Bring on the Drones (I Need a Little Human Contact)

What's wrong with this picture?  Yes, it's overexposed.  And underexposed, too.  Badly composed.  And the plant might be dying.  But really: what's wrong with this picture?

See that box of oranges and grapefruits on the driveway?

Wait.  Let me put my Google Glasses on.  That'll help.

There.  Thanks, Google Glasses.


Now you can really see the problem.  This was a delivery the other day.  It was by--well, it doesn't really matter.  USPS, UPS or FEDEX all behave the same way.

That's fresh produce sitting in the driveway.  It was 23F and probably colder on the ground.  And look--there's a chasm of 15 feet from the point of delivery to the porch, door and doorbell.  It's like crossing the Grand Canyon.

It's just plain luck we saw the package before the fruit was ruined.

Here's all I can figure: The efficiency metrics of the major delivery services, which dictate everything from best routes to which hand a driver carries his keys in, must discourage any contact with customers.  They must.

After all, customers do crazy things, like say "Hello" and "Happy Holidays."

Those human exchanges threaten everything about the modern delivery infrastructure, from "Drops per Hour" to "Time per Delivery."  The metrics of efficiency demand that the delivery driver sneak up your driveway as quietly as possible, stop at an angle blind to the house, deliver the package as distant as possible from the door while still counting as an official "delivery," and then fleeing.

On a good day, apparently, there is zero customer contact.  Efficiency metrics have overwhelmed the human equation.

So, I'm ready.  Bring on the drones.  "Google Glasses.  Show me the future."

Now we're talking!  Real humanoid contact.  A pleasant greeting.  Maybe holiday music playing from the little drone speakers.  Maybe a little dronette appears from the underbelly and rings my doorbell, presenting me with a Juicer coupon.

Imagine the possibilities for peace on earth and goodwill from a friendly Drone.

I used to be against the idea of having small metal projectiles zipping up and down my driveway.  But if this is the future--friendly drones and fresh oranges--sign me up.

Posted by Entrepreneur Generations

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