Perhaps one of the best ways to gain an edge over the competition is to find ways to improve cultivation. Cultivation entails tracking every aspect that affects the cannabis growing process, from the weather down to the nutrients in the soil, and then analyzing the resulting plant data to make improvements to your cannabis cultivation management process.

Obviously, this is no easy undertaking, and choosing to manage your cultivation manually can be extremely tedious and time-consuming. Not only that, it leaves your cannabis operation vulnerable to human error and possible compliance issues. For that reason, many cannabis manufacturing companies are turning to cannabis ERP software that has built-in features that allow companies to track and manage the cultivation process down to the minutest detail.

In this article, we will explore some of the challenges faced by cannabis manufacturers and how enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can help address those issues, particularly when it comes to growing cannabis.

The Challenges of Cannabis Cultivation Management

As anyone who’s ever cultivated legal cannabis before can attest—it’s a sensitive plant. The type of climate, the amount of sunlight, and the right kind of nutrients must be carefully balanced to produce a high-yield crop of high-quality cannabis.

But how do you know what the perfect balance is? And what do you do if you’re dealing with multiple cannabis strains and staggered harvests from several suppliers (possibly in different states)? Just staying compliant and keeping up with all the data can be exhausting enough; forget about analyzing it and implementing new strategies.

By not utilizing that data to track the ideal conditions for the growth of the cannabis plant, however—adjusting light cycles, harvesting techniques, moisture content, and nutrient application—companies with a cannabis manufacturing license are doing themselves a great disservice, letting money go to waste and allowing their peers to get a leg up in this highly competitive industry.

The Benefits of ERP Software for Cannabis Manufacturing Companies

When you’re in the business of cannabis product manufacturing and working with multiple suppliers, investing in software to manage the growth process from seed to sale and handle the enormous amounts of data is essential. Even better is when you can pair that with cannabis-specific ERP tracking software with built-in cultivation management tools that give manufacturers access to real-time data and analytics.

Here’s a look at some of the benefits of utilizing cannabis ERP software to manage the cultivation process:

• Improve plant quality – By tracking and analyzing the growing process, you can more consistently produce higher-quality cannabis
• Harvest more raw material – In the same vein, you’ll also be able to increase crop yields
• Avoid overspending during cultivation – Calculating the exact volume of nutrients and fertilizer needed, for instance, cuts down on supplemental expenses, while precisely managing energy consumption can lessen utility bills.
• Data collection for traceability initiatives – This comes in especially handy for later production processes like product labeling and packaging.
• Full integration with legal compliance systems – The major benefit of choosing a cannabis-specific ERP platform over general manufacturing software for cannabis cultivation management is that it integrates seed-to-sale technology for total traceability, allowing the detailed crop data to be used both for profit purposes and to validate compliance with state cannabis laws.  

Optimizing Cultivation Management With 365 Cannabis ERP Software

No matter what types of cannabis manufacturing licenses you may possess, if you’re searching for cannabis grow software that can do it all, from managing plants to processes to people, 365 Cannabis has a module-based system that takes the guesswork out of cultivation and includes full-batch tracking management to give you a bird’s eye view over your entire operation.  

With 365 Cannabis ERP software, your cannabis product manufacturing company can: 

• Optimize Performance – Reduce plant waste, increase cannabis crop yield, and manage your team’s workload in one system
• Forecast More Effectively – Recording the granular details on the growth of every plant and strain allows for more precise planning
• Work In Progress (WIP) – Manage cultivation costs while materials are still in the cultivation process
• Scale with Confidence – When you can accurately predict the effects of operational changes, you can scale your cannabis business with certainty.

365 Cannabis knows that there’s nothing simple about managing successful growth. That’s why we’ve designed our cannabis ERP software with all the tools that you’ll need to track your cannabis products from seed to sale. Visit our website for more information, or request a demo today!

The post The Importance of Cultivation Management in Cannabis Product Manufacturing appeared first on 365 Cannabis.

Brand Building through Partnerships 

As stated, 2023 is declared “the Year of Partnerships” not only by Billingsley, but also within cannabis outlets such as Cannabis Business Times (CBT). CBT predicts a “greater emphasis on co-manufacturers and distributors”, calling out “the opportunity to partner with other brands that the co-manufacturer makes, or the distributor sells, to have multi-manufacturer promotions and events as you are part of a House of Brand concept”. Developing built-in partners to easily leverage will deliver the competitive edge that so many operators are seeking.  

Nikolai Erickson, the owner of California’s Full Moon Farms, has stated that “moving into next year, we will look for more added value- more co-branded products with partners who currently have market space” as one of his resolutions in 2023.  

Connecting with other brands to not only grow together but build together will be a key feature in 2023. Billingsley concludes “We’ll expect to see operators across the country focusing on the partnerships that will grow alongside them, and this will show in the ancillary market as time passes.”  

Sustainability  

Certainly, cannabis has been subject to criticism for its lack of sustainability within the highly regulated processes. From packaging to on plant tracking to the energy required to even process and grow plants, there are few areas of opportunity currently for cannabis to invest in more renewable or recyclable resources. Gary Fowler from Forbes recently called out sustainability in his article on Tech Trends for 2023, cites the “stronger push towards the adoption of sustainable energy resources” while recognizing that “the shift to renewable energy will not happen overnight”. On a more personal level, this may translate to fewer fossil fuel-based cars, fewer single-use products in everyday use, and exploring opportunities to integrate renewable energy sources. Within cannabis, this will be inclusive of biodegradable options for product packaging, reusable exit bag initiatives for dispensaries, and energy-efficient measures within production facilities. Within regulation restrictions, some operators have already implemented customer rewards opportunities for using the same exit bag. Jesce Horton, the founder of LOWD in Oregon, has committed to sustainability by looking to launch “refillable glass ‘Howlers’” for guests.  

January 2023 happens to be the two-year anniversary of the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition, a group aptly named for their focus on seeking out and developing sustainability within the cannabis industry. Their blog features incredible resources for operators to reduce their waste and carbon footprint in efforts for a more sustainable future in cannabis.  

Brand Differentiation 

While the industry grows, it naturally finds pockets of oversaturation which drive the need for brand differentiation. Billingsley calls out that “In just one example, across six recreational cannabis markets in 2021 (CA, CO, MI, NV, OR, WA), cannabis gummies accounted 70% of all edibles sales, while all other categories saw their market shares decline”, a data point that is both jarring as it is enlightening. Huckleberry Hills Farms in California aims to differentiate by focusing on education. Owner John Casali states that “the goal for season 2023 is to continue to educate the consumers that ‘knowing your farmer’ is more important than how much THC something has on the label”. The emphasis on truly understanding the quality of what a user is consuming, as well as other factors outside of THC, will drive a stronger user base. Determining a brand’s core value and using that to drive their differentiating factor will be key in ensuring brand longevity.  

2023 is the year of growth and approaching stabilization in the industry. The above factors, as well as the impending legal reform, reiterates that “the coming year will further reinforce that cannabis reform is no longer just a Democratic issue”, per Billingsley. She reminds us that “2022 saw the introduction of Rep. Nancy Mace’s MORE Act, a fully Republican authored and co-sponsored cannabis reform bill which has been described as one of, if not the most, comprehensive cannabis legislation to be introduced”. Political figures like Gary Chambers who ran for the Louisiana Senator role in 2022 have also featured cannabis reform as a major element of his campaign. While Chambers was unable to unseat Republican Sen. John Kennedy during the 2022 primary, his contribution to the cannabis conversation is solidified with his campaign ad featuring him smoking a blunt. When Chambers shared the ad on his social pages, he included the commentary “I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology”.  

We are optimistic and look forward to growth in 2023. To stay up to date with cannabis industry news and progress, sign up for our newsletter below. To connect with our team to see how 365 Cannabis can ensure your operation stays on the cutting edge in 2023 and beyond, click here for a free personalized demonstration.  

The post Top Three Trend Predictions for 2023 appeared first on 365 Cannabis.

New operators have the benefit of a clean slate, and while that may be daunting it is truly leveraged to make the right decisions now rather than having to make them after mistakes, closures, or any other issues that may arise. We appreciate new operators who are looking to build not just one element of a cannabis business but are looking at the future and are developing a larger business enterprise within the cannabis industry. This means identifying partners who are looking to develop vertically integrated operations across multiple states. For new operators, we always suggest exploring an ERP solution first to implement it across multiple teams across the organization. ERP solutions tie in multiple business functions into a singular platform with a single account manager support system for all operations. Building a successful business begins with finance and reporting and then expands into retail POS, distribution, cultivation, and manufacturing processes. From there, additional functionality and data points can be identified to best be leveraged by the business operator to achieve their goals.  

ERP solutions with add-on modules leave room for growth, both immediate and long-term. The cannabis industry is in a unique place as of now with some of the first wave of operators falling off and leaving room for more seasoned mainstream business operators to establish their own cannabis group. A major takeaway from mainstream retailers is, of course, relying on an ERP to truly align their enterprise across all operational touchpoints. This step has certainly been skipped by some operators and now as the industry shifts, they are being left behind scrambling between multiple platforms to accomplish simple processes that would have been seamless with an ERP.  

The correct ERP solution is excellent for beginning a new business but can also support operators who are making the shift from a platform they have outgrown into a platform that can sustain their growth.  Even if a current operator is utilizing a current POS system that they are satisfied with, there will always be new ventures to explore and new verticals to integrate into a cannabis program. Through the pandemic, the industry unexpectedly was forced to pivot to utilizing curbside click and collect as well as home delivery to sustain their business. Currently, the industry is exploring opportunities in the consumption lounge vertical and in the coming years more and more verticals are sure to be integrated. ERP systems that are rooted in not only integrating all current processes but also integrating future processes for ensured growth are a surefire way to sustain success in a shaky industry.  

The core value of an ERP system, such as 365 Cannabis, is integrated functionality built for success today and accommodating enterprises for tomorrow. ERP systems have been trusted by mainstream business for decades and this practice will only translate to future success and growth for any operator. ERP solutions are the right software to invest in- and we offer free demonstrations of how we can integrate all operations into one simple subscription. Click here to request a demo and connect with a live ERP expert today.  

The post Start With The Right Software appeared first on 365 Cannabis.

Review Current Subscriptions 

Consistent with personal finance, regular accounting audits prevent irregularities and identify truly useful platforms being utilized. Not only should all budget line items be reviewed for efficiency and accuracy, but those recurring expenses should also be reviewed for capabilities. It may be possible to consolidate subscribed services by evaluating the capabilities of your current partners. Within a true ERP platform, for example, while it may function primarily as a POS system it may also create streamlined functionality for finance and accounting teams. By either reviewing the original agreement or connecting with the account manager to confirm your account’s capabilities and potential capabilities, there may be several opportunities to consolidate services into fewer platforms and save spend on multiple open accounts.  

Update SOPs for 2023 

Certainly all organizations have some sort of playbook or library of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to drive uniform processes and ensure quality at every step- Q1 is a perfect time to review those and prepare for the rest of the year and beyond. While some organizations develop SOPs as needed and move forward, not all take the time to review those processes and ensure they are as optimized as possible. Breaking SOPs out by department and having those department leads review their SOPs with their team in the first quarter of the year not only verifies the teams are operating to company standards, but also provides an opportunity for training (or, in some cases, retraining) as well as opens the conversation to reducing bottleneck within regular company efforts. Perhaps a purchasing manager may find additional reports to run to better inform their purchasing patterns throughout the year as a result of reviewing their SOPs or a cultivator determines a more opportune way to utilize labor for effective plant processing. Regardless, the beginning of 2023 is an incredible time to ensure all teams are running at their best and collaborate internally to drive productivity every day.  

Identify Areas of Opportunity and Data Needed for Stakeholders 

Naturally, the end of the year is a time of reflection and when running a business, it is a great time to look back at areas of opportunity that were met in 2022 and how those problems could be better solved. For many in the last few years, supply chain and labor have been difficult areas to find a standardized rhythm for and that area of opportunity has overshadowed other business practices that could be maximized. As end of year reporting is developed, digging deeper into what did not work is as impactful as digging deeper into what did not work in 2022. With areas such as perhaps labor spend, marketing efforts, or identifying key demographics to target the next step is inevitably identifying how to track the progress of these new focuses. With key factors to focus on called out across departments, ensuring a data-driven way to create KPIs around those goals is as important as identifying the goals. Exploring data platforms and ensuring regular reporting is set up to track progress is a useful effort for 2023. Not only will this data ensure that the executing parties have clear goals in mind, but this will also be a tool for stakeholders to track exactly how much progress is being made and how the team is remedying the areas of opportunity.  

Confirm Cannabis Goals in 2023 

As we have confirmed, the landscape of cannabis is constantly changing and reviewing upcoming legislature and political progress in the cannabis industry is required reading for all cannabis operators. Presumably, dedicated cannabis operators are already tuned in to key newsletters and outlets that report on cannabis industry news but are you tracking your region specifically to plan short- and long-term goals? Nevada operators, for example, are beginning the process of developing consumption lounges- many of which will be through vertically integrated operations. While this is one of the more recent industry updates, many states are sure to follow. Identifying what legislative changes may be in progress in 2023 and beyond will ensure your team is ready to tackle these opportunities as they present themselves. Staying in tune with other markets and what is successful drives key learnings to your region(s) for your future success as well.  

Certainly there are many ways to maximize efforts and efficiencies in 2023, but the topics we discussed are key areas we like to look at as we discuss future growth. 365 Cannabis is a fully formatted ERP platform dedicated to growth and success in the cannabis industry with a full suite of business functions to remove bottlenecks and drive efficiencies.  

To connect with the 365 Cannabis team to explore how an ERP platform can deliver high quality, tailored results for your organization to grow, click here for a demo.  

To explore the modules available on the platform that can be naturally integrated to your organization’s functionality, click here.  

The post Four Ways to Prepare for Success in 2023 appeared first on 365 Cannabis.

While this year’s MJBizCon seemed to be heavily on the packaging and processing side with countless hardware brands, our software brand was proud to be amongst those who brought a booth to BizCon. Another trend we spotted was the ever-increasing presence of international attendees and presenters. 2022 marked the eleventh year of MJBizCon and every year we do see a wider reach of the iconic trade show as well as a more and more diverse group of attendees. While the focus is certainly on the United States’ cannabis market, it is encouraging to see the inspiration our industry has spread throughout the world.  

We would love to thank everyone we spoke to at the booth- it was an absolute pleasure to create new connections, rekindle old partnerships, and support the overall future growth of our great industry.  

If you missed us at the show, no worries at all! You can catch up with us right here by setting up a live demo of our compliance-based software built not only to last, but to grow. We look forward to connecting with you soon.  

The post 365 Cannabis MJBizCon 2022 Recap appeared first on 365 Cannabis.

Staying Plugged In 

While it may seem standardized, some POS systems don’t play well with others. POS systems have to go beyond the transaction and be a living entity that works well with other platforms. Directory or menu pages like iHeartJane, Leafly, Weedmaps and more have become absolutely essential to building your brand’s SEO, awareness, and driving that final sale. To elevate that thought, being able to connect to delivery or click and collect partners drives a clear CTA to close the sale to your customers. These can easily be added with API integrations and these platforms are built to be user-friendly, making them a key partner in your sales strategy today.  

Solution-Based Software 

The key to getting yourself set up for tomorrow is partnering with a program that can check every box you have, and that means thinking outside the POS box. ERP-based solutions provide exactly that- Enterprise Resource Planning (a.k.a., ERP) for every touchpoint of your business. While many POS providers certainly include API integrations with other services like marketing or menu partners, ERP goes beyond that to also service teams like finance, supply chain, distribution, and all process management. Some POS systems may have additional features, but a comprehensive suite of products that make everything so easy to integrate across all teams drives streamlining process and driving progress.  

Avoid Expensive Errors 

One of the largest pain points of cannabis is compliance. Unlike nearly any other industry, cannabis is tracked literally from seed to sale and with that comes an incredible amount of specific steps, paperwork, regulations, and more to follow for fear of facing fines. Specific regulations vary by element of the industry (I.e., cultivation, retail, distribution, etc.), by state, by county, sometimes even by city which makes the rules difficult to track. It’s become commonplace for operators to appoint compliance officers specifically to ensure that all business procedures are done with compliance in mind, sometimes even appointing a person or small team dedicated to just single pillars of the business. While these compliance minded companies are absolutely doing their best to play it safe and avoid fines or losing licensing due to errors, there are ways to lighten the mental load of risking falling out of compliance. ERP solutions that have compliance-minded safeguards built in are a low risk way to operate with peace in mind. When exploring software solutions, be sure to ask if the provider has compliance software built in to ensure they can trust their processes are all compliant. Investing in software that keeps you safe is worth its weight in gold (or at least, really justifies that implementation time).  

Software is absolutely essential to your business, and so is making sure that software is working as hard as you and your team are. We kept all of these in mind as we built 365 Cannabis, a comprehensive ERP software built for cannabis operators today who will be running cannabis empires tomorrow. If you’d like to learn more about how 365 Cannabis can help you year after year, click here to get started.  

The post Three Things to Look for When Selecting Cannabis Software appeared first on 365 Cannabis.

Unlike other retail, cannabis has never had to evolve into the age of computers- it was born into it. As the regulated market began to expand in recent memory it has always been reliant on digital resources to ensure efficiencies for medicated product tracking. While some platforms have certainly fallen by the wayside, others have emerged as industry leaders for cannabis and compliance. Leaders in the ERP-specific technology space have certainly solidified their hold on the market by drilling down on efficiencies to directly drive growth. A reliable platform to streamline all business processes while managing the delicate balance of cannabis regulatory limits ensures an operator’s future in the space and encourages growth.  

When an MSO aligns all platforms into one ERP it creates a web of efficiency that trickles through all different teams who rely on compliance and regulatory software. Immediately, finance teams are able to better manage purchasing, processes, POs, and communications across the board. As cannabis is an expensive business not only to start but to maintain, aligning finance tracking and goals is a high priority. 

Following finance efficiencies across the board, compliance becomes the key component as discussed that relieves risk of penalization. With varying restrictions in all markets, sometimes down to the city level, supporting a compliance officer with compliance-focused software eliminates headache and risk. Seasoned ERP platforms such as 365 Cannabis have spent years in the field to ensure they only allow for regulatory moves to take place and create roadblocks when activities out of compliance are attempted. The extra work on the ERP end creates more than peace of mind for the operator- it builds a positive business reputation in the space. Establishing an operator as a leader in the industry with a clean record builds positive press and overall brand affinity for both the B2C and B2B sides.  

Another area of opportunity for MSOs in managing uniform experiences across locations. While of course there are natural cultural differences going state to state in cannabis retail, streamlining service training keeps labor down and standards up. By utilizing an ERP that is compatible with all relevant markets and developing internal processes with a singular platform (with minor regional tweaks, of course), onboarding is streamlined, employees are able to support additional markets with ease, and troubleshooting is minimized to only having to pertain to one platform. Regional Directors are empowered to support stores in any region with ease and developing internal SOP documentation is accessible and achievable.  

While branching into the MSO category of cannabis operators there are certainly risks and challenges pertaining to that specific kind of growth, partnering with the right platform is the key to setting yourself up for success. To start aligning MSO operations to an ERP solution that creates efficiencies, reduces risks, and looks forward to growing with you, request a demo here.  

The post MSO Woes- Digital Transformation Driving Efficiencies appeared first on 365 Cannabis.

For more information on the conference and to register, please visit the MJBizCon website. 

To learn more about 365 Cannabis prior to the show or to schedule a demo if you aren’t attending MJBizCon, please click here.  

For those of you attending MJBizCon, we will see you in Las Vegas!  

The post 365 Cannabis Will Attend MJBizCon 2022 appeared first on 365 Cannabis.

365 Cannabis and other ERP and MRP systems reduce redundancy, expedite processes, and remove opportunity to fall out of compliance. Now that the cannabis industry is beginning to stabilize and brand affinity is booming, cultivators and retailers and everyone in between has the opportunity to solidify their spot in the landscape of their local cannabis market.  

A major pain point for cannabis groups is ensuring compliance across the board for all teams involved. From cultivation to intake to extraction processing to retail sales. At every single step of working with medicated cannabis product, there are opportunities to mess up so monumentally the entire business license may get revoked. Not to add to the current spooky season, but those are some seriously scary stakes. With the industry shaking out brands and groups that weren’t cut out to last, ensuring that your business’s future is rock solid is more important than ever.  

With the correct ERP in place, POS systems accurately track all movement of medicated product and a seasoned system that has already endured growing pains reduces the risk of system failures, discrepancies, or even systems going dark for periods of time. A major risk factor with system groups that are not as established or are running on different servers is that if one goes down, it may create a major roadblock for all aspects of business. Without a working POS system, without being able to connect to METRC, with just the failure of one platform, the entire business could collapse or overlook potentially license-losing errors.  

Now that the market has found itself in a more stable place for the foreseeable future, aligning and streamlining all platforms reduces redundancies, eliminates the potential for error, and becomes a labor saving opportunity. ERP and MRP solutions reduce risk and empower teams to focus on building their brand authority and earning loyal customers. For a market that is finally finding its’ footing, solutions that eliminate redundancies and put a halt to hazards are worth their weight in green and gold.  

The post How ERP & MRP Drive Growth in a Stable Market appeared first on 365 Cannabis.

The new integration offers cannabis companies increased functionality and optimization providing complete end-to-end operation, compliance, and risk management platform. This bundling offers an end-to-end risk management and compliance platform for the global cannabis sector, combining two of the best solutions in the market via seamless integration.

Powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, 365 Cannabis delivers an ERP solution specifically tailored to the challenges and requirements of the cannabis industry. Integrating with best-in-class, cannabis-specific solutions, like C15 eQMS 365 Cannabis provides the most robust ERP on the market.

“365 Cannabis is the industry leading ERP software and through partnerships, such as the one with C15 we are able to provide an unparalleled bundled software solution with quality management and compliance across the entire supply chain.”

Michael Kiehn, Chief Revenue Officer at 365 Cannabis

C15 is considered the number one eQMS for the global cannabis space. Offering quality event management, configurable workflows, robust audit trails, asset management, and customizable dashboards and reports, C15 is transforming quality and compliance in the global cannabis sector.

“Quality management and compliance are the top priorities for cannabis, producers, brands, cultivators and processors. C15’s partnerships with leading software providers, like 365 Cannabis, merges critical functionality and data seamlessly in one source of truth.”

Sean Samuel, VP of Sales and Marketing at C15

Together, 365 Cannabis and C15 are revolutionizing the cannabis technology space with a similar dedicated customer focus, unparalleled service levels and when bundled and integrated it allows our joint customer base to be “best in quality class”.

To learn more about C15 visit c15solutions.com, and to learn more about 365 Cannabis, visit 365cannabis.com.

ABOUT CANNABIS 365
Developed by the NAV People Inc., 365 Cannabis is an ERP software solution for the legal marijuana industry. The innovative technology is one of the top end-to-end cannabis solutions on the market seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365. The software is tailored to the challenges and requirements of the cannabis industry under one system.
365 Cannabis is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, E Bridger Avenue, Suite 400.
Visit 365cannabis.com, call 1-888-609-6766, or email info@365vertical.com.

ABOUT C15 SOLUTIONS, INC.
C15 is the technology partner for Veeva Systems, Inc. (www.veeva.com) C15eQMS is the Veeva Vault QualityOne platform used by more than 650 + of the world’s leading science and consumer packaged goods companies.
C15 is the leading globally accepted, by regulators, solution for having GPP and GMP control over the production processes, quality events and continuous training required by all jurisdictions. Full language support in more than 100 countries and a roadmap that delivers three upgrades per year from Veeva Systems and more than 1 per month from C15.
Visit c15solutions.com, call 1-416-899-3406, or email info@c15solutions.com.

The post 365 Cannabis and C15 Solutions, Inc. (“C15”) Expand ERP Functionality with eQuality Management and Compliance appeared first on 365 Cannabis.