Barclays Says Robots and Drones Could Cut Delivery Costs to $1

Delivery platforms such as DoorDash have long relied on human workers for last-mile deliveries, which cost about $5–$7 per order and squeeze profitability. Barclays said deploying ground robots and drones could reduce labor and transportation expenses, making the technology critical to improving platform unit economics and expanding service coverage.

As of July 20, 2026, Barclays’ latest analysis said delivery costs could fall to about $1 per order once automation technology matures, a reduction of $4–$6 from current levels. If platforms such as DoorDash deploy the technology at scale, their combined annual profits could increase by about $16 billion over the long term.