A point-of-sale (POS) system is the foundation for a successful dispensary. Both the medical and recreational cannabis industries are highly regulated at a state and local level. This leaves you with a lot of moving parts to streamline if you want to remain compliant. Especially for multi-state operators (MSOs).

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This is on top of the typical retail needs, like tracking inventory, customer orders, and loyalty rewards programs. Running a business is tough already. And the strict regulations in the cannabis industry make it even more vital to have a seamless POS system that can handle all the details.

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And that’s just the start. Modern POS systems include advanced features, like AI-powered recommendation algorithms that optimize upsells. And automating repetitive tasks to reduce errors, freeing your budtenders to focus on customer service.

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Unfortunately, not all dispensary POS systems are built equally, and you may be stuck with a lemon. Here are five signs your system is holding you back and costing you more money in mistakes and missed opportunities than it's worth. If anything in this blog feels relatable to you, it’s time for a change.

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1. Everything Is Being Done Manually

Preventable human errors are some of the most common (and costly) errors in business, with 40% of downtime incidents being attributed to them. While the cost of a mistake can be as simple as losing money on a sale, a single incident can cost up to tens of billions of dollars.

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Your budtenders shouldn’t spend their time manually calculating discounts and tracking loyalty rewards points while keeping a mental note of inventory throughout the day. Even your most competent employees will make mistakes doing everything manually.

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Instead, your dispensary POS should automatically handle inventory, apply custom discounts, handle split payments, process refunds, and more. It should have the ability for manager override too. This ensures a seamless process that improves efficiency while maximizing conversion rates and building trust with each customer on every visit.

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2. Your Systems Aren’t Integrated

Processing customer cart transactions is just the tip of the iceberg of tasks dispensaries need to perform regularly. They also need to run daily, weekly, and monthly reports on various topics to gain insight into the business, like which items are selling best. 

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And state cannabis laws require seed-to-sale tracking of all products on top of this. It’s a lot to juggle. And MSOs, especially, would be dealing with multiple state-mandated tracking systems.

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This means your POS needs to be integrated with everything from state ID verification systems (like Veriscan and TokenWorks) to cannabis tracking systems (like Metrc and BioTrack). Not doing so can wreak havoc on your business, especially during a state audit.

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3. Nobody Answers Any Questions

Even in today’s interconnected world, human touch is important for building customer relationships and resolving issues that can’t be easily automated. That’s why your POS needs to facilitate fast and clear communications between you and your customers.

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A solid dispensary POS should enable 24/7 customer service with the highest possible quality. And it should be omnichannel so you reach customers where they prefer, whether it’s via text, email, or even social media. Without these messaging capabilities, your business could be set back.

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But it doesn’t stop there. You also need open lines of communication with the company that built your POS. Onboarding is a meticulous process to ensure the system functions as designed. And you can’t afford the downtime waiting for someone to help if something goes wrong. If your POS provider isn’t available to help, it’s time to move on.

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4. Customers Are Confused

Keeping customers informed is part of the cannabis culture. And this should extend to every aspect of your dispensary, including in-store signage, menus, and kiosks, which can all be managed in one centralized software suite. Your branding will be clear from the moment a guest steps into your store.

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There’s no reason for you to rely on outdated paper or plastic menu boards. Your lobby can be outfitted with sleek and updatable digital signage that can display everything from pricing and current specials to new products and strains.

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And your POS should have a display for your customers to see everything they need about the transaction to build their trust. These “second screens” can also display personalized upselling opportunities to maximize the value of each transaction. Without this, you’re leaving money on the table.

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5. You’re Reading This Blog Post

The fact is, if you’re reading this post, you already know your POS system is holding you back. That’s why you went searching for solutions to the specific problem you experienced, whether it involved a delivery logistics issue, human resources troubles, or something else.

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Regardless of the problem, we have a solution for it in our Sweed POS system. We understand the complications unique to dispensaries. And we have the most advanced technology in the cannabis industry to address each intricate detail needed to surpass customer expectations, while also remaining compliant in every market you operate in.

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We’re continuing to develop the latest tools to provide you with data insights about your business and relevant customer information to help you maximize your profits.

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Finding the Right Dispensary POS System

Choosing the right POS system can be a pain, and many dispensaries start with short deadlines as legalization rolls out across each state. You have to find a location, get product started, and run everything all at once. And your POS should be a solution - not just another problem in the pile. 

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At Sweed, we consistently maximize profits for customers across the country. Schedule a consultation or get a demo to find out how we can boost your efficiency and revenue.

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