Marty Moran

Connectivity as a Growth Lever: Field Lessons for Scaling Commercial Drone Operations

Marty Moran, CEO, Plum Laboratories, Inc.

Reliable connectivity is the foundation of any operation that depends on real-time data, and it is hardest to guarantee in exactly the environments where it matters most: remote locations, congested networks, and locations with damaged or limited infrastructure. For commercial drone operators, a dependable data link is not a technical detail. It determines which jobs you can take, whether you deliver the live results clients expect, and how reliably you perform when conditions turn difficult.   This session treats connectivity as a business asset. When the link holds, operators win more demanding work and build a reputation for arriving ready. When it falters, missions stall, and revenue follows.   We will ground the discussion in a real-world public safety example in which a local law enforcement agency needed reliable drone connectivity to support operations during a major national event. From that deployment and others like it, we will draw practical lessons on identifying the field conditions that most often break connectivity, building redundancy into data-links and power, and turning dependable performance into a competitive edge.   Attendees leave with a clear view of connectivity as infrastructure worth planning around, and a framework for making it a growth advantage rather than a recurring risk.   Key Takeaways   Proactively identify the field conditions that cause most connectivity failures, including congestion and remote coverage gaps   Build redundancy into data-links and power to protect uptime and revenue   Turn dependable connectivity into a client-facing differentiator that supports higher rates 

Marty Moran is the CEO and co-owner of Plum Laboratories, Inc., where he focuses on solving customer connectivity needs in challenging environments. He brings a practitioner's view of what connectivity failure costs an operation..   Over the past twenty years, Marty has owned businesses spanning manufacturing, technology, consulting, and software. He previously held general management and leadership roles across organizations including Surebridge, Valspar, Andersen Consulting, and McMaster-Carr.   Marty has served in community volunteer roles on boards and committees for local non-profits, community foundations, and economic development organizations, and as a volunteer coach for collegiate swimming programs.