5 Ways Drones Help Entrepreneurs Pitch Winning Business Proposals to Investors
Drones have always been associated with the military. And until recently, we couldn’t imagine these little flying machines anywhere else. However, thanks to technology, companies finally understand the potential of drones and the various ways they can make business easier.
Drones have become quite popular among architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals and for a good reason. UAVs or unmanned aerial vehicles contribute to quicker, safer and far more accurate site survey data than any other traditional land surveying method.
Some AEC companies are now optimising on drone solutions, using them for every stage of their construction process.
Drone mapping for construction sites has now become an integral part of project management for builders. However, these little flying machines can do much more than just on-site record data.
One of the first things that AEC projects need is a business proposal. And drones videography can be used to pitch winning proposals which would impress all your investors.
#1. Stunning Aerial Shots
Investors usually look at the business proposal first to get an idea about the project. Therefore, architects and engineers aim to keep their business proposals as visually attractive and comprehensive as possible.
Including aerial videos or images captured via drones gives you a chance to highlight the best aspects of the projects.
There is something so immersive about aerial shots that stock photography cannot copy. You can use drones to cover marketing campaigns, product launches, press conferences, or any other promotional event for your company.
What’s more, drone footage is also used to generate 3D models and maps. You can create an animated 3D version of the building to give investors a final look at the building once completed.
#2. Collecting Accurate Site Data
There was a time when land surveyors depended on physical site visits and manual site inspections to gather on-site data. This was not only a cumbersome process but also quite prone to human errors.
The more modern-day surveying techniques involved helicopters that would take aerial shots of the site. And while this was better than manual inspections, helicopters were hard to arrange for and quite expensive.
With drones, you can resolve all these issues. Drones can cover hundreds of acres in a couple of hours, and they are lightweight, portable and easy to fly around. What’s more, drones also ensure survey data accuracy and reduce the scope of errors!
You can use these survey insights in your business proposals, creating statistical reports, charts and graphs to explain the project’s progress.
#3. Simplifying Survey Data
Land surveys and inspections can get quite overwhelming, especially for construction projects. On-site engineers and project managers have to watch many factors to ensure that the project is progressing correctly.
And while keeping tabs on all this data is an everyday affair for AEC professionals, the same cannot be said for investors.
Investors don’t understand the statistical reports and numbers like you’d do. You need to simplify these numbers and explain what they mean.
This is where drone videography comes into the picture. Using aerial shots, you can successfully capture the entire site operations.
Create short videos of on-site activities, add brief data information wherever needed, and you have the perfect business proposal!
#4. Highlighting Workplace Security Measures
Drones are also quite effective in making construction safer for workers. The land surveyor can reach hard to reach places via drones, preventing the need for any person to climb high rise places.
Drones are also very small and can fit inside narrow spaces quite easily. Therefore, they are very convenient for inspecting pipelines, underground quarries, underbridges and other such places.
With drone photography and videos, you can highlight your project from multiple angles, giving your investor a transparent report on precisely what is going on at the construction site.
Using drone videography, you can make company profile videos highlighting cases and projects wherein UAVs helped improve worksite security.
It is a smart addition to a business proposal as you suggest security measures used to ensure maximum productivity and minimum risks.
I would recommend companies to invest in good commercial drone insurance schemes. This covers any public claims of damages done by the drone and damages caused to the drone equipment.
There are two major types of drone insurance options. The first one is Public liability insurance that covers any third party damages done by the drone to neighbouring properties. This also includes any injuries or accidents caused by the drone.
Hull Insurance, on the other hand, covers the damages done to the drone and the camera equipment. I would recommend you get both of these insurance options to provide a holistic coverage and protection for your drone.
#5. Drone Mapping & 3D Modelling
The drone footage is transferred to photogrammetry software, where the video is edited and converted into more accessible formats.
Another platform called BIMs, or business information modelling, converts 2D drone images into 3D maps and models.
These 3D models can be used to showcase how the project will look when completed. You don’t necessarily need to have the finished building footage to show your investors the result.
Including 3D models in your brand’s profile and promo videos creates an immersive experience for the user. What’s more, these models are spot-on accurate as of the on-site survey data insights back them.
Investors want to see where their money is going and how much profit they are getting from their investment. A short and straightforward business proposal that uses more visual cues to showcase this will be the most effective.
Which Industries Can Use Drones for Marketing?
Drones are prevalent across all sectors and industries. You can find these little flying machines hovering over construction sites, mines, road construction projects, film sets and even wedding venues!
It is a brilliant idea to include drones in your ad campaigns and promotional events from a marketing standpoint. These events are planned to engage the customer and inform them about any new launches or schemes of the business.
People are still very new to the concept of drones. So, using drones or featuring drones in the aerial shots taken of the event is a good pitch for your business proposal.
In Construction Projects
You can use drones to inspect a site location before you start the building project. And construction sites are not just restricted to buildings. Even architects can use drones for 3D architectural visualisation to create 3D models, renders and virtual tours, which are impressive, easy-to-understand for their clients.
You can use UAVs to capture road construction projects, highways, bridges, flyovers and more.
I recommend you turn to a professional drone surveyor if you don’t have ample experience dealing with drones.
A drone surveyor would usually request a physical site visit before giving you a drone cost estimation for the project.
For Real Estate
Property agents use drones to capture a building’s exteriors and interiors. Yes, special drones can fly inside the buildings and take long sweeping shots of the corridors and the rooms.
This gives the viewer an immersive experience. They feel like they see the building! Drone videography is also used for property surveys and capturing the neighbourhood, giving the investor a holistic idea about the location.
Mining Sites and Quarries
There are special drones with thermal cameras that can capture clear footage of underground mines and quarries.
Drones in mining surveys are used for more than just land inspections. Engineers use drones for asset management, stockpile management, damage detection and more.
You can highlight these aspects in your business proposal to attract more investors to your project.
Residential and Commercial Buildings
Residential and commercial buildings use drones for inspection purposes. Drones are used for facade inspections, checking the interiors of an office space or a restaurant business.
With drones, the surveyor can access hard to reach spaces, high rise areas and even narrow pipelines. It is easier to identify leakages, structural errors and rusting and rectify the issue immediately.
You can feature these projects as part of your business portfolio to attract more clients.
The Bottom Line
Drones have been a real game-changer for the AEC sector, and it is high time you join the bandwagon! Reach out to the drone service operators in your area and use these fantastic flying machines to add the much-needed oomph to your business proposals!
I hope that these pointers will encourage you to include drones in your marketing campaigns and take your business to the skies!
About the Author!
Chris Patchell is the General Manager & Director of Operations at Avian Australia. He is an avid drone enthusiast and loves innovative technologies. Chris is highly motivated and has a very hands-on approach to things and his goal is to create awareness about drone tech in Australian AEC industries.
On his days off, he is often scouting locations for photogrammetry and 3D laser scanning. These days you’ll probably find Chris around the place using his drones and laser scanners to capture and recreate the real world in 3D space.
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