Robot wars: Five companies rolling out autonomous delivery around the world

Manna-branded drone flying high above houses in Ireland

As Wilko unveils plans to begin autonomous home deliveries by 2023, the UK retailer joins a growing group of companies already using robots to deliver products to customers globally.

Wilko’s investment in autonomous vehicles follows a surge in deliveries to households across the UK during the pandemic.

Hermes delivered its highest-ever amount of parcels last year, while Royal Mail experienced its busiest quarter in history in the three months to December 2020, even delivering a whopping 11.7 million parcels in one day.

With demand for home delivery showing little sign of slowing, retailers are pondering how best to reach customers at a time when they are calling for both convenience and sustainability: two concepts that may once have been at odds with one another. 

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