Until either the technology improves or the regulations are changed, it will preclude widespread use in infrastructure inspections, search and rescue, and other applications. Anyone contemplating doing business in these areas will need to be ready to quickly change their business model as both technology and regulations evolve.
What are the disruptive DAAS risks on the horizon?
I see two primary drivers at this moment (one positive and the other negative), the very low cost of collecting data for fun and business, and the relative difficulty in using the technology. So what is going to change the DAAS business in the near future?
Labor is expensive and not easily scalable – Each of the three segments of the DAAS model requires trained labor. Whenever labor is involved quality and timeliness become important factors that have to be managed. Further, using contract labor such as an Uber model, only complicates the management challenge. And finally ‘prosumer competition’ (ie hobbyists monetizing their sport), will need to be considered. Businesses should look to integrate the DAAS model into existing processes wherever possible; for example, because a crop scout is going to be onsite anyway, have him/her fly the drone. The ‘interpretation and consultation’ segment is important and investments in people should be focused there. Continued drone technology development will reduce the need for third party data acquisition – Right now the DAAS model makes sense to include data acquisition for two reasons, capital cost of the equipment and difficulty in drone operation. Both of these reasons will go away, SOON. Drone prices are going to follow a classic better, faster, cheaper curve that will make equipment acquisition much cheaper. And soon after, sensors will follow the same trajectory. Drones should be considered commodity “data acquisition devices”.
Our company has been rolling out an “Easy Button” initiative for more than a year in anticipation of reaching a more general business user. It’s now relatively easy to plan and fly a mission, and very soon we will be offering a no-brainer auto-landing capability. 3D Robotics’ new drone, the Solo, has made drone operation and video capture much easier to name just a couple. In the near future, an average user will be able to easily perform the “data acquisition” component of the DAAS model and eliminate the third party operator who has to travel to the destination site and be limited by weather and other conditions.
Post Processing and Analysis will become far more sophisticated
This component of the DAAS model will also undergo significant change. We have only begun to develop applications that let us create actionable information for end users. Look for thousands and thousands of offerings to come to market in the upcoming two to three years. Developing proprietary algorithms will become a key component to the success of the DAAS business model.
Interpretation and consultation will become the cornerstone - Here is where the DAAS model continues to make most sense. Building relationships with your customers, acting in a paid advisory role as a subject matter expert will continue to be valuable.