The future of cannabis labeling centers around the efficiencies companies can create to overcome the business challenges of today: timely manual processes prone to human error, disjointed data sources, state-by-state packaging and labeling requirements until cannabis is federally regulated, and inflexible systems hindering expansion.
As cannabis companies are maturing and investing in technology, more questions are arising about ways to streamline labeling operations and future-proof labeling environments. Plus, there are more headlines about companies paying $100,000 for mislabeled cannabis products due to human error. Finding ways to automate and ensure label quality is critical to the health of the industry.
Below are a few common questions about cannabis labeling efficiency and ways to address labeling challenges today while setting vertically integrated cannabis companies up for future success.
How can I speed up data collection and labeling processes?
Any data collected by hand or manually entering to print labels or report to regulatory authorities can be collected much more efficiently with automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) or barcode labeling technology.
Here are four tips to save your team time:
- Consolidate hundreds of label files into a handful of smart label templates with dynamic barcodes and variable data to display all the information needed, including high-resolution artwork and universal symbols, for printing variations of cannabis labels on demand.
- Use features within your labeling software to quickly collect data from a scanner or scale and add it to your labels automatically. No manual data entry means no human errors. Example: Pull weight accurately onto labels, whether you need to weigh the product you’re harvesting or capture the net weight of the contents of a manufactured product.
- Add label printing forms to help your team print the right label at the right time with the right data, reducing the risk of labeling errors and the time to reprint labels. Easily input data at print time into a wide variety of field options (text, incrementing numbers, sliders, date pickers, etc.) or combine forms with local or cloud database connections by setting up a table lookup, which uses a Key Field in your database to select a record for print.
- Automate label printing to save time and prevent labeling errors by eliminating unnecessary manual processes. Example: Just click "print" from your cannabis ERP or business system – this drops a flat file (.txt, .csv, .xml, etc.) into a watch folder. Print automation software can then read the file and automatically print accurate labels.
Finding a labeling provider that can help fill the gap is important to creating compliant labels.TEKLYNX
Should I have labeling software that connects to Metrc?
Yes. Finding a barcode labeling software that integrates with Metrc, a seed-to-sale traceability and compliance management solution used by regulatory bodies for the oversight of the cannabis industry. Metrc’s open application programming interface (API) was designed to interface with cannabis systems to minimize manual inputting and uploading tasks.
Printing custom labels is an important part of cannabis operations. Metrc-sourced tags may not provide enough identifiable information for internal processes and certain states have additional labeling requirements. Finding a labeling provider that can help fill the gap is important to creating compliant labels.
How to make compliant state-by-state labeling requirements
While implementing labeling software will not miraculously make you compliant, the combination of state-specific cannabis label templates, powerful software features that enforce labeling accuracy, and the published cannabis labeling requirements for your state will make it very easy to get you there.
Until cannabis is federally regulated, companies must meet state-specific labeling requirements, which can feel overwhelming. However, finding a labeling software provider that can take the first step in designing compliant cannabis labels off your plate can make your life easier.
How can I manage labeling across multiple locations?
For cannabis companies with many locations or plans to expand, a small IT staff, or desire to minimize associated IT effort and resources, managing labeling can become a handful. Network licensing and browser-based label printing are two ways to consolidate labeling if your environment expands across multiple facilities.
Network licensing allows you to manage labeling software users at multiple locations from one central IT office. If your locations are all on the same network, you can use one network license for all locations. If your locations are not on the same network, you can still leverage separate network licenses to manage the software for multiple users at each location.
Browser-based label printing can significantly simplify labeling across all your locations. Local software installations are eliminated, and authorized users log into a webpage to print labels from anywhere. A browser-based label printing system makes labeling at multiple locations easy by centrally managing seed-to-sale labeling and integrating with your company’s existing cannabis ERP or other business system. Smart label templates are built to pull in data directly from these systems, standardizing the labels and eliminating errors from manual data entry.
Pro tip: Suppliers can also be given access to the secure browser-based label printing interface, allowing them to print the most up-to-date version of a required label.
Look ahead to cannabis labeling efficiency
Whatever cannabis labeling regulation or labeling process challenge your business faces, find a labeling solution that helps growers, processors, packagers, and retailers efficiently create, print, and manage compliant cannabis barcode labels for plants, lab samples, glass jars, vape cartridges, pre-roll tubes, and more.
