Member Blog: Retail Dispensary – Vault to Floor Efficiency

Cannabis dispensaries face unique challenges in maintaining security while ensuring a seamless customer experience. Efficiently moving products from the vault to the retail floor is crucial for both operational efficiency and security. According to a report, theft at cannabis dispensaries has surged by over 30% in recent years, underscoring the need for robust security measures. This article will explore the benefits of an efficient vault-to-floor process, the challenges involved, and practical solutions to enhance both security and productivity in dispensaries.

Five Reasons to Prioritize Retail Efficiency

Cannabis dispensaries have evolved significantly since their inception, growing from small, community-focused operations to sophisticated retail environments. However, with this growth has come an increase in internal theft, which can severely impact a dispensary’s profitability and reputation. A well-designed retail layout that minimizes unnecessary movement and maximizes security is critical in mitigating these risks. Efficient vault-to-floor processes not only enhance security but also contribute to a better customer experience by reducing wait times and increasing staff productivity.

1. Better Customer Experience: An efficient product transfer system means budtenders spend more time assisting customers and less time retrieving products. This improved interaction can lead to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.
2. Increased Productivity: By reducing the need for staff to leave the floor, dispensaries can serve more customers in less time, thereby increasing overall productivity.
3. Loss Prevention: A secure, efficient system for moving products minimizes the risk of internal theft. According to a study, dispensaries with robust security measures report a 20% decrease in product loss.
4. Security Enhancement: Minimizing traffic to and from the vault enhances security, as frequent access increases the risk of theft and breaches.
5. Vault-to-Floor Efficiency: Implementing a strategic plan for product movement ensures both employee and product safety. Efficient systems like pneumatic tubes or remote conveyors can streamline this process, making it faster and more secure.

Three (Practical) Ways to Improve Retail Efficiency in Your Dispensary

• Pneumatic or Remote Conveyors: These systems can quickly and securely transport products from the vault to the retail floor, minimizing the need for staff to leave the customer area. These are the same systems used in banking and pharmacy drive-thru—two industries that, just like dispensaries, prioritize security and reliability around transaction processes. Dispensaries may deploy a repurposed version of these systems to connect the vault to customer-facing check-out registers. Your store layout will likely be a determining factor in which system or manufacturer can accommodate your needs. In addition, some creative engineering around these solutions can yield a more memorable brand experience for the customer—consider it a bonus perk! 
• Access Control Systems: Implementing systems that log and control access to different areas of the dispensary can significantly enhance security. Only authorized personnel should have access to the vault, and their entry and exit should be logged automatically. Implementing an Access system is less of a hassle than dealing with mechanical keys. The loss of a key means changing the locks and reissuing keys, plus keys do not enable audit trail capabilities.  The loss of an access control card, fob, or pin is only a few keystrokes, and the risk level is eliminated, removing the privileges/rights, all while still having full traceability of when that key was used.     
• Comprehensive Camera Systems: Surveillance cameras should cover all key areas, including the vault, retail floor, and employee-only zones. This not only deters theft but also mitigates internal loss, all while providing valuable evidence in case of incidents.  The configuration flexibility can assist with improving a site’s security and overall efficiency: with onsite or remote eyes to areas for live or historical view, smart alerts notification for real time actions to be taken or improve the time for forensic video investigation to name a few.

It’s Never too Soon to Take Appropriate Action

If you think breaches and other issues will wait for you to feel comfortable spending budget to optimize your layout, efficiency and security, think again. By enhancing customer experience, boosting productivity, and preventing loss, dispensaries can ensure a safer and more profitable operation. When it comes to getting product from the vault to the customer, half-measures won’t cut it. It’s the most critical point of your retail operation, and it deserves that level of consideration when allocating budget and resources to optimize processes surrounding it. Implementing solutions such as pneumatic conveyors, access control systems, and comprehensive camera systems are practical steps toward achieving this goal. Dispensary owners and operators should consider these technologies when planning their retail spaces. By doing so, you can create a safer environment for both staff and customers while optimizing your operational workflow.