DTaaS (Drone Training as a Service)

OEM Training for Drone Manufacturers

DTaaS (Drone Training as a Service) is a term coined by the Dharwad (Uttara Karnataka)-based provider Malabar Drones, complementing its DaaS (Drone as a Service) offerings.

As drone culture rapidly gains momentum in India, especially with government support in agriculture and security sectors, and the gradual introduction of services like videography, firefighting, and cleaning - drone companies are vying for public attention.

With a focus on revitalizing 'Agri' culture back in India, Malabar Drones aims to elevate drone manufacturers (D-Mfr) and enthusiasts by managing drone operations in an organized and sustainable manner, benefiting both manufacturers and customers.

DTaaS is not limited to the agricultural sector; it is in fact sector-agnostic, adaptable to any segment within the drone ecosystem.

What problem does DTaaS solve:

1. Inadequate knowledge transfer: The primary issue with current OEM trainings, as personally experienced by the author, is that the one or two-day sessions organized by D-Mfr are often cumbersome for customers. Whether it's the demo locations or the lengthy, often outdated videos and presentations, these trainings tend to be rushed, leaving customers focused only on the features that seem most critical at the moment. This is particularly true for B2C customers.
   
   Once back in the field, real-world scenarios reveal various issues, leading to increased calls to customer support and trainers. Given the Indian context and the largely non-AI or non-web savvy customer base, it is essential to minimize automation.
   
   DTaaS addresses this challenge by providing closer support right when a drone is first used in the real-world scenario it was purchased for.

   
   

2. Hidden features: There are always 'hidden' treasures in terms of how to use features that may not be documented to prevent misuse or incorrect usage. This is where Malabar Drones personnel come in handy. They assess special scenarios requiring specific features and communicate this based on their understanding of the customer's needs at their location.
   

3. Fluctuating training and support need: The internal training staff at the D-Mfr's office is effective for B2B sales, where each training session serves multiple participants. However, for B2C customers, who often come from various locations, online OEM training or visits to the D-Mfr's site can become cumbersome and lead to fatigue from repetitive demos at the same location.
   
   Malabar Drones aims to address this by providing training at the customer's location, ensuring all features and techniques are thoroughly explained. This approach reduces the cost of idle resources caused by uneven training slots due to fluctuating and seasonal sales.
   

4. Flat sales and brand recall: I encountered this firsthand during an agricultural spraying project in Gangavathi, a small town near Bellary. The owner, a farming service provider equipped with a tiller, tractor, and seeder machine, was particularly interested in how my drone operated and the associated service costs. By the end of the project, he expressed interest in purchasing a drone himself.
   
   Rather than being just a vendor or partner for a D-Mfr, where sales are the priority, we at Malabar Drones believe a personalized approach resonates more in this increasingly competitive market. Leads are more likely to convert when approached with personalized support.
   
   Malabar Drones achieves this through DTaaS by transforming OEM training into a full-fledged community event, thereby clearly communicating the D-Mfr's intent to both the immediate customer and potential future customers.
   

5. Data for Ai and for product feature improvement: Malabar Drones was born out of a need to organize and assist both sides of the drone product ecosystem and the enthusiasts alike. It aims to bring together a blend of software experts and the drone piloting community to serve India's agriculture, security, social, and logistics needs. This combination ensures a deeper understanding of the data identified by D-Mfrs, helping them improve their products and better understand their clientele and operating conditions.
   
   Having witnessed the 'spray and encash' culture prevalent among some drone service vendors, Malabar Drones is committed to taking a different approach. Our goal is to ensure that D-Mfrs gain valuable data from every customer we serve and therein improve their product offerings.
   

6. Severely fragmented market: The drone market in India is expected to grow from $654 million in 2024 to $1,437 million by 2029. The agricultural drone market is expected to grow from $145.4 million to $631.4 million by 2030. The drone service market is expected to grow from $130.4 million in 2020 to $4,918.9 million by 2030. The Growth drivers contributing to this majorly are the e-commerce boom, infrastructure development, and policy reforms in the agri sector are driving the use of drones. The government's initiatives like the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and Drone Rules, 2021 are promoting local drone manufacturing.
   
   There is a scramble between numerous D-Mfrs to grab a share of the market. By positioning DTaaS in your plans, its is convenient to increase your presence across pan India. Bridge the North-South-East-West divide!

How it works

In its simplest form, Malabar Drones, through DTaaS, aims to manage some of the D-Mfr's training capabilities and bring them closer to the customer's location. This includes an extended period of product familiarization, supplemented with additional features during a three-day or week-long event.