Finnish Drone Company Is Transforming Last-Mile Logistics

What if the fastest route for getting your groceries was not by road, but by air? A Finnish drone company is already turning that idea into reality.

Lentola Logistics is developing autonomous delivery drones capable of long-distance flights in harsh Nordic conditions. Its goal: to become the first company to offer reliable, year-round drone deliveries in cold climates.

“The weather conditions in the Nordic countries can be very challenging during the winter. You cannot really operate here with just any aircraft,” says CEO Markus Hohenthal.

By designing and manufacturing its own aircraft, Lentola can tailor its drones to specific client needs and optimise them for demanding environments. With a range of from 40-90 kilometres, the drones are built to serve remote areas, transporting small but critical cargo such as groceries, medication and emergency equipment.

The drone, designed by Lentola Logistics, can carry a maximum load of approximately 3,5 kilograms.

Scaling a solution like drone delivery requires more than advanced technology – it demands real-world testing and cross-sector collaboration.

Through the DUT-funded MULTIGINATION project, Lentola is exploring how drone logistics can support sustainable mobility systems and extend the principles of the 15-minute City to areas where traditional transport falls short.

While the 15-minute City aims to ensure access to essential services within a short distance, this is not always feasible in rural or island communities. Here, drones can provide a fast, low-emission alternative.

For Lentola, participation in the project has been a key step in demonstrating its technology in real-life environments while working alongside municipalities, researchers and industry partners across Europe.

“Joining the DUT project has allowed us to demonstrate how the system works and what the possibilities are,” says Hohenthal.

In summer 2025, Lentola carried out pilot deliveries in the Finnish archipelago near Turku, offering a glimpse into how integrated autonomous logistics systems could work in practice.

Residents ordered groceries from a local store, which the drones delivered directly to homes or designated drop-off points, lowering them safely by parachute.

The response was overwhelmingly positive.

“People were curious to see how the system worked, and the feedback we received from customers was very positive,” Hohenthal notes.

The project also conducted Finland’s first-ever drone delivery of a defibrillator. In the trial, a drone transported the device nine kilometres to an island near Tampere, demonstrating the potential for faster emergency response in remote areas.

Sustainable and scalable, but challenges remain

Drone delivery offers clear environmental advantages. For small, lightweight shipments, drones can significantly reduce emissions compared to cars or boats, particularly in difficult-to-reach areas.

Expanding into urban environments introduces additional operational and regulatory challenges that must be addressed before large-scale deployment becomes possible.

One promising way forward is to combine drones with other autonomous technologies, such as the ground robots used in the Naantali pilot. It can help create more efficient and adaptable delivery systems across different environments.

Why SMEs should join transnational R&I projects 

Addressing these challenges and scaling new solutions requires more than technological innovation alone. It depends on strong collaboration across the entire ecosystem. While innovation often starts with SMEs, bringing solutions to market at scale requires partnerships with larger industry players. According to Hohenthal, these collaborations are essential.

“It’s important to involve larger companies in R&I projects as well,” he explains. “They have the capacity to take the solutions that start-ups develop and help bring them to the market at scale.”

Transnational research and innovation projects, such as those funded by DUT, play a key role in enabling this collaboration. They give SMEs the opportunity to test solutions in real-world environments, work with international partners, and gain visibility across European markets.

“Our hope is that partners from other European countries will see our system and explore how it could work in their regions,” Hohenthal adds.

Preparing for take-off

Following successful pilots, Lentola is now preparing to launch year-round drone delivery services in Finland. What once sounded futuristic is quickly becoming reality. From groceries to life-saving equipment, drone deliveries could soon become a normal part of everyday life.

Lentola’s drone delivery system will be available for purchase within a few weeks.

Curious to learn more about Lentola? Visit their website.