivery, we’re addressing a real project pain point with an innovative solution that is integrated into the retail journey, giving our hometown customers next-generation fulfillment right when they need it.”
How Lowe’s Drone Delivery Works
Customers access the service through the DoorDash app. For addresses within the eligible delivery area, drone delivery automatically appears as an option.
Customers can then enter the dedicated “Lowe’s by Drone” storefront and select from eligible products. Wing drones currently carry orders weighing about 2.5 pounds per flight.
That weight limit makes the service best suited to relatively small items. However, those items can play an important role in home repairs and other projects. A missing battery, roll of tape or small tool can otherwise require a separate store trip.
The Matthews pilot adds drone delivery to Lowe’s existing same-day fulfillment options. These include curbside pickup, buy online and pick up in store, and same-day delivery.
For Wing and DoorDash, the Lowe’s partnership also extends drone delivery into another retail category. Rather than focusing only on meals or convenience purchases, the service applies fast aerial delivery to home improvement projects.
For Lowe’s, the pilot tests whether drones can fill a specific gap in its fulfillment network: getting lightweight, urgently needed supplies to customers quickly. If the model proves useful, home improvement could offer another practical application for on-demand drone delivery.
Read more:
- Wing and Walmart Add Seven New Drone Delivery Markets
- Flytrex and Wing Report Zero Airspace Conflicts for Multi-Operator Drone Delivery
- What Can Cities Regulate About Drone Delivery?
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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