A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PWC) has revealed that the emerging global market for business services using drones is valued at more than US$127bn
The commercial applications of drones are poised to have an impact on business operations of companies in a broad range of industry sectors ranging from agriculture to filmmaking. With the falling cost of the technology and its growing range of applications, a large percentage of current business services and labour are expected to be replaced by drone powered solutions in the near future.
According to ‘Clarity from Above’, the report by PwC, the industry with the best prospects for drone applications is infrastructure, with total addressable market value of around USD$45.2bn. This is followed by the agriculture, transport, security and media sectors.
PwC has recently established a global centre of excellence, named Drone Powered Solutions, aimed at focusing on the use of drone technology and data analytics in business. Based in Poland, the centre will deliver drone and geospatial data analytics to help clients across Europe, the UK and Ireland. Poland is the first country in the world to introduce a complete legal framework regulating the commercial use of drones.
Commenting on the report and on PwC’s entry into the drone technology market, PwC partner and head Michal Mazur said, “We are currently in discussion with major companies from a wide range of industries about how they can use drones to improve their business processes. With an estimated market value of over US$127bn in commercial applications, drones are making the transition from novelty item to indispensable business tool.”
