{"id":9655,"date":"2023-05-17T20:05:54","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T20:05:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/?post_type=feature_article&amp;p=36476"},"modified":"2023-05-17T20:05:54","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T20:05:54","slug":"rise-of-the-machines-the-case-for-automation-in-the-cannabis-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/rise-of-the-machines-the-case-for-automation-in-the-cannabis-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Rise of the Machines: The Case for Automation in the Cannabis\u00a0Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/rise-of-the-machines-the-case-for-automation-in-the-cannabis-industry\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><h4><strong>The Case for Automation in the Cannabis Industry<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>History has shown that if companies fail to innovate when new technology emerges, even household name brands with enormous market share can squander their success if they are blind to anything that could ever unseat them from the top.<\/p>\n<p>Kodak developed digital camera technology in the 1970s but didn\u2019t envision a world where the film market wasn\u2019t dominant. Toys R\u2019 Us failed to adapt to the changing retail landscape, and Amazon became the chief source of online toy sales. Blockbuster famously laughed Netflix out of the room when the now-$149 billion behemoth sought to sell for a measly $50 million.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36479\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36479\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Knockbox-Machine.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-36479 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/rise-of-the-machines-the-case-for-automation-in-the-cannabis-industry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36479\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A \u201cknockbox\u201d-style unit for producing prerolls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Brands in the cannabis landscape can also fall victim to this same misstep. New technologies are driving the industry forward, yet many brands are still standing by sub-par processes. Whether due to misplaced beliefs around automation or an unwillingness to invest, cannabis brands could suffer the same fate as many of these bygone-era brands.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>The Financial Argument: Automation Reduces Overhead\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>The financial argument for automation is at the top of the list of motivators for most cannabis businesses. A great example of this is with pre-roll production. For cannabis brands still employing a \u201cdexterous approach\u201d to their pre-roll manufacturing, staying afloat to keep up with demand is a constant battle. <a href=\"https:\/\/rebelspiritcannabis.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rebel Spirit<\/a>, currently the number one pre-roll brand in Oregon, was burning through eye-welling amounts of money in labor costs to produce 300,000 pre-rolls per month. With a crew of 22 full-time pre-roll manufacturers, the team at Rebel Spirit quickly realized their process was unsustainable, and they were headed for an economic crisis if they didn\u2019t cut costs.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36477\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36477\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/RollPros-Blackbird-.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-36477 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/rise-of-the-machines-the-case-for-automation-in-the-cannabis-industry.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"151\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36477\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Blackbird atuomated system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>They were using a knockbox-style unit which they had modified themselves in an attempt to force it to fit their needs. But this \u201csemi-automated\u201d solution simply wasn\u2019t working. Rebel Spirit then turned to our team at RollPros to clean up and fully automate their production process, helping them to create quality pre-roll at scale with a fraction of the labor costs. (We are the Vancouver, WA-based designer and manufacturer of the Blackbird automated joint rolling system.) For them, it wasn\u2019t a matter of greed, as some opponents of automation sometimes claim; it was simply a choice of going out of business or not. In competitive markets like the Beaver State, where every dollar counts, the case for automation was a no-brainer.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>The Remote Argument: Automation Reduces Risk Of Human Error\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>It\u2019s a basic concept: the more human interaction in your processes, the more risk for error. We, as flawed humans, are simply not capable of being as precise or consistent in our work as a machine can be. Consider the cultivation process. Most experienced cultivators will tell you that growing cannabis is easy, but growing <em>quality<\/em> cannabis is very difficult, with a lot that can go wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Enter one of the most valuable automation tools for cannabis cultivators \u2013 automated irrigation systems. With your irrigation systems and nutrients on autopilot, cultivators can ensure plants get the ideal mix of nutrients regardless of whether you are on-site, remote or facing a staffing crunch. Sensors can provide real-time data so that water, nutrients or even light can be adjusted as needed. In many cases, even these adjustments can be automated. (Think AI hasn\u2019t entered the cannabis space yet? Think again!) Sure, there is always a potential for issues no matter how advanced a system you use. But when you compare this to a farmer using a manual watering and nutrient system, there are far fewer opportunities for mistakes. Does a human feel the difference between .94 gallons of water and 1 gallon of water? No. But a well-calibrated irrigation system can tell the difference and even alert you if it goes outside of whatever tolerance limits you set.<\/p>\n<p>When the cost of flower is high, human errors that lead to damaged or inferior product are often overlooked. But when flower prices drop as markets mature, success versus failure can be balanced on a knife-edge, and cultivators can\u2019t afford to make mistakes.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>The Skynet Argument: Automation Increases Productivity Without Taking Your Job\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Whether AI is coming for our jobs or will destroy human creativity as we know it has been argued ad nauseum since the release of AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney. The good news? Automating your business doesn\u2019t mean enlisting the T-1000 from Terminator 2 to terminate your 9-to-5. Think of automation as Arnold Schwarzenegger telling you to come with him if you want to live.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36478\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36478\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Green-Vault-Systems-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-36478 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/rise-of-the-machines-the-case-for-automation-in-the-cannabis-industry-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36478\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Green Vault automated packaging system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The truth is that any task that needs to be completed frequently or on a set schedule is ripe for automation. Automation eliminates tethering your most talented employees to cog-in-the-machine work that wastes their time and abilities. Freeing them up to focus on more high-value tasks like customer service, marketing, or new product development will likely make your business more profitable long term, and make your employees happier with their work.<\/p>\n<p>No industry has been spared from the impacts of industrial automation, says Amar Olgeirsson, CEO and founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/greenvaultsystems.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Green Vault Systems<\/a>, but, \u201clabor is typically not reduced as a result of automation.\u201d Instead, \u201cproduction is increased, and workers\u2019 value increases because of higher production in terms of units produced per labor time. By increasing worker efficiency, companies and corporations are able to pay their workers a higher salary,\u201d says Olgeirsson.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>The Performance Argument: Automation Guarantees Consistent Quality Every Time\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Expansion across state lines means consumers know they can buy the same quality product whether they buy it on the East Coast or West Coast. You know that you can buy your favorite Red Blend wine whether you\u2019re in Denver or Atlanta and expect to enjoy the same tasting glass (barring any unintended oxidization). If a customer purchases that same glass of wine, and it doesn\u2019t meet their expectations of what it should be (it\u2019s inconsistent with the last time they had it), a brand is essentially breaking a promise to that customer. When a customer doesn\u2019t get what they want and expect out of a product, they\u2019ll quickly move on to a competitor. Consistency builds loyalty\u2026 inconsistency destroys it.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36480\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36480\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Jiko-Pre-Roll-Infusion-Robot.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-36480 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/rise-of-the-machines-the-case-for-automation-in-the-cannabis-industry-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"113\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36480\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A preroll infusion automated system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The cannabis industry is <em>notorious<\/em> for producing inconsistent products. It\u2019s not surprising, considering the near-total ban on state-to-state commerce, (thanks federal government!) And, of course, the variation that can occur from crop to crop, batch to batch or facility to facility. There are so many variables to just the cultivation process; the amount of light a crop gets, the type and dosage of nutrients, the growing medium that\u2019s used, the amount of air flow in the facility\u2026 The list goes on, and that\u2019s just the first of many processes needed before a product ends up on shelves! It\u2019s nearly impossible for humans to manually manage and ensure consistency of all these variables without the help of some level of automation.<\/p>\n<p>Nohtal Partansky, ex-NASA-JPL engineer and CEO of Los Angeles-based <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sortingrobotics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sorting Robotics<\/a>, teamed up with fellow NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory colleagues Cassio Santos and Sean Lawlor to found their firm that creates next-generation hardware and software for cannabis industry producers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAutomation in the cannabis industry plays a crucial role in maintaining product consistency by reducing human error and standardizing processes across cultivation, extraction, and packaging,\u201d says Partansky. \u201cIf brands are going to expand across states, consistency is a requirement if customer loyalty is ever going to be a market driver for sales.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4><strong>The Contamination Argument: Automation Limits Human Error &amp; Contamination Risk and Improves Product Safety<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Our industry demands very strict safety standards. Our customers deserve safe products, but beyond that, the testing requirements mandated by regulations in most markets are very, very strict. Each and every human touchpoint in your processes carries with it additional contamination risk. Even with stringent protocols, mold, mildew and other unwanted crits can more easily venture their way into final products as the human variable increases.<\/p>\n<p>Automation minimizes these risks and improves the safety of the product for consumers, and reduces the risk of recalls or other regulatory issues. Consider that for many cannabis businesses in hyper-saturated, competitive markets, a significant product recall can be the end of the road. Automating production processes provides a reliable and consistent solution in an industry that demands the highest safety and quality standards.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cThe new and burgeoning Cannabis industry and its consumers are no exception and possibly benefit it more than other industries.\u00a0 The medicinal qualities of Cannabis products make consistency, quality, safety, and traceability paramount to the consumer.\u00a0 Cannabis products are most often consumed by ingestion into the lungs which means product cleanliness and quality are essential to safety.\u00a0 Chemically derived oils and extracts would not be possible without automation equipment. Again, industrial automation is a huge benefit to the Cannabis space, to the producers, their employees, and maybe most importantly to the consumer\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Amar Olgeirsson, CEO &amp; Founder,<\/em> <em>Green Vault Systems<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Olgeirsson\u2019s take on products created on specialized automation equipment? \u201cProducts produced on purpose-built machinery are more consistent and of a higher quality which lends itself to better oversight, enhanced traceability, and improved product safety.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4><strong>The Physical Argument: Automation Eliminates Tedious &amp; Overhead-Heavy Tasks<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>In an increasingly competitive marketplace like cannabis, streamlining processes and reducing the liabilities that come with human labor \u2013 like being sidelined from Carpal Tunnel \u2013 is key. Let\u2019s consider the trimming component of the post-harvest process. Manual trimming is monotonous, low-paying for workers, and an unrealistic way to harvest cannabis at scale. Also, it\u2019s hard to be successful when team-wide prescriptions for night-time wrist splints are a threat.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36482\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36482\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mobius-M108S-Trimmer.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-36482 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/rise-of-the-machines-the-case-for-automation-in-the-cannabis-industry-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"189\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36482\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Mobius M108S Trimmer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Leaning into \u201chand-trimmed\u201d as a differentiator for your brand? Many connoisseurs will argue that hand-trimmed bud is superior because buds stay aesthetic and trichomes aren\u2019t lost. That may have been true in the early days of automated trimming machines, but with today\u2019s crop of super-sophisticated trimming technology, it is now nothing more than a myth. (Yes, myths and misled traditions can be difficult to overcome in our industry, but I digress\u2026)<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/mobiustrimmer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mobius M108S Trimmer<\/a>, for example, allows operators to reduce the staff required to process thousands of pounds of product every year without compromising quality. It\u2019s next-gen tech not found on traditional trimmers can produce hand-trim quality buds with minimal trichome loss.<\/p>\n<p>When flower prices are high, especially in the case of newly-legalized markets, it can be easy for operators to overlook the cost of trimming, and pay their employees higher wages to offset the physical risks to their bodies. But what about when product prices inevitably fall once the post-legalization honeymoon period wears off? It\u2019s unrealistic (and unethical, I believe), to pay employees minimum wage while putting their health and safety at a significant risk. In the above example, at some point, your operations will grow to a point where hand-trimming will dig you further into a fiscal hole every time you harvest.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>The Future Argument: Automation Isn\u2019t Going Away (and Your Competitors Know It)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Automation <em>could<\/em> cause you to lose people, just not in the way you might think. Ultimately, competitors in any space will invest in new technology to streamline people, processes and tools to establish a competitive advantage. This investment puts them in a better position to attract talented employees that stick around for the long term.<\/p>\n<p>Automation is like a boat motor in the 21st century, and companies that don\u2019t use it are paddling against the current. Sure, you can use a wooden oar, but your competitors know paddling is too much work and will strap a motor to theirs. The truth is that companies that drag their feet out of stubbornness or inability to see how the current situation could ever change will often find their employees jumping ship to go elsewhere.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36481\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36481\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Vape-Jet-High-Res-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-36481\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/rise-of-the-machines-the-case-for-automation-in-the-cannabis-industry-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"133\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36481\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An automated vape cart filling system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI strongly believe that automation not only propels our industry forward but also sets the stage for a more profitable future in cannabis production for those that embrace technology rather than fight it,\u201d says Ryan Hoitt, CEO, developer &amp; founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/vape-jet.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vape Jet<\/a> in Portland. \u201cI can confidently say that it enables businesses to fine-tune operations, improve product quality, and achieve unmatched consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Saying that you will eventually be forced to automate sounds harsh, but it\u2019s largely true. As soon as your competitors deploy automated processes, they gain an advantage. If you don\u2019t do the same, it will become more difficult to compete, stay profitable and stay in business.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>The Consumer Argument: Automation Provides Consumers More Options<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Automation isn\u2019t going away, and it\u2019s certainly not a fad like pogs or planking. Automation drives lower production costs, which means lower-priced products for consumers. This process has been behind the dramatic increases in global living standards and population growth since the birth of the Industrial Revolution and is not likely to change anytime soon.<\/p>\n<p>Automation allows producers to manufacture a broader range of products and focus on providing the consumer with more options. Consumers want to be in control of their purchasing decisions, and companies that deliver variety will be the ones to reap the rewards.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Embrace the Future with Automation<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>History has shown us time and again that failure to innovate can lead even the most prominent brands to fall victim to their inability, or unbelief, in the necessity to evolve. Automation is a no-brainer in crowded and competitive markets.<\/p>\n<p>No doubt, the future of the cannabis industry will trend toward automation. Businesses embracing it will have a significant advantage over those that do not. Companies that drag their feet in the face of disruptive automation risk resigning to the same fate as those brands that underestimated technology at the expense of their own existence. No industry is immune from disruption, and there will be dynamic entrepreneurs who <em>will<\/em> come along and see to it. Embrace the change, embrace automation and technology, and you\u2019ll increase your chances of winning in the cannabis industry!<\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\">\n<div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon-text sd-sharing\">\n<h3 class=\"sd-title\">Share this:<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Case for Automation in the Cannabis Industry History has shown that if companies fail to innovate when new technology emerges, even household name brands with enormous market share can squander their success if they are blind to anything that could ever unseat them from the top. Kodak developed digital camera technology in the 1970s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8459,7814,9615,9616,9617,5062,8502,52,9374,9618,8509,9619,8769,8510,9620,9621,8461,9406,9407,5179,8503,8458,609,8770,9622,8564,8565,7075,1964,9623,5334,9624,2254,9625,9626,9627,8514,8604,6288,6556,184,2299,8605,6430,77,8469,6431,9,2561,9628,8504,9629,9630,9631,9632,8471,8554,8472,9633,5235,9634,421,5236,8518,6845,8732,9635,9636,9637,8520,9638,8477,1,3,9639,9572,8522,8524,18,9640,9641,8233,9642,61,1736],"tags":[8481,7815,9643,9644,9645,5063,8528,2632,9391,9646,8535,9647,8779,8536,9648,9649,8483,9416,9417,5181,8529,8480,3182,8780,9650,8586,8587,7077,4532,9651,5350,9652,4821,9653,9654,9655,8540,8619,6292,2415,2762,4866,8620,6433,2655,8491,6434,35,9656,8530,9657,9658,9659,9660,8493,8576,8494,9661,5237,9662,2999,5238,8544,6846,8737,9663,9664,9665,8546,9666,8499,9667,9588,8548,8550,2622,9668,9669,8235,9670],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9655"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9655\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}