Navigating Drone-Based Ethical Decision Making: A Technoethics Framework for the Responsible Use Of Drone Technology Within The Cold Supply Chain Industry Of South Africa

Abstract

Globally, drones have begun to transform commercial industries and enhance operational efficiency through the enablement of a supplementary mode of delivery. Within South Africa, this technological momentum has emerged as a critical solution to challenges experienced within the cold supply chain industry. This is especially so given the persistent logistical challenges such as delivery delays, product spoilage, and resource constraints. In light of these challenges, and the solutions that drone technology offers, this study contends that as drone technology becomes a viable option within South Africa’s cold supply chain, that it may introduce ethical challenges that have not been fully considered. To this end, this study contends that ethical decision-making must be central to the adoption, integration and application of drones within the commercial operations of the cold supply chain industry of South Africa. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore how key decision-makers within South Africa’s cold supply chain industry can anticipate, evaluate, and navigate the ethical implications of drone adoption. Anchored in a technoethics theoretical framework, the study aims to provide structured guidance for balancing technological innovation with moral responsibility. To achieve this, a two-phase methodology was employed being: (1) a scoping literature review to map key themes and conceptual foundations, and (2), qualitative data collection through semi-structured interviews with senior industry stakeholders involved in strategic and technological decision-making. Furthermore, to enhance the credibility, resonance, and ethical robustness of the analysis, supplementary data was collected through member checking, which allowed selected participants to validate and reflect on the preliminary findings. The findings revealed that while the adoption, integration and application of drones hold clear promise for improving supply chain efficiency, decision-makers remained underprepared to address the ethical dimensions of their deployment. Issues such as privacy, workforce displacement, fairness in market access, and regulatory ambiguity emerges as recurrent concerns. In response to these concerns, the study proposed a technoethics- based ethical decision-making framework to address the pre-adoption phase, operational readiness, and long- term sustainability of drone use within the cold supply chain. The framework is intended to serve as a practical and adaptable tool for organisations seeking to integrate drone technology ethically and responsibly. Against this backdrop, this research contributes to the discourse on responsible innovation, and offers actionable insights for key decision makers operating within the cold supply chain industry that will navigate the future of unmanned systems in logistics.