Digital Disruption at the Edge: A Review of Barriers to Drone Technology in Last-Mile Delivery

Malik Sammar Dildar Awan; Sarath Menon; Satya Ramesh Shah

doi:10.1109/ICTMOD66732.2025.11372024

Digital Disruption at the Edge: A Review of Barriers to Drone Technology in Last-Mile Delivery

Malik Sammar Dildar Awan
, Sarath Menon
, Satya Ramesh Shah

Department of Electronic Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Emerging technologies in the era of digital supply chain have fostered the development of innovative strategies to enhance the last mile delivery system within logistics to improve overall efficiency within the supply chain. Among these, drone technology is gaining prominence due to its distinctive attributes such as rapid delivery capabilities, cost effectiveness and high operational flexibility thus providing competitive edge to the businesses to respond to customer delivery requirements. This paper identifies the critical challenges that impact the implementation and utilisation of the drone technology within last mile delivery encompassing various external and internal factors.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	IEEE International Conference on Technology Management, Operations and Decisions (ICTMOD)
Publisher	IEEE Xplore
Pages	1-6
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-6654-7808-3
ISBN (Print)	978-1-6654-7809-0
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTMOD66732.2025.11372024
Publication status	Published - 9 Feb 2026
Event	2025 IEEE International Conference on Technology Management, Operations and Decisions - University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom Duration: 20 Oct 2025 → 22 Oct 2025 https://ictmod-conference.com/?page_id=5555

Publication series

Name
ISSN (Print)	2372-7268
ISSN (Electronic)	2159-5119

Conference

Conference	2025 IEEE International Conference on Technology Management, Operations and Decisions
Abbreviated title	ICTMOD
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Glasgow
Period	20/10/25 → 22/10/25
Internet address	https://ictmod-conference.com/?page_id=5555

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

Drone Technology
Last Mile Delivery
Logistics 4.0
Digital Supply Chain
Logistics Management
Engineering Constraints
Societal Challenges

Access to Document

10.1109/ICTMOD66732.2025.11372024

Accepted ManuscriptAccepted author manuscript, 403 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Digital Disruption at the Edge: A Review of Barriers to Drone Technology in Last-Mile Delivery",

abstract = "Emerging technologies in the era of digital supply chain have fostered the development of innovative strategies to enhance the last mile delivery system within logistics to improve overall efficiency within the supply chain. Among these, drone technology is gaining prominence due to its distinctive attributes such as rapid delivery capabilities, cost effectiveness and high operational flexibility thus providing competitive edge to the businesses to respond to customer delivery requirements. This paper identifies the critical challenges that impact the implementation and utilisation of the drone technology within last mile delivery encompassing various external and internal factors. ",

keywords = "Drone Technology, Last Mile Delivery, Logistics 4.0, Digital Supply Chain, Logistics Management, Engineering Constraints, Societal Challenges",

author = "Awan, \{Malik Sammar Dildar\} and Sarath Menon and Shah, \{Satya Ramesh\}",

year = "2026",

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day = "9",

doi = "10.1109/ICTMOD66732.2025.11372024",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-1-6654-7809-0",

publisher = "IEEE Xplore",

pages = "1--6",

booktitle = "IEEE International Conference on Technology Management, Operations and Decisions (ICTMOD)",

note = "2025 IEEE International Conference on Technology Management, Operations and Decisions , ICTMOD ; Conference date: 20-10-2025 Through 22-10-2025",

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Awan, MSD, Menon, S & Shah, SR 2026, Digital Disruption at the Edge: A Review of Barriers to Drone Technology in Last-Mile Delivery. in IEEE International Conference on Technology Management, Operations and Decisions (ICTMOD). IEEE Xplore, pp. 1-6, 2025 IEEE International Conference on Technology Management, Operations and Decisions , Glasgow, United Kingdom, 20/10/25. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICTMOD66732.2025.11372024

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T1 - Digital Disruption at the Edge

T2 - 2025 IEEE International Conference on Technology Management, Operations and Decisions

AU - Awan, Malik Sammar Dildar

AU - Menon, Sarath

AU - Shah, Satya Ramesh

PY - 2026/2/9

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N2 - Emerging technologies in the era of digital supply chain have fostered the development of innovative strategies to enhance the last mile delivery system within logistics to improve overall efficiency within the supply chain. Among these, drone technology is gaining prominence due to its distinctive attributes such as rapid delivery capabilities, cost effectiveness and high operational flexibility thus providing competitive edge to the businesses to respond to customer delivery requirements. This paper identifies the critical challenges that impact the implementation and utilisation of the drone technology within last mile delivery encompassing various external and internal factors.

AB - Emerging technologies in the era of digital supply chain have fostered the development of innovative strategies to enhance the last mile delivery system within logistics to improve overall efficiency within the supply chain. Among these, drone technology is gaining prominence due to its distinctive attributes such as rapid delivery capabilities, cost effectiveness and high operational flexibility thus providing competitive edge to the businesses to respond to customer delivery requirements. This paper identifies the critical challenges that impact the implementation and utilisation of the drone technology within last mile delivery encompassing various external and internal factors.

KW - Drone Technology

KW - Last Mile Delivery

KW - Logistics 4.0

KW - Digital Supply Chain

KW - Logistics Management

KW - Engineering Constraints

KW - Societal Challenges

U2 - 10.1109/ICTMOD66732.2025.11372024

DO - 10.1109/ICTMOD66732.2025.11372024

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-1-6654-7809-0

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BT - IEEE International Conference on Technology Management, Operations and Decisions (ICTMOD)

PB - IEEE Xplore

Y2 - 20 October 2025 through 22 October 2025

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