Drone company The Sky Guys enters US market with new partnership
Oakville, ON-based The Sky Guys, a leading unmanned aerial systems firm, has partnered with US drone consultancy DataWing Global. By partnering, the two will be able to bring more extensive aerial data and consulting services to a wider North American market – unlocking greater value for clients ranging from utilities and oil & gas to agriculture and the public sector.
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), colloquially known as drones, have in recent years expanded beyond their military origins to unlock a wide swath of commercial applications. Currently, the most mature application of drone technology is as a platform for surveillance, photos, and videos. Agribusiness is already using drones to monitor crops and collect soil data. Meanwhile, insurance companies have started employing drones to inspect damaged assets. Perhaps the most headline-grabbing commercial drone application is Amazon’s pilot project into drone delivery – which threatens to completely upend the way packages are delivered in the future.
According to a 2017 McKinsey report, the value of drone activity in the US has risen from $40 million in 2012 to about $1 billion in 2017. The consulting firm projects commercial drones, including corporate and consumer applications, to account for between $31 and $46 billion of US GDP by 2026.
Though tech giants like Amazon have been grabbing drone headlines, it’s actually startups that have been driving activity thus far, with 300 entering the nascent industry since 2000. UAS startups typically focus on hardware, support services, and operations, according to McKinsey.
One such startup is Canadian UAS firm Sky Guys, which was founded 3 years ago and has offices in Oakville, ON and Vancouver, BC. The company provides global clients with drone-related solutions and technology which helps them better capture, analyze, and report data for deep business insights. The firm also develops proprietary drone technology and data analytics; their DX-3 fixed wing UAS has a range of over 1500km, and can carry multiple payload sensors to fulfil tasks like oil and gas pipeline monitoring, power and utility corridor mapping, security, and emergency response efforts.
The Sky Guys are one of the Top 20 Drone Operators Globally according to Drone Industry Insights, as well as the no. 1 drone operator in Canada for inspections, surveying, and mapping.
Now, the Oakville-based firm has entered into a partnership with San Antonio-based DataWing Global in order to provide aerial data solutions for clients across numerous sectors in North America. DataWing Global works in over 30 US States, and has a fleet of 500+ UAS pilots and Cessna planes. The firm, which has additional offices in Houston and Dallas, offers powerful data analytics, reporting, and consulting services.
"Aerial data can help businesses save a lot of time and money," commented Adam Sax, President & CEO of The Sky Guys. With the UAS industry in an early phase of consolidation, Sax believes that "this partnership allows The Sky Guys and DataWing Global to share expertise and provide more compelling value proposition in an evolving marketplace.”
As partners, the two UAS firms will be able to expand their offerings to meet clients’ rapidly evolving demands. Together, the companies will provide UAS solutions to a broader market, with clients across energy, insurance, government, and construction, among others.
"This has been a tremendous year for drone technology adoption in many industries," stated Steven Fargo, CEO of DataWing Global. "Whether companies choose to insource or outsource, DataWing has helped them prepare for long-term success. Working alongside the Sky Guys will allow us to leverage both companies’ experience to reach further into market verticals and offer additional value to forward-thinking clients."
