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The cannabis industry is one of the fastest-moving industries in the world. Even once a business manages to get through the hurdles to get licensed, up, and operating — it’s hard to stay agile when challenged with price compressions, changing regulations, and a shifting workforce. These reasons (and so many more) are why automation is becoming increasingly important in the cannabis extraction industry.

Implementing an automation plan can be daunting! The benefits are compelling enough to keep organizations inspired to make the necessary changes. As the cannabis industry faces more changes to come, the benefits that automation can offer are key.

Automation of processes can help businesses operate more quickly and efficiently.

This allows the production of more in a shorter amount of time, but more importantly it frees up employees to focus on more important tasks. In a time of price compression and market challenges, the increased efficiency and productivity that automation offers can be vital.

Automation helps to create a consistent product.

Branding is important to this new industry, and consistency is vital to building a brand. Automation can help cannabis businesses, especially extract businesses, to maintain a consistent product. Automation can help accurately measure and control the ingredients and other pieces of the process vital to producing your product, your way – every time.

Automation reduces labor costs.

When thinking of reduced labor costs, most people only consider the traditional reduction of manual labor potentially increasing overall profitability. More vitally, automation allows employees to refocus their attention on more meaningful work and quality analysis, making for an overall better product.

Automation increases safety

Automation can help improve safety by reducing the need for workers to handle hazardous materials or dangerous equipment. It also increases product safety by minimizing interactions that might introduce contaminants.

Automation improves compliance and regulatory adherence.

Automating processes can help a cannabis business accurately track and document its production processes, making it easier to comply with regulatory requirements. It can also help by standardizing procedures, which decreases training and onboarding time.

Automation can reduce waste.

Automating processes can help reduce waste – not just physical, but organizational waste as well. Few things allow for a more intense evaluation of SOP’s than undergoing an automation project, and huge efficiencies can be gained by reducing duplicated work or eliminating wasted efforts.

Which processes can Cannabis Businesses Automate?

There’s a huge array of automation possibilities out there, and they are growing every day. In general, automating processes can help a business save time and improve efficiency, accuracy, and safety. The “best processes” of a cannabis business to automate depend on the specific needs and goals of the business.

In a cannabis businesses, some examples of processes that can be automated include:

Paperwork tracking and compliance including employee onboarding, training, and regulatory supporting documentation.

Cannabis plant cultivation support such as watering, harvesting, bucking, etc.

Extraction processes: from bio mass preparation to solvent removal.

Testing and quality control of products.

Filling, Packaging, and labeling finished products.

Tracking inventory and sales

What’s it All Mean?

Automation offers an array of options that can improve the consistency and quality of products, reduce the potential for human error, and increase efficiency and productivity. Automated systems can also help with tasks such as inventory management, packaging, and labeling, allowing businesses to focus on other aspects of their operations. Additionally, automation can help with regulatory compliance by ensuring that products are consistently manufactured according to relevant laws and guidelines. Using automation offers many advantages, and can help businesses reduce labor costs, increase productivity, and improve product consistency and quality. It can also help with compliance and regulatory requirements, such as accurately tracking and documenting the production of cannabis products.

One thing’s for sure – automation isn’t just about timers anymore!