Drones in Logistics Beyond Delivery: Enabling Data Driven Inventory Forecasting and Stock Optimisation
While drone delivery has captured public imagination, its most impactful logistics application lies in data acquisition and analytics. Beyond transporting goods, drones are becoming integral components of smart warehouse ecosystems, driving new levels of visibility, forecasting accuracy, and operational efficiency. Aerial Data Collection and Digital Inventory Control Modern logistics drones equipped with LiDAR, RFID, and high-resolution imaging systems can autonomously navigate warehouse environments to capture real time data on stock levels, storage locations, and item movements. This data is continuously synchronised with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms to maintain a dynamic “digital twin” of inventory assets. Unlike static inventory audits, drone-based scans can be conducted daily or even hourly, offering near real time accuracy. This reduces human labour requirements, eliminates blind spots in high bay racking, and pro...