Read the case and answer the three questions Case Feasibility of drone integration as last mile delivery It was during the summer of 2017 when the service manager at Jindal reviewed the company’s cust

1. Feasibility of implementing drones in last-mile delivery From the perspectives of retailing, financial, transportation, and other delivery-dependent aspects, implementing drones in the last-mile delivery for The Topical seems feasible. Drones can address the delivery issue that emerged as the main problem for The Topical's customer retention. Drones can ensure timely delivery of magazines to customers, with a track record by GPS integration. Drones can also reduce the cost of delivery and pose a challenge to The Topical's competitors in the Indian market. The magazine weighs between 0.02 and 0.04 Kg, making it feasible to deliver using drones. However, the economics of last-mile delivery is based on route density and drop size, which drones perform poorly on. The available prototypes of drones usually carry only one package, and after delivery, the drone needs to fly back to get recharged and to pick up the next package. The company also needs to invest in capital to set up the required power stations. Furthermore, The Topical needs to identify and approach a third-party logistics solution with a company that is involved in keeping pace with technological advancements and looking to move forward with drone integration.

Automation can create significant savings for The Topical, but it may also cause challenges to employment. Automation reduces the need for manual labor, which can lower costs for the company. However, it can also result in job losses for workers who perform manual labor. The company needs to assess the impact of automation on its employees and find ways to reskill or redeploy them to minimize job losses.

2. Risks involved with The Topical's implementation of drones in last-mile delivery There are several risks involved with The Topical's implementation of drones in last-mile delivery. First, the company needs to ensure the safety and security of the delivery packages during transit. Delivery packages that are lost, damaged, or intercepted can cause significant losses to the company. Second, the company needs to ensure that the drones are not a threat to air traffic and other public safety concerns. Third, the company needs to comply with the regulations and policies of the government regarding the usage of drones. Fourth, the company needs to assess the cost-effectiveness of implementing drones and whether it is financially feasible. Based on these risks, Sara should carefully evaluate whether the benefits of implementing drones outweigh the risks involved. She should also suggest The Topical wait until the risks are better understood and addressed.

3. Innovative solutions for gaining market share and improving profitability The Topical can adopt several innovative solutions to gain market share and improve profitability. First, the company needs to prioritize customer retention by addressing delivery issues and