Walgreens lays claim to Stateside drone delivery first

Walgreens and Wing, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, are partnering on a drone technology pilot.

From October, the pair will test out ‘store to door’ delivery of health and wellness, food and beverage and convenience items via drones to eligible residents of Christiansburg, Virginia. They will do so in conjunction with FedEx. FedEx Express customers who live within designated delivery zones in Christiansburg, and who opt in to the Wing delivery service, will be able to use the service.

Christiansburg was selected as Wing has been working with nearby Virginia Tech in Blacksburg to test drone delivery as part of the US Department of Transportation’s Integration Pilot Program since 2016. “We continue to explore partnerships to transform and modernise our customer experience and we are proud to be the first retailer in the US to offer an on-demand commercial drone delivery option with Wing,” says Vish Sankaran, Chief Innovation Officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance.

“With a customer-led focus, we continue to create differentiated shopping experiences that provide the products and services consumers need wherever, whenever and however they may want them. This is the kind of omni-channel partnership and offering that can redefine convenience for our customers and communities – delivering items to homes in minutes, not hours or days.”

Users will have access to more than 100 products and six ‘packs’ via the Wing app that cover the following categories: allergy, baby, cough/cold, first aid, pain, and kids’ snacks. Prescription deliveries will not be available via the service.