Recently, a drone loaded with fruits from Pagoda took off at the Meituan drone delivery collection store in Longgang, Shenzhen. In the hot summer, chilled lychee 2 kilometers away is packaged and delivered to consumers in just 7 minutes.
It is understood that the cooperation between Meituan and Pagoda can be traced back to 2016. The drone delivery service for fresh fruit launched in Shenzhen is a brand-new attempt by Pagoda in the field of fresh fruit delivery. At the same time, Pagoda has also become the first fruit chain retail brand in Meituan’s drone business.
As for the on-site experience, the ordering method of a drone delivery is basically the same as that of traditional delivery. After the consumer places the order, the in-store staff will arrange sorting and bagging, and the packing will be completed by specialists. The drone will deliver the fruit to the designated smart pick-up cabinet according to the planned route, and send the pick-up code to the consumer synchronously for pick-up. "At present, we have launched some seasonal fruits, such as lychees, apricots, and winter jujubes. In the future, we will add more products such as fresh fruit salad mixes for customers to choose from.
According to Meituan, whether or not the fruit is fresh is the most concerning issue for users. "As far as fruit delivery is concerned, the standard delivery service of '3 kilometers within 15 minutes' by drones has the greatest value in greatly shortening the delivery time, so that each piece of fruit can be served immediately, which can effectively enhance the experience of consumption."
At present, Meituan’s drone business has been operating in Shenzhen for nearly a year. As of June 2022, it has landed in 10 communities and 4 business districts, covering more than 8,000 households, completing over 58,000 orders for users. Up to now, Meituan's drone delivery has reached cooperations with more than ten brands in the sector of fast food, beverages, high tea, and snacks, and will explore more scenarios in the future.
Source: The Paper