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The 7th annual Global Drone Industry Survey, conducted by Drone Industry Insights, reveals the latest trends shaping the commercial drone industry in 2024. This yearly survey is filled out by nearly one thousand drone companies around the globe, meaning the insights come directly from the drone companies themselves. The latest white paper highlights the widespread adoption of drones worldwide, the increasing importance of safety as a primary driver for their use, and a cautiously optimistic outlook for the industry’s future.
Expanding Global Reach and Diversity
Between May and July 2024, the survey gathered responses from 964 participants across 94 countries—a record in global representation. Despite a slight decrease in total participation from the previous year (2023 had 1,113 participants), this surge in geographical diversity underscores the global reach of the annual survey. Additionally, the concentration of responses from the top 10 countries decreased to 56%, down from 65% in 2023 and 71% in 2022, indicating a more balanced international perspective.
The United States remains the most represented country, followed by India and Spain, reflecting strong engagement from both Asia and Europe. Notably, the top 10 countries now include nations from four of six continents, once again emphasizing the truly global nature of the survey. With partners all around the world (including Women and Drones and Women and Drones Africa), the global representation of the survey will only continue to grow.
Safety Takes Center Stage as Primary Adoption Driver
A standout finding from the 2024 survey is the emergence of safety as the leading reason to adopt drone technology. In previous years of the survey, there was no definitive top reason to use drones. But this year “Improving work safety” was rated as “very important” by 64% of respondents, ranking slightly above “improving work quality”. This shift signifies a growing recognition of drones as essential tools for enhancing workplace safety by performing hazardous tasks efficiently and reducing risks to human workers. Whether in agriculture, construction, energy/utilities or any other industry, drone companies across the globe agree that drones make work safer.
Evolving Industry Challenges
While regulatory hurdles continue to be the foremost challenge —a consistent theme since the survey’s inception in 2018 — there have been notable changes in other areas of concern:
- Client Acquisition Gains Importance: Rising from fifth place in 2023 to the second most significant challenge in 2024, client acquisition reflects the industry’s focus on expanding customer bases and scaling operations. This shift indicates that companies are now prioritizing market growth and competitiveness.
- Domestic Politics Move Up the Agenda: Concerns about domestic political factors climbed from fifth to third place among industry challenges. This trend suggests that companies are increasingly focused on navigating local regulations, policies, and market conditions rather than international dynamics, possibly influenced by numerous national elections occurring globally this year.
- Public Awareness and Acceptance Decline in Priority: Dropping from second to fifth place, public awareness and acceptance appear to be less of a barrier than in previous years. This change may indicate growing public familiarity and comfort with drone technology.
Market Expectations Signal Cautious Optimism
The survey reveals a market expectation score of 6.8 out of 10 for 2024, reflecting a positive outlook tempered with caution. Undoubtedly, this is a good sign for a maturing industry that received a lot of attention during the global pandemic, which led to unrealistic expectations for 2023 that were eventually unfulfilled. In 2024, companies are more cautious about their optimism. In short: industry stakeholders anticipate continued growth without harboring unrealistic expectations.
Regulatory Authorities Remain Key Market Drivers
While regulations often present challenges, they are increasingly viewed as catalysts for market growth, especially as more and more comprehensive rules and standards are implemented globally. This explains why regulatory bodies continue to be the most influential market driver, with 57% of respondents considering them crucial—up from 52% in 2023. Importantly, it’s essential to distinguish between the need for appropriate regulatory frameworks, which provide a framework for safe and effective drone operations, and the process of regulatory approval, which is often slow and complex. Many survey respondents see the former as a market driver and the latter as a hindrance, and understandably so.
More Detailed Insights
In summary, as the drone industry continues to mature and expand globally, companies are shifting their priorities toward client acquisition and operational scaling, with safety at the forefront of adoption drivers. Despite ongoing challenges—particularly in regulation and funding—the overall industry outlook remains positive, with steady growth anticipated in the coming years. For more details and the full insights of the results from this year’s survey, check out the new Global State of Drones White Paper.
