Amazon may have made drones a household word, but it may very well be Canadian marketplace SHOP.CA that makes drone delivery of ecommerce goods a reality thanks to a new partnership with Drone Delivery Canada (DDC).
SHOP.CA is testing drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) and says drone delivery service will be commercially available to customers of SHOP.CA once all necessary government approvals have been obtained.
Drew Green and Trevor Newell launched SHOP.CA to help Canadian retailers of all sizes reach Canadian shoppers. Its Vice President Christian Rodericks told EcommerceBytes in 2013 that shipping was one of its biggest advantages – items listed on Shop.ca are offered with free shipping and free returns and no cross-border charges or duty fees.
Amazon has been working overtime to develop its Prime Air system and redesign its distribution centers to accommodate drone delivery technology, but has been frustrated with restrictions in place by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Drone Delivery Canada CEO Tony Di Benedetto said in a press statement that the partnership would provide SHOP.CA customers with increased flexibility, allowing them to have their orders delivered instantly utilizing next generation drone delivery technology.
