The environmental advantages of delivery robots make them an attractive proposition for consumers, according to a recent study from Washington State University. With a considerably smaller carbon footprint (or "wheel print"), these compact self-driving electric vehicles are a greener alternative to many traditional methods of food delivery on account of their low or even zero carbon emissions.
Researchers noted that participants showing greater environmental awareness and knowledge about carbon emissions showed a stronger inclination to opt for delivery robots. However, this green-oriented perspective diminished when participants saw the use of delivery robots as risking delays or the potential spoilage of their food order.
These findings, as reported in the International Journal of Hospitality Management, hint at an approach to boost the adoption of delivery robots.
"The ongoing marketing strategy has largely focused on functionality and convenience, but highlighting the environmental benefits could supplement these attempts," says Jennifer Han, the study's lead author and a doctoral student at WSU's Carson College of Business.
In collaboration with fellow WSU researchers Hyun Jeong Kim and Soobin Seo, Han conducted an online survey involving 418 adults, the majority of whom hailed from urban areas and were already familiar with delivery robots.
The study found a strong correlation between high-ranked statements relating to carbon emissions and the tendency to use automated delivery robots (ADR). This connection, however, was absent among participants who considered using ADR technology to be risky.
The researchers noted that functional features should work perfectly before pushing green issues. The pandemic-driven growth in online food ordering, which saw a 63% increase according to Statista, has inadvertently resulted in heightened congestion and carbon emissions.
Driven by this demand, more food service businesses are resorting to automatic delivery robots for "last mile" deliveries. While companies like Dominos have their delivery fleets, smaller restaurants have also started using ADRs, with services like Grubhub and Starship Technologies emerging as popular choices.
In conclusion, Han suggests that companies could strengthen the robots’ green appeal by providing an emission calculation for each delivery method, thus encouraging environmental-friendly purchasing behaviors among interested consumers.
Disclaimer: The above article was written with the assistance of AI. The original sources can be found on ScienceDaily.
