Africa-Press – Rwanda. Zipline, a Rwandan-based drone services delivery firm, says it has reached its one-millionth delivery to customers, describing the move as a significant leap forward in the logistics sector.
The development, according to the American company, was hooked by the delivery of two bags of IV fluid from a Zipline distribution center in Ghana to a local health facility in the country.
Founded in Rwanda, Zipline has since scaled its services across four continents.
Workers fixing a drone that is ready to take off.
Zipline has raised millions worth of investments from leading companies such as Sequoia Capital, a16z, and Google Ventures.
The company’s chief executive, Keller Rinaudo, attributed the milestone to hit a million deliveries to their commitment to key markets such as healthcare, quick commerce, and food delivery.
“The three areas where the incentive makes the most sense today are health care, quick commerce, and food,” he said, underscoring Zipline’s commitment to partnering with top brands and institutions to transform the future of logistics using autonomous drones.
Zipline currently operates in Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria.
In Rwanda, Zipline delivers 75 per cent of the country’s blood supply outside of Kigali, drastically reducing maternal mortality rates due to postpartum hemorrhage by 88 per cent.
In Kenya, Zipline’s partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation has facilitated the delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment products, empowering individuals to manage their health effectively.
Its coverage in Nigeria encompasses over 500 health facilities in Kaduna, more than 350 in Cross River State, and 200 in Bayelsa.
Zipline has completed over 540,000 drone delivery flights across Ghana, including 3,566,500 units of vaccines, 2,825,210 units of medical products, 14,807 units of blood products, and 18,289 units of animal health products.
“The achievement of the one millionth delivery milestone underscores dedication to enhancing healthcare outcomes and addressing societal needs across Africa,” Rinaudo noted in a press statement.
Zipline continues to innovate and expand its reach, it is poised to shape the future of healthcare delivery on the continent and beyond, the firm said in a statement.
It commenced operations in 2016, following a partnership with the Rwandan Government to commence what was then the first national-scale commercial drone delivery.
This is in line with the country’s ambitions of delivering innovation and technology products and services.
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