The Benefits Of Touchscreens At Cannabis Dispensaries

Cannabis dispensaries are dynamic operations held to rigorous compliance standards. Therefore, “cannatech,” the IT solutions designed for these businesses – must support that unique environment as well as enable the best possible customer experiences.

This industry has the attention of IT solutions providers who see the opportunity in a market valued at $9.1B and predicted to grow at a whopping 26.7% CAGR through 2028. The most successful cannatech providers are building total solutions – software, hardware, infrastructure, and peripherals – that are easy to deploy, streamline workflows, and are tailor-made to address all of the industry’s needs.

Whether these cannatech solutions are used in customer service areas, the back of house, or in growing facilities, one common component adds value: touchscreens.

Touchscreen Use Cases in Cannabis Dispensaries
Touchscreen interfaces are known for providing users with a natural way to interact with software and data, and they optimize processes throughout a cannabis dispensary business, for example in:

Reception
First-time customers at a cannabis dispensary must provide documentation and ID verification for compliant sales. A touchscreen interface at reception facilitates the process of collecting and storing all required information in compliance with HIPAA and state regulations. Customers, too, will benefit from a touchscreen they can use to scroll through agreements and forms and provide signatures.

Touchscreens also make check-in easier for returning customers, and, in some cases where biometric identification is available, customers can check in and verify their identities via fingerprint or facial scan integrated with a touchscreen kiosk.

Retail space
Merchants across all verticals and niches know touchscreens save time at the point of sale (POS), but this feature is particularly important in cannabis dispensaries. “Budtenders,” the staff members who provide customer service, need to do more than scan products and accept payment. Software solutions designed for cannabis dispensaries must collect data for state reporting and meticulously track inventory as well as manage transactions – and touchscreens help those processes take place more quickly and accurately.

Curbside or drive-thru pickup
During the pandemic, the number of cannabis dispensary customers choosing to keep their distance and use curbside pickup or drive-thru service, where available, increased. Although these services offer convenience, they can also create hurdles that prevent excellent customer service. Budtenders only have a few minutes to ensure the customer receives the products they want – and touchscreens that provide easy access to menus and enhance customer satisfaction. Touchscreens can even enable advanced drive-thru operations in which customers drive up, check in and place their orders.

Growing spaces
Cannabis growers must carefully monitor lighting, temperature, and humidity to ensure the best possible harvest. Environmental control systems monitor growing conditions, and touchscreens allow growers to adjust metrics quickly as they enter or exit these controlled environments.

Labor management and employee screening
Like any business committed to keeping their employees safe, cannabis dispensaries can use touchscreen kiosks with temperature sensors to screen their employees for COVID-19. Additionally, touchscreens make routine processes, such as clocking in and out, easier and less time-consuming for managers.

A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity
In general, solutions providers have worked in established markets and niches for decades. Meeting the demand for cannatech solutions – especially with the industry on a phenomenal growth trajectory -- is a rare opportunity.

Although some providers are attempting to adapt retail solutions for this market, solution architects who understand the industry and its pain points and design systems specifically to meet their needs will be the most successful.

Taking time to educate yourself on the cannabis industry and using your technical expertise and creativity to design innovative touchscreen-based solutions could lay the groundwork for a highly successful business.

Bill has over 25 years of experience leading sales, marketing and business development initiatives for business and industrial hardware technology and consumables solutions. Since joining MicroTouch in February 2021, Bill has constructed a channel team with industry-experienced members. Before MicroTouch, Bill held senior leadership roles at Henkel Electronics, Christie Digital, and Elo, where he built channel sales and marketing programs. Bill also has extensive experience in securing large OEM and end-user programs. He has BA in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University and an Executive MBA from Southern Methodist University. Bill also served in the Air Force Reserve for 20 years.

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About The Author

Bill has over 25 years of experience leading sales, marketing and business development initiatives for business and industrial hardware technology and consumables solutions. Since joining MicroTouch in February 2021, Bill has constructed a channel team with industry-experienced members. Before MicroTouch, Bill held senior leadership roles at Henkel Electronics, Christie Digital, and Elo, where he built channel sales and marketing programs. Bill also has extensive experience in securing large OEM and end-user programs.  He has BA in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University and an Executive MBA from Southern Methodist University.  Bill also served in the Air Force Reserve for 20 years.