Innovating the last mile: Consumer acceptance and economic drivers of drone deliveries in urban logistics

Retail e-commerce growth has led to greater demand for urban transport and last-mile deliveries, increasing the associated challenges and issues. In this context, policymakers are called upon to introduce innovative systems toward an environmentally sustainable approach. Using drones for freight deliveries could be a solution, although their use in most countries remains in its infancy for technical, economic, security, and reasons linked to public perception. Through a survey, we shed light on the elements influencing the use of drones for freight deliveries in relation to consumer preferences. Through factor analysis, multinomial, and ordered logit models, we identify factors that facilitate the potential adoption of this service and influence citizens' willingness to pay and sensitivity to drone use. These preliminary results provide important insights for local policymakers and regulators in developing and implementing policies on integrating drone freight services into urban mobility strategies.