Frost & Sullivan: Low-altitude logistics competition enters a phase of integrated game-playing involving 'flight technology, platform capabilities, and scenario operations'

Although low-altitude logistics is still in its exploration phase, the technical paths and strategic priorities of the three types of participants have actually begun to diverge.

The core logic of logistics enterprises is to introduce low-altitude transport capacity into the existing transportation system to supplement and optimize the network. They are more concerned with how to incorporate drones into the overall structure of trunk lines, feeder lines, and last-mile delivery to improve regional coverage efficiency and reduce marginal distribution costs. Technically, they will focus on investing in the construction of scheduling systems and airspace-ground coordination capabilities.

The logic of e-commerce platforms is actually quite different. For them, low-altitude logistics is a 'new type of transport capacity module' within the entire fulfillment capability, with the core goal still being to improve user experience and order response efficiency. They emphasize more on platform-side scheduling algorithms, transport capacity integration, and flexible capabilities for multi-channel fulfillment. Logistics enterprises are building transport capacity systems, while e-commerce platforms are adjusting transport resources.

Drone manufacturers start from flight technology and pay more attention to underlying technologies such as flight control safety, communication links, and energy consumption management. Many manufacturers are now moving towards system integration, no longer just selling equipment but starting to provide platform-level scheduling capabilities and operational support.

Overall, logistics enterprises are integrating networks, e-commerce platforms are developing system intelligence, and drone manufacturers are building flight bases. Each party has its own focus and is looking for entry points around their strengths. There will definitely be more possibilities for cross-cooperation in the future.

In the new field of low-altitude logistics, the current competitive logic indeed differs from the mature ground system. Traditional ground logistics emphasizes more on network density, coverage capacity of the warehousing and distribution system, and end-touch efficiency. In the current stage of low-altitude logistics, the importance of technical system capabilities is more prominent than ground network coverage. That is to say, what is being competed on now is not who has more network points, but who can fly more safely, schedule more efficiently, and control costs more effectively.

At present, flight safety remains the most fundamental and non-negotiable threshold of the entire industry. In addition to hardware factors such as the flight control performance, obstacle avoidance ability, and redundant design of drones themselves, platform-level scheduling capabilities, route design, and emergency handling are also important components in measuring safety levels. For example, how to maintain the orderliness of multiple aircraft operations in complex urban airspace? Can a system-level response be achieved in case of emergencies? These are all key factors determining whether you can obtain airspace resources, advance BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) approval, and achieve compliant operations.

At the same time, cost issues are also an unavoidable reality challenge. As a highly price-sensitive industry, whether a new technology is ultimately scalable depends on whether its unit transportation cost is competitive. Even if the technology is advanced and efficient, if the cost remains high, it is difficult to form a practical substitution relationship with existing solutions such as riders and driverless cars. Therefore, low-altitude logistics not only needs to run fast but also be affordable.

So returning to the previous question, on the premise of ensuring safety, those enterprises that can find suitable scenarios faster, achieve large-scale operations, and take the lead in breaking through the profit model locally are indeed more likely to succeed in the current stage.