Picking the Perfect Dispensary Point-of-Sale (POS) System

A point-of-sale (POS) system is a central feature of any dispensary’s operation. With the rise in ecommerce and delivery, the cannabis industry is becoming increasingly dependent on such software to remain compliant and profitable. Despite its limitations and the challenges associated with fractured markets, today’s dispensary POS software packs a big punch with benefits for mom-and-pop dispensaries as well as multistate operators (MSOs). The best solutions can adapt to evolving regulations. They’re also customizable to elevate customer flow, capable of complex automated processes, and equipped with easy-to-use features that optimize marketing strategies.

Numerous companies offer POS software designed to meet the industry’s unique needs, but businesses should understand their own requirements before deciding on a system. Features like compliance tracking, reporting, integrations, order flow, onboarding, support, selling tools, uptime, marketing options, and inventory management vary from POS to POS, making no single solution appropriate for all applications.

7 Popular Cannabis and Dispensary POS Software Systems

BLAZE

Designed for budtenders, delivery drivers, and front-desk personnel, BLAZE POS is particularly appropriate for licensed businesses establishing their first retail operations. Inventory and compliance are cornerstones of the software, which attracts mom-and-pop dispensaries with its high-powered sales tools and convenient integrations.

With its built-in loyalty program and promotions engine, BLAZE offers a solid set of user-friendly marketing tools. The customizable dashboard helps businesses track inventory and engage customers in creative ways; users can customize tags for sales, create pricing member groups, and make strikethroughs on the dispensary’s website if management doesn’t want to deal with promotional codes. The system can integrate with external applications including Weedmaps, springbig, and Quickbooks and offers more than 100 automated reports with scheduled delivery by email.

Clients receive a service-level agreement guaranteeing 99.5-percent uptime, and the company offers multi-modal support seven days a week.

BioTrack

BioTrack is active in more than thirty states and ten nations with built-in customer relationship management tools to reward loyal shoppers. When a company chooses BioTrack, representatives work with the staff to make sure the operation is compliant with regulations in states where they operate and fully prepared to optimize their sales across all markets. Experts provide support with system troubleshooting and training during implementation. Phone support is available daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

BioTrack users can create individual customer profiles, track product preferences, and automate rewards points so businesses can optimize the efficacy of their loyalty programs. Inventory features allow users to manage thousands of products and quickly audit what the business has in stock. The system offers unique solutions for a variety of needs, and the company provides software as a cloud-based or locally hosted service.

This POS system is designed to accommodate both dispensaries and cultivators, making it especially appealing to vertically integrated operators.

Flowhub

Flowhub offers its clients a reliable POS system with a Nug mobile device that facilitates check-in and inventory management. The company promises 99-percent uptime. With more than fifty integrations, Flowhub helps businesses run in the way that works best for them, not the way a coder thinks ought to work. The system’s built-in purchase limits and visual cannabis meter automatically prevent sales from exceeding transaction limits, its Greet mobile app scans IDs for compliance, and its customer support, available every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., can be reached by phone if clients need assistance with their software.

Onboarding with Flowhub is a five-step process that usually takes less than two weeks. For self-guided troubleshooting, the online Help Hub is a great resource. The system’s Deals app can apply automatic discounts to carts and cross-store promotions. Customers can be added to loyalty programs at any time, and rewards can be personalized based on customer profiles.

Cova

With an open API, a wealth of automated reports, and a highly customizable interface, Cova stands out as an adaptable dispensary POS system. The software solution is accompanied by thorough training and ongoing support, which help clients get the most out of the system’s extensive list of features and tools. Cova also integrates with Metrc and BioTrack to automate required data sharing. “Most of our customers don’t have a lot of POS experience, and the market needs a lot of help managing MSOs right now, so we prioritize compliance and integration in each of our customized solutions,” said Account Executive Darren Spindor.

During onboarding, Cova educates its clients over a three-week period, providing more than twenty hours of training for both managers and staff. Each client is assigned a launch coordinator, who provides personalized assistance for the first six weeks post-launch. After that, the client is transitioned to a support team that provides chat, email, and phone help during office hours; a 24/7 emergency line provides assistance when the office is closed.

After onboarding, users can navigate the customized dashboard to filter and segment inventory, send money to a safe if there is too much in the till, view the order queue for all dispensaries, access details about customers and products, and find automated reports about everything from cash management to sales summaries. In June 2022, Cova upgraded its reporting system to generate all charts automatically within the POS system. This way, clients needn’t do any heavy lifting to review their analytics.

Greenbits by Dutchie

Built to support the entire supply chain, Greenbits automates compliance for everything from Service Organization Control 2 to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. For large-scale operations, the POS system offers advanced management and executive-level controls to make supporting multiple locations easy.

When it comes to integration, Dutchie offers a host of products that integrate seamlessly with its POS solutions. Dutchie Pay launched in July as a fully integrated one-click digital payment solution via a direct ACH bank transfer for products sold online and delivered. “Cash creates too many safety risks and is inefficient,” said Zach Lipson, chief product officer and cofounder. “Our industry cannot meet its full potential without modern payment solutions available at scale.”

Greenbits creates automated reports with key metrics for internal and external stakeholders. Users can reduce paperwork time with automated reports for sales, product performance, return-to-store checklists, traceability, and insightful route data. Historic trends and future predictions are easily available to empower employees and managers with the data they need.

The system runs on Amazon Web Services but also functions in offline mode in case of internet outages. Customer assistance is available seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. via email, and each customer is assigned an onboarding specialist who acts as the main contact for easy communication.

MJ Platform

MJ Platform offers a user-friendly interface any employee can operate. The system is designed for wholesale, manufacturing, and delivery, which is appealing to vertically integrated companies and those considering vertical integration. MJ Analytics’ business intelligence engine provides data visualization, staff scheduling tools, and automated reminders about inventory. Without performing complicated manual analysis, businesses can glean insights for data-driven decisions. More than eighty integrations are available, and compliance safeguards address areas including packaging requirements, audits, and omnichannel workflows.

A scalable design streamlines the customer checkout experience for in-store and remote transactions. The system supports multiple incoming order workflows as well as advanced loyalty programs that can be customized to benefit specific customer groups. MJ Platform offers a buyer guide with information about industry-specific software solutions and guidance to help customers choose a system with features that meet their unique requirements and core needs.

Meadow

When it comes to ease of use, Meadow offers an appealing option for dispensaries of all sizes. The system features thoughtfully designed workflows, intuitive navigation, and an onboarding team that works closely with clients to ensure they are fully prepared.

Meadow’s mobile-friendly menu is easily integrated into websites with a single line of code. If clients need assistance down the line, service requests are returned within ten minutes.
The software integrates with Metrc for track-and-trace compliance. Meadow’s analytics reports aid operations by providing a clear picture of sales, allowing businesses to adjust product mixes and keep sales moving. Meadow optimizes the sales flow with an easy set-up process for in-store and online purchases, as well as floating service for dispensary workers moving through the store with customers. The system also incorporates tools like text messaging, customer segmentation, customized offers, and automatic inventory updates to Weedmaps and Leafly.