According to research, drone delivery is significantly superior to other modes of transport in terms of cost and speed when conventional transport routes are challenging. The greatest benefits of cargo drones are achieved over the long distances typical of sparsely populated areas. ^{1, 2}

Research findings are also supported by practical experience. The system is most effective outside urban centres, as deliveries in urban areas can often be handled more easily by, for example, bicycle couriers. As routes become more difficult and distances increase, the advantages of drones become increasingly apparent.

Lentola’s delivery system can provide at least the following benefits:

1. Delivery costs are cut in half.
An autonomously flying drone does not require a driver, dramatically reducing labour costs. A lightweight, electrically powered delivery drone consumes only a fraction of the energy required by a car or van weighing several tonnes, whether powered by an internal combustion engine or electricity.

2. Delivery-related emissions are reduced by 70–95%.
Vans and boats weigh hundreds of times more than the small packages they carry. A cargo drone weighs only a fraction as much, meaning considerably less energy is needed to transport the same goods.

3. Deliveries can be completed within minutes of an order being placed.
With cargo drones, there is no need to consolidate orders or optimise delivery routes. Instead, an order can be delivered immediately. Drones are unaffected by winding, poorly maintained or slippery roads. They fly directly to their destination over bodies of water and forests, without being held up by traffic congestion or traffic lights.

A cargo drone operating from a single fixed location can serve a considerable area. The size of the service area depends on the drone’s operational range, which is influenced primarily by weather conditions and the relationship between battery capacity and payload weight (the weight budget). To provide reliable and equitable service throughout the year across the entire area, the operational range must be calculated based on the most demanding winter icing conditions and the heaviest payload. This is also the safest approach, as every delivery is different, and a route could otherwise inadvertently be planned to exceed the drone’s available battery endurance.

When cargo drones are operated in cold conditions, a safe operational range of approximately 15–20 km can be guaranteed with a full payload. However, this range can be almost doubled when the drone is used to carry very light cargo, such as a package of medication, under optimal conditions. The maximum range can therefore reach 60–80 km.