Current cannabis retailers need to stay abreast of best practices in the industry as a way of meeting customer needs and conducting business in a compliant manner. Metrc cannabis inventory, for instance, is simpler when you use dedicated cannabis barcode scanners.
We see this in supermarkets and other big stores, but how can they benefit cannabis retailers? Here, we shed some light on how weed barcode scanners can simplify Metrc cannabis inventory for your dispensary. This is also an excellent way to keep track of inventory, including medical vs. recreational prices. Before going into the details, let’s look at what barcode scanners are and how they work.
What is a Weed Barcode Scanner?
Like every other barcode scanner used in supermarkets, a weed barcode scanner is designed to access, capture, and decode the information contained by a product barcode. With a cannabis or weed barcode scanner, dispensary attendants can access the data carried in the cultivation tags and barcodes using best-in-class scanning technology.
The components you can expect to find in a typical barcode scanner are the light source, lens, photoconductor, and decoder. Barcodes work straightforwardly. After scanning and capturing the information on the code, they typically link to a host device (computer or tablet), immediately transmitting the captured data to the device. This allows you to see the prices of the product, including a short description of the item on the screen.
The benefits of Using Cannabis Barcode Scanners
Barcodes and barcode scanners exist to reduce human intervention during transactions and simplify the process, but they often come with additional features that benefit dispensaries. Here are some other benefits of using barcode scanners:
Intelligent Barcode Memory
Not only will barcode scanners scan and process items in the cart, but they also come with an internal memory capable of storing more than 2,000 scans and later syncing them to the system. They are wireless and enabled with Bluetooth technology for connectivity. In situations where dispensary staff need to serve clients away from the Bluetooth reach, the scanner has enough capacity to hold the items scanned.
Improved Accuracy
Rather than have dispensary staff manually input data, you can use a weed barcode scanner to effortlessly update your inventory and add items to your customers’ carts. Using barcodes to process dispensary product data also serves to minimize human error, allowing for more accuracy.
Medical vs. Recreational Prices
Besides keeping an eye on the varying compliance regulations for medical marijuana patients and recreational customers, dispensary operators also need to keep an eye on prices. The difference in the application of each product partly contributes to the difference in prices. Other factors that dispensaries need to consider when serving medical marijuana patients and recreational consumers are sales taxes and the allowed purchase limits.
Reduced Training Requirements for Dispensary Staff
With barcode scanners being so easy to operate, there’s hardly any need for special training to bring your staff up to speed on using the device. Basic training on how to scan the barcode and read the data generated is mostly enough for any staff to work with.
Better Cannabis Inventory Management
With real-time capturing of product information, your cannabis inventory management efforts become more effortless. You can audit inventory in real-time within the dispensary. The improved accuracy and real-time data help retailers achieve more accurate inventory turnover estimations.
Since all product data is transmitted in real-time as they are being scanned, it makes for quick and easy processing of the data so captured. The collation of information is automated, so data on inventory levels or sales is available immediately.
Low Implementation Cost
Customers appreciate innovative businesses, and they are most likely going to continue coming back if they enjoy being served in your dispensary. But beyond simplifying the transaction process, using a weed barcode scanner also reduces the cost of running your business. To begin with, they are easy to generate, do not require specialized skills to use, so no spending on training, and they are generally an inexpensive tech addition to any dispensary.
In conclusion, getting a barcode scanner for your dispensary is a truly profitable decision when you consider all the benefits that come with it. Besides, they are pretty affordable and require very little experience to use.