Henry Schein announced Jan. 29 that it has partnered with UPS to explore drone deliveries.
The two companies will test unmanned aerial vehicles for business-to-business functions. Henry Schein will begin testing the drone delivery service some time this year, with focus on exploring the transport of essential healthcare products to customers.
UPS Flight Forward has oversight from the Federal Aviation Administration. Working with Henry Schein, the two will explore the possibilities of delivering products to health campuses, remote communities or temporarily inaccessible areas.
"Our customers rely on us to provide an exceptional experience with the ultimate goal of providing patients quality care," said Gerry Benjamin, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Henry Schein. "As we scale our current capabilities, we are exploring new solutions to address the unique logistics challenges in healthcare. We are pleased to work with our long-time healthcare partners at UPS to advance the exciting capabilities that drones offer to shorten the time and distance between essential medical supplies and patient care."