In a remarkable advancement for food delivery, China’s leading delivery service has introduced drone technology to streamline operations in the Shenzhen region, generating excitement among locals.
This news was highlighted in a recent TikTok post by travel vloggers Adriana and Dylan, who shared their astonishment at witnessing the technology firsthand.
“We just got a drone delivery here in Shenzhen, China. We didn’t even know this was a thing till we arrived in Shenzhen. The future is here 🤯 would you use this? #shenzhen #china #futuristic #wow,” they posted.
The couple documented their experience of ordering coffee from a delivery booth and waiting eight minutes for the drone’s arrival, which flew between skyscrapers to reach its destination.
According to a 2023 article in the MIT Technology Review, Meituan, the delivery company behind this innovation, does not deliver orders directly to customers’ doorsteps. Instead, it has established pick-up kiosks located near residential and office areas.
The statement reads, “To make the service work in a dense city, Meituan doesn’t have the drones deliver directly to your doorstep. Instead, the company has set up pickup kiosks close to residential or office buildings. Drones drop off deliveries at the kiosks, which can hold several packages at once. The process may be less convenient for customers, but it allows every drone to fly a predetermined route, from one launchpad to one kiosk, making the task of navigating urban areas much easier.
“In 2022, Meituan made more than 100,000 drone deliveries in Shenzhen. My own experience wasn’t seamless. The first time I tried to use the service, I accidentally ordered from a restaurant that was too far away. My second attempt failed because I had unwittingly ordered after hours (the drones go to bed at 7 p.m.).”
