Best Project Management Platforms for Dispensaries

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Contributor, Benzinga
July 7, 2022

Project management software can allow dispensaries to become more organized and productive. Consider the main needs of your dispensary when comparing and contrasting the various platforms and software. Certain software offers an emphasis on tools that often assist with regulatory compliance and expedite inventory tracking. When researching the different platforms compare top areas of concern such as the ease of accessing files and scheduling. Keep in mind factors such as the amount of time that each software requires during the learning curve as well as the price points. The correct project management software can improve your dispensary’s organization and efficiency. 

The Best Project Management Platforms for Cannabis Dispensaries

Finding the ideal project management platform for your dispensary often takes time. When researching different options, know which areas your business could stand to gain from improvements. For example, examine the benefits of platforms that excel at automated regulation compliance if you would like additional assistance in meeting certain regulations. Once properly aligned with a company’s needs, a platform has the potential to expedite and ease the stress associated with handling a dispensary. 

Trellis

Trellis specializes in compliance and focuses on a timeline that spans from seed to sale. The software is linked with Metrc which stands for Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance and is used in certain states to help expedite compliance and visibility. Trellis focuses on a wide range of necessary steps within a dispensary such as a report generation, inventory tracking, and cultivation. One benefit of the software is that businesses do not need to pay for each user. A manager has the ability to regulate how much of the company’s files and data each user can access. A specialist from Trellis will visit your location to assist with the onboarding process. The platform ranks highly in customer satisfaction, but the pricing is not easily available. 

Treez

The software by Treez focuses on a wide range of areas such as compliance, metrics, customer service, and point-of-sale. Treez initially began as a point-of-sale software that expanded to meet additional needs. Today, the list of services provided includes assistance with customer support, inventory control, and improved efficiency during the sales process. The software includes helpful tools that take taxes and discounts into consideration when evaluating payment choices. The company offers options for retailers, brands, and partners. A price for the service is not clearly listed and interested individuals are encouraged to get in touch with the company for additional information. 

Greenbits

Greenbits by Dutchie automates compliance and improves inventory tracing. The software provides strong customer support where users have the ability to speak with a member of the customer support team on weekdays and weekends. Overall, the platform focuses on point-of-sale and the ease of automation. Businesses interested in Greenbits are encouraged to reach out through the website for a demonstration. Prices are not clearly stated on the website. 

Meadow

Meadow began in 2014 and has since grown to address the needs of the larger California cannabis industry. The platform provides a variety of tools such as strong point-of-sale, improved compliance, inventory management, and customer support. It is one of the only platforms that openly explains that the pricing of their software occurs on an individual basis. For example, the website explains that a pricing quote happens after a consultation. Meadows explains that it offers options to assist with enterprise, growth, and business essentials. Overall, the platform focuses on combining and examining a business from a more collective perspective which helps to streamline eCommerce and company information. 

The platform called Leaflink prioritizes boosting orders and assists with communication. It includes improved order management, customer relationship management (CRM), and various reporting tools. Leaflink strives to improve eCommerce while easing compliance. The company offers payment flexibility and offers a more centralized account payable in combination with invoice reconciliation. 

Benefits of Using Project Management Software

When properly used, project management software provides multiple benefits that range from clearer scheduling to improved member integration and faster task assignment. Contemplate which benefits would best assist your dispensary to understand what extensive tools would work for your dispensary. 

Better Scheduling: The software improves how dispensaries are able to schedule using helpful built-in tools. Effective scheduling allows a company to more accurately stay on-task and identify important projects that deserve priority. 

Improved Member Integration: Allowing new members to more seamlessly enter a team might require an extensive amount of time and effort. Luckily, project management software can promote an accessible project log and allow dispensaries to better understand how new team members are functioning within the company.

Expedited Task Sharing: Project management software promotes an increasingly streamlined process in terms of task assignment. It allows managers to clearly understand which team members are able to take on extra work by seeing current and future assigned tasks. 

Easier File Access: One key benefit of project management platforms is that they remain focused on improving the access that team members have to necessary information and files. The software often allows managers and leaders to save feedback and changes in an area that other team members can reference. 

Drawbacks of Using Project Management Software

Project management software has the ability to greatly improve the efficiency and financial capabilities of a company. However, an overly complicated or unnecessarily expensive option will likely detract from the main goal of improving the business. 

Price Point: When examining the different project management platforms, keep in mind that the platforms have the potential to become costly. Contemplate which features and tool options are most important to you before deciding on software. Keep in mind that the best software for your dispensary might not be the most expensive. 

Learning Curve: Certain software and programs have the potential to be more complex and time-consuming than others. Think about how much time you can dedicate to learning a new project software before committing to a specific option. 

How to Maximize Your Project Management Platform

Once you have finally decided on a project management platform, examine the main goals of the company, methods of communication, and project timelines. Setting reasonable timelines from the start can help manage expectations and better guard a company against missed deadlines. 

Clear Goals: Strong goals can allow a company to move ahead with a sense of direction and purpose. It’s important to share such goals with the larger team to ensure that all members of the business can share in and understand the main objectives while moving into the foreseeable future. 

Strong Communication: The main tool that can help when working within a project management platform is building clear modes of communication. Consider opening multiple channels of communication to more quickly reach members of your business with updates and key snippets of information. 

Reasonable Timelines: Set reasonable timelines when assigning projects to better avoid burnout. A key way to avoid lowering team morale is to set manageable timelines that members of the dispensary can meet. Consider adding a small buffer of time to projects or new assignments to more effectively plan for time-intensive learning curves. 

Compare Project Management Platforms

Benzinga provides insight and reviews a wide variety of project management platforms. When examining different platforms, consider how current and previous customers rate their overall satisfaction with the platforms in combination with the potential benefits of features such as inventory tracking and improved product delivery. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Before selecting a project management platform for your dispensary, research the competition and compare and contrast the offered features. Consider reading customer reviews of the different software to have a stronger understanding of current and previous customer sentiment.

Q

Can dispensaries use project management systems effectively?

A

The right project management platforms have the ability to improve the overall financial health and efficiency of a dispensary. At first, it might seem difficult to select or locate the exact system that has the best ability to lessen error and effectively track inventory because dispensaries are so different from typical stores. However, point-of-sale software (POS) designed with dispensaries in mind, can improve both function and the bottom line for your dispensary. For example, software and platforms designed with dispensaries in mind to better track inventory, oversee staff shifts, handle store transaction records, and product delivery. Overall, project management systems have the ability to help dispensaries more effectively meet the various regulations and set industry requirements. 

Q

Should my cannabis dispensary focus on projects or sales?

A

In general, a small business such as a dispensary should focus on what has the potential to garner the most success. Successful projects and sales tend to go hand-in-hand. It’s recommended that a dispensary should know and understand their most profitable customers and keep an elevated level of quality for their products. The industry continues to grow which means that dispensaries should focus on improving the quality of products and overall dispensary efficiency in the future.