Walmart and drone company Zipline inked a partnership to instantly deliver healthcare items to consumers in Arkansas.
Five details:
- The new service will allow Walmart customers to order deliveries of select health items, such as a thermometer, medication or cough drops, from its Pea Ridge, Ark., location, according to a Nov. 18 news release.
- Utilizing drones will help the retail giant better serve rural populations and elderly customers who are difficult to reach with traditional delivery methods, according to the release.
- Since the partnership was developed in 2020, the two companies have built a 25-foot platform that drones can use for takeoff and landing. The aircraft can service a 50-mile radius.
- To use the service, customers must download the Zipline app, order products they want and select a delivery time. Customers can track the status of their aircraft through the Zipline app.
- Zipline began operating in 2016, delivering more than 4.5 million units of medical supplies, according to the release. The company has largely worked in delivering healthcare items, such as medical supplies in North Carolina, COVID-19 vaccines in Ghana and blood in Rwanda, The Verge reported Nov. 18.