The legal cannabis market is exploding.
But…
Margins are tight. Labor costs continue to rise, and competition grows every day. If cannabis businesses don’t invest in the right tech…keeping up with demand while maintaining quality becomes nearly impossible.
Fortunately for cultivators and dispensaries alike…
Automation is here.
Cannabis automation technology solutions are streamlining tedious tasks, cutting overhead costs, and allowing companies to scale like never before.
Here’s what you’re going to learn:
- Why Cannabis Businesses Need Automation
- Top Cannabis Automation Providers Ranked
- The Best Automation Solutions For Your Business
- How To Get Started With Cannabis Automation
Why Cannabis Businesses Need Automation
Fast forward a few years…The cannabis industry has matured quickly.
At first, cannabis operations were manual and hands-on. Everything from trimming to packaging was done by hand. But as consumer demand grows and more players enter the market, successful cannabis businesses have to take advantage of technology to survive.
According to Research and Markets, by the year 2030…the global cannabis technology market will reach $23.7 billion.
Boom.
Partnering with a cannabis automation provider gives your business the edge it needs to stand out from the crowd.
Cannabis automation technology solutions can:
- Slash labor costs
- Increase consistency
- Improve quality control
- Streamline compliance and tracking
- Help you scale your operation
Pretty awesome benefits right? Here’s a little more detail about each.
The Real Benefits Of Cannabis Automation
Less Headaches: Slash Labor Costs
Needless to say… cannabis businesses spend a ton of money on employee labor.
Automation can help your business scale without hiring armies of employees. Machines can help automate processes like coating pre-rolls in kief or performing the final packaging steps. This frees up employee time to focus on tasks that cannabis robots can’t do.
Better: Increase Consistency
Would you rather have the same experience every time you walk into a dispensary or visit your favorite online cannabis store?
No. And neither does your customer.
Automation improves consistency across your batches by streamlining repetitive tasks. Manual processes vary slightly between employees. Cannabis automation tech completes tasks exactly the same way every time. Not only does this improve your bottom line…it also increases your customer’s trust in your brand.
Grow Faster: Scale Without The Headaches
Let’s say you start a cannabis business in your garage. Your product is a hit and you quickly grow from dealing 100 units to 10,000.
Growing your cannabis business with manual labor is hard. At first, you might be able to get away with your close-knit team of friends. But what happens when you need to hire ten times that amount of employees? Now you have to pay to train them AND manage them.
Scale your business (the right way) with the help of cannabis automation technology.
Check out the best automation providers below.
Top 5 Cannabis Automation Providers Ranked
Wondering which automation companies are crushing it in the cannabis industry? Here are 5 providers every cannabis business should be aware of:
1. Sorting Robotics
Best Overall Cannabis Automation Provider
When it comes to cannabis automation providers…there’s no one better than Sorting Robotics.
For reasons we’ll discuss below. Sorting Robotics leads the pack with their customizable and robust cannabis automation technology solutions.
Highlights:
- Automated kief-coating solutions
- Fully automated pre-roll production line
- Customizable automation machinery built to industrial standards
- Founded by a former NASA-JPL engineer
Founded by a former NASA-JPL engineer…the team at Sorting Robotics knows how to build equipment that runs like a well-oiled machine. From kief coating to automated pre-roll production, there’s not much these guys can’t do.
Sorting Robotics’ equipment has been trusted by cannabis businesses to automate some of the most labor-intensive steps in manufacturing. Giving businesses more time to focus on growing their brands.
Why We Love Them: Sorting Robotics sets themselves apart by offering custom cannabis automation solutions. That means no matter the size of your operation, they can customize an affordable package to help your business automate.
What they offer: Automatic cannabinoid infusion machines, automated kief coating machines, and completely customizable automated pre-roll production lines.
Best For: Large-scale operations that need top-tier cannabis automation technology solutions.
2. Mobius
Runner-Up Best Overall Cannabis Automation Provider
Mobius is another great option for cannabis businesses looking to save on post harvest labor costs.
What they offer: Cannabis trimming machines, Automation Systems, and the popular M108S trimmer.
Best For: Cannabis businesses looking to automate aspects of post-harvest processing.
3. Hefestus
Best Automation Provider For High Volume Pre-Roll Production
Hefestus has been around since 2013. Their mission is simple: provide the best industrial pre-roll automation machines on the market.
What they offer: Automatic pre-roll production machines.
Best For: Cannabis businesses that need to produce high volumes of pre rolls consistently.
4. Argus Control Systems
Best Cannabis Automation Provider For Climate Control
Looking to better automate your cannabis growing environment? Look no further. Argus Control Systems specializes in automated cultivation solutions.
What they offer: Complete climate control and fertigation automation for marijuana growers
Best For: Cannabis cultivators that want more control over their plants’ growing environment.
5. GreenBroz
Best Cannabis Automation Provider For Small-to-Mid Size Businesses
Last but not least… GreenBroz is a great option if you’re looking to automate your trimming and processing operations.
What they offer: Cannabis trimming machines, Cannabis Packing Machines.
Best For: Small-to-mid size cannabis businesses.
Key Areas Where Cannabis Automation Helps The Most
Like we mentioned before… cannabis automation tech comes in many different forms. From automated cultivation systems all the way to trimming machines, here’s where businesses can benefit most from automating certain tasks.
Cultivation
Climate control automation systems allow cultivators to monitor and dial in their environments at all times. From lighting, to air-flow, temperature controls…according to Cannabis Business Times, over 68% of cannabis growers use some form of technology to automate their temps.
Processing
Trimming, bucking, grinding…processing cannabis by hand is an extremely labor intensive task. Investing in automatic processing equipment allows cultivators and dispensaries to bypass slow, manual labor.
Packaging
Packaging is often the bottleneck that holds cannabis businesses back from scaling. Pre-roll automation machines help streamline final production steps that otherwise create backlogs.
Compliance Tracking
From seed-to-sale tracking laws to batch tracking… cannabis businesses are required to meticulously track their product through software. Automating this process keeps your business compliant and lowers the risk of human error.
Getting Started With Cannabis Automation
Thinking about automating your cannabis business? Follow these tips to start (and finish) strong.
Assess Your Business & Identify Bottlenecks
Take a good look at your business. Where do you struggle to keep up with demand? What area of your business is holding you back from scaling? This is a great place to start when it comes to cannabis automation.
Calculate ROI
Did you know most cannabis automation software and machines pay for themselves? Calculate how much you stand to save in employee labor by automating certain tasks. Factor in revenue lost during bottlenecks and you’ll quickly realize the benefits of cannabis automation.
Purchase Equipment Built FOR Cannabis Businesses
There’s a reason why we didn’t mention any “well-known” industrial equipment manufacturers on our list of top cannabis automation companies. Most industrial equipment out there isn’t specialized to meet the needs of cannabis businesses.
Scale with Future Growth In Mind
Don’t feel like you have to automate your entire business overnight. Start small and scale with automation solutions that grow with your business.
Conclusion
Software and hardware automation solutions are quickly becoming necessary for cannabis businesses to compete.
The industry is growing up. If your cannabis business doesn’t embrace technology… someone else will take your market share.
Let’s recap:
- Cannabis Automation decreases labor costs and increases batch consistency
- Global cannabis tech market is predicted to reach $23.7 BILLION by 2030
- Top Cannabis Automation Provider is… drum roll please…Sorting Robotics
- To get started with automation…assess your business and calculate ROI
- Make sure any equipment you purchase is built FOR cannabis businesses