If people have the option to get a package ~10% slower for ~60% cheaper, they'll take the slower option the vast majority of the time.
I would have assumed that the savings in labor would be eaten by drones using more energy, but it looks like drones can actually be significantly more energy efficient than light-trucks for delivery: https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2022/09/16-last...
Energy is the second biggest input in delivery cost.
If people have the option to get a package ~10% slower for ~60% cheaper, they'll take the slower option the vast majority of the time.
I would have assumed that the savings in labor would be eaten by drones using more energy, but it looks like drones can actually be significantly more energy efficient than light-trucks for delivery: https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2022/09/16-last...
Energy is the second biggest input in delivery cost.