Customer value of drones
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Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
School of Business |
Master's thesis
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Author
Date
2023
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Information and Service Management (ISM)
Language
en
Pages
89 + 85
Series
Abstract
The main objective of this thesis was to understand the acceptance, current and future use, and, especially, customer value of drones within the Finnish small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector in industries that are potential customers for drones and drone services and in the scope of the Drolo Project, a research project created to look into the business opportunities of drones in Finland, This scope includes industries such as water sanitation, transport and storage, and security. From these industries, three main segments are created: Construction and Property Management, Logistics, and Safety and Security. This research is done firstly through a literature review by exploring what drones are and finding their most prominent uses, barriers, benefits, and drawbacks as well as the best ways to create customer value with drones in these industries. Primary data gathered through a survey created by the Drolo Project for industry experts is examined to analyze what the current and future status of drones are and find the segments and industries that create the most customer value from drones. The value created by drones in the different segments and industries is analyzed through secondary data. Using that, the survey is analyzed to see how the research from around the world compares to the local scope of Finnish SMEs. The objectives of this thesis were achieved. The current status and future possibilities are determined through the survey. While the current status of drones in Finland inside this scope is minor, the future possibilities are still quite open but growing. The Construction & Property Management segment is currently using drones the most due to their various uses on a worksite and beyond such as their progress monitoring capabilities. Yet, the future possibilities and growth lie with the Safety and Security segment as they perceive the most value in using drones due to their many benefits such as the new data that drones can offer. The Logistics segment perceives the least value from using drones now and in the future due to them being unpredictable and having to overcome many barriers and drawbacks such as the drone regulatory framework. Within the industries, Security, guard and detective services foresee the most value from drones due to the wide use of technology. Foodservice perceives the least value due to their doubt in the benefits of drones. Within the whole scope, the main benefit of drones was environmental friendliness, and the main barrier was limitations imposed by weather and environment, wind, frost, heavy rain, no-fly zones. Overall, the drone market still has a lot to overcome to be widely accepted and used but some companies can already envision their benefits.Description
Thesis advisor
Mallat, NiinaHalme, Merja
Keywords
drone, UAV, UAS, SME, customer value
