Written by Tyler Vaughan. With nearly five years of experience in the cannabis industry, Tyler brings a wealth of expertise in automation. His focus lies in preroll production and packaging machinery, where he has honed his skills and deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of automation. As a preroll specialist, Tyler is passionate about sharing his knowledge and serving as a valuable resource for your business.
More than ever, we’re seeing rapid advancements in the cannabis industry. Whether it’s nanoemulsion that allows for higher-potency cannabis beverages or automation equipment that optimizes manufacturing processes, there’s always something new happening.
As technology evolves, we’re seeing automation start to play a role in all steps of the process. From growing cannabis to packaging the final product, the automation equipment available to businesses is making a big difference.
One of the most helpful tools to evaluate the success of these new technologies is data-driven decision-making. Specifically, when it comes to automating processes to start or scale a cannabis business, the proof is in the pudding – or in this case, the numbers.
True leaders of the industry must adopt forward-thinking strategies to stay ahead. Despite the hesitation to dive head-first into artificial intelligence, automation, and other forms of technology that seemingly dehumanize the business, the data shows us that these methods actually lead to a significant improvement in overall business performance.
Embracing data-driven decision-making is key for those who choose to turn to automation. Take a look at some of the most fascinating and successful cannabis automation case studies:
When you think of automation, most people envision an assembly line structure of robots for production. However, you can introduce automated systems into almost any stage of the cannabis seed-to-sale process.
For instance, Rochester Farms in Washington State needed an innovative system to help their crops reach full growth potential. They noticed that they had a suboptimal feed mixture and also wanted to offset the increased manual labor and high margin of error.
They implemented state-of-the-art systems from Climate Control Systems to help with fertigation and irrigation, allowing them to maximize control of the processes through customizable formulas that can be managed and controlled remotely.
With this type of automation, they were able to:
After integrating this automation system, Rochester Farms was able to save 40% on water and fertilizer costs. By adopting automation into the cultivation process, each plant receives ideal conditions, allowing the farm to enhance worker productivity and even sustainability.
Minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency not only enables them to sell more product and increase their bottom line but also to adopt environmentally friendly practices that put them a leg above their competitors.
As demand grows, cultivators that adopt automation – similar to Rochester Farms – can scale operations seamlessly, maintain quality and efficiency, and secure their place as leaders in the industry.
Another area where automation equipment can be leveraged is distribution. With the complex regulatory landscape in the cannabis industry, detailed tracking and inventory management is crucial for businesses.
When done manually, employees may spend hundreds of hours manually entering orders, checking inventory, assigning drivers, and coordinating deliveries. By automating these repetitive tasks, you can significantly speed up your operations and free up labor costs.
There are plenty of vendors that specialize in distribution automation technologies (Blaze, MJ Platform, etc.), enabling distributors and brands to take advantage of automatic order routing, inventory updates, smart dispatch, and more.
The result? Businesses can process more orders with higher accuracy and shorter turnaround times. Not only that, automation ensures you maintain compliance with evolving regulations.
Therefore, by optimizing your distribution operations, you not only improve your market agility but also position yourself as a leader in the industry, able to meet consumer and industry demands.
Dispensaries can also leverage automation to personalize customer experiences based on their buying behavior. Sales and marketing tools such as Flowhub or Pluggi can help to analyze customer data and implement targeted promotions, tailor product recommendations, and optimize inventory purchases to align with consumer preferences.
Adopting such systems can boost sales, increase customer satisfaction, and overall result in unmatched dispensary performance. For example, Wyatt Hahn founder of Pluggi, an AI chatbot tool that provides tailored online product recommendations, estimates that the return on investment for their $200 flat monthly subscription fee is “$4,600 per month per store.”
The success of these various types of automation tools in the retail space shows the potential for automation to revolutionize customer interactions and drive significant revenue growth. Their innovative use of new technology speaks for itself with the transformative impact of personalized marketing in the cannabis industry.
The numbers don’t lie: automation boosts your sales, enhances your market reputation, and drives sustainable growth. Leaders who harness data-driven decision-making through automation are setting the standard for success.
Embracing automation is no longer optional—it’s the future.
Aside from growing, distributing, and retailing, automation can also be implemented in your manufacturing, labeling, and packaging operations. Our cutting-edge pre-roll manufacturing equipment empowers you to start and scale your cannabis product business efficiently, without sacrificing quality.
We’ve helped hundreds of cannabis businesses invest in automation to optimize their operations and elevate customer experiences. We are proud to be the #1 trusted choice for pre-roll automation.
Contact our team today and take the first step towards a more efficient, profitable future in cannabis.