
Wal-Mart has opened a new front in its battle with Amazon.com. The world’s largest retailer has applied for a U.S. patent for a floating warehouse that could make deliveries via drones, which would bring products from the aircraft down to customers’ homes. The blimp-style machine would fly at heights between 500 feet and 1,000 feet (as much as 305 meters), contain multiple launching bays, and be operated autonomously or by a remote human pilot. Amazon was granted a patent for a similar vessel in April 2016. The migration to the skies represents the latest volley in a clash between Wal-Mart and Amazon to grab shoppers’ attention, loyalty and dollars.
Total Retail's Take: The battle over speed of delivery is extending to the friendly skies. Wal-Mart and Amazon are focused on getting online orders to customers’ homes as quickly as possible, and are investing in drone technology as a means of making that happen. In addition to increasing the speed in which the order is fulfilled, Wal-Mart's "floating warehouse" could potentially save the retailer in "last mile" delivery charges from local and/or national logistics companies. Despite their potential benefits, drone deliveries don't appear to be going mainstream any time soon, and at this point are more of a novelty than a dependable delivery solution. My recommendation is that retailers focus on optimizing the basics of the supply chain, ensuring that customers get their orders when you tell them you will — and in perfect condition — rather than spending a great deal of time or money on drones.
- Companies:
- Amazon.com
- Wal-Mart

Joe Keenan is the executive editor of Total Retail. Joe has more than 10 years experience covering the retail industry, and enjoys profiling innovative companies and people in the space.