I: First of all, Rick, congratulations on collecting the award for the most promising entrepreneur of 2021! How are you feeling about it?

Rick Dronney: Thanks, Mark. On cloud nine! As are all of my drones.

I: So, how long have you been on the market and what were your beginnings? We’re all very curious about the origin of the idea to start a drone delivery company?

RD: We’ve been operating for almost two years, so we are not exactly a start‑up any more but we are still a very young company. And when it comes to the origin, well, there are two stories, both very inspirational, which together constituted the impulse that finally made me take the action and commercialise the idea that had been with me for some years before. The first one is about the people I know personally who through no fault of their own found themselves in a very dangerous situation during a mountain trip. It was winter and the conditions were pretty rough. One of my friends lost his crampon and they couldn’t get back down to the shelter without help. They rang the mountain rescue team to ask for support, but obviously in such conditions it would take hours before they could get to the pass where my friend got stuck. And that was where the drones turned out to be invaluable. The mountain rescue used them to have a new pair of crampons delivered to my pals. They got them within an hour of calling for help and what’s even better, the guys from the rescue team did not even have to stick their noses out of the shelter!

I: That’s a great story. What’s the second one?

RD: Do you remember when at the start of the coronavirus pandemic a huge cruise ship got stuck in one of the harbours because the people on the ship were infected and they were not allowed to leave it for many days? They got food and medicine delivered by drones. Technology again saved people’s lives then. Then I saw with my own eyes what I had believed in for some time already: that this tech has the potential to change the world. That’s how Dronney Deliveries was born. And choosing the company’s name wasn’t particularly difficult, if you know what I mean.

I: Sure. Can you walk us through the process of having a parcel delivered by your company? And try to convince a technophobe such as myself that there’s something in it for me, too. 

RD: It couldn’t be any easier. Grab your smartphone and order the product you need. Then choose Dronney Deliveries as your option of shipment. We get the message immediately and load up your package on a drone. It takes off vertically and flies to its destination based on predefined GPS coordinates to your house or the location chosen by you. When the drone reaches its destination, it lowers the package on a tether and you can collect it. Quick and simple.

I: It does sound like something I could try. But I guess it’s not all roses. What challenges have you faced so far and how are you dealing with them?

RD: That’s true, there are quite a few. First of all, since the competition for air‑space is becoming more and more fierce, and because it’s still a young industry, authorities are in the process of creating regulations to govern this area. Regulations are very strict and, in some places, local councils have restricted the use of autonomous drone deliveries to customers’ homes. That puts a limit on our plans of expansion, but we are trying to convince them that drones are the next generation of delivery and there is no escape from it.

I: So, the authorities have to understand that their role is to create a safe and even playing field for everyone.

RD: That’s right. The second challenge is safety and by this I mean privacy concerns. Although a recent survey shows that only about 7% of consumers worry about this aspect of drone delivery, we all know that these devices can also be used to carry cameras and other spying gadgets. A different poll carried out in December 2017 showed that as many as 54% of people said that drones should not be granted permission to fly in close proximity to residential areas. It clearly shows that there are some anxieties in society about the changes drones are bringing with them. I believe that it’s now time for us, I mean Dronney Deliveries and other companies in the industry, to show that we are trustworthy and reliable. We are creating the image of our brand and branch.

I: Rick, one more question, which our listeners are probably very interested in. Does this industry offer stable employment? What requirements do your employees have to meet?

RD: Not only is it stable but also super well‑paid. It’s a branch that has been growing enormously in recent years and does not show any signs of slowing down anytime soon. A message to all tech‑geeks but not only: a drone piloting licence is a must these days, just like a driving licence, so find a course in your neighbourhood and enrol in it now!

I: Rick, thank you for the conversation and good luck with developing your company!

RD: Thanks for having me!

Autorka: Anna Posyniak‑Dutka