Purpose Drone technology offers transformative gains in supply chain speed, efficiency and reach, yet adoption remains limited. This study explores how technological, organisational and environmental factors collectively influence managers' intentions toward drone adoption. Design/methodology/approach This study investigates the complex interplay between technological, organisational and environmental factors in supply chains through the lens of the Technological–Organisational–Environmental (TOE) framework. Survey data were collected from managers across diverse distribution and supply chain industries in India, yielding 302 valid responses for analysis. Findings The results reveal that technological factors such as trust in technology, relative advantage and compatibility significantly drive intentions to adopt drones, whereas upper management support (UMS) and competitive pressure show no direct effect. Furthermore, trust in technology and relative advantage fully mediate the relationships between UMS or competitive pressure and drone adoption intention. However, compatibility does not mediate the relationship between UMS and adoption intention, but does mediate the relationship between competitive pressure and adoption intention. Research limitations/implications A key theoretical contribution lies in identifying the mediating role of technological factors, specifically trust in technology and relative advantage, in transmitting the effects of UMS and competitive pressure on drone adoption intention. Both constructs mediate the influence of these organisational and environmental drivers, indicating their impact materialises only when drones are perceived as trustworthy and advantageous. Additionally, compatibility fully mediates the effect of competitive pressure but not that of UMS, highlighting nuanced differences in mediation patterns. This layered mechanism enriches the TOE framework by emphasising the differentiated roles of technological attributes and addresses a notable gap related to drone adoption literature. Practical implications This study provides actionable guidance for managers and decision-makers considering drone adoption in distribution and supply chain. The results show that while UMS and competitive pressure are relevant, they are insufficient to drive strong adoption intentions on their own. Greater emphasis must be placed on technological factors, such as trust in drone systems, perceived relative advantage and compatibility with existing operations, which exert both direct and mediating effects on adoption outcomes. Many of the critical challenges in drone implementation stem from these technological dimensions. Originality/value This study's novelty lies in uncovering the mediating role of technological factors in linking organisational and environmental factors to drone adoption in distribution and supply chains.
Kumar et al. (2026) studied this question.