9 Pioneers Shaping the Future of Cannabis Technology
These technology leaders are driving innovation and efficiency in the cannabis industry with cutting-edge solutions.
As it does in most other modern industries, technology plays a crucial role in cannabis, driving innovation, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. From seed to sale and even in consumers’ hands, software and hardware—alone and in combination with artificial intelligence (AI), automation, computer vision, and machine learning (ML)—are transforming the value chain, enhancing productivity, optimizing processes, and increasing the “wow” factor of products and services.
In the cultivation sector, DNA sequencing and analytical genomics can present growers with blueprints of any plant’s chemical composition. Researchers predict that, in the not-too-distant future, growers and manufacturers will use that knowledge to precisely target treatment outcomes or recreational desires while offering patients designed-for-them flavors, aromas, and potencies.
Chatbots powered by AI already improve customer service; by combining AI with blockchain, developers are redefining supply-chain management, inventory control, and compliance tracking. Automation streamlines operations from cultivation to manufacturing and packaging, reducing costs and errors. Computer vision enhances quality control by monitoring plant health and assembly lines, detecting anomalies before they become hazards. ML drives innovation in product development, and robotics help manufacturers improve cost-effectiveness and provide safer working environments.
And the pace of new developments has become so rapid that “the future” is harder and harder to define.
According to management consultant Peter Drucker, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” The following technology leaders are helping industry businesses across all sectors do exactly that.
ACTIVETM
On the heels of rebranding to ACTIVE™, the company formerly known as AVD launched a new all-in-one device with a unique shape. The Leaf All-In-One stands out on shelves and will appeal to customers looking for something different. Despite its slim profile, the Leaf contains a one-milliliter or two-milliliter tank, offering brands the flexibility to choose a solution that suits their market.
Plus, the device offers an extra-wide canvas for branding. The Leaf All-In-One is engineered for distillates and novels but is compatible with liquid live resin. It is USB-C rechargeable as well as mass-fill-ready and cap-ready using ACTIVE’s EZ Click low-torque fill-and-cap technology, which is compatible with leading automation platforms.
Beaker & Wrench
Beaker & Wrench’s twelve-inch wiped-film evaporator offers a scalable solution for manufacturers who need a continuously high throughput of 90- to 95-percent-pure oil. Equipped with Beaker & Wrench’s proprietary SinterTekTM mesh pleated wiper baffles, the machine can deliver fifteen to thirty liters of distillate per hour, and the hydraulic-tilt still body makes wiper maintenance easy.
A dual-feed tank option allows multi-pass operation with a single-stage system. Compact, heated cycloidal gear pumps; a large, wide-bore vacuum manifold; preset vacuum states with automatic valves; and a dual-stage cold trap with high/low impedance baffles round out the impressive technology. Other signature features include an intuitive touch-screen interface, remote connectivity, and downloadable operating data.
Mariner Business Solutions
Mariner Business Solutions’ CannaPoint enterprise solution, powered by NCR’s inventory engine, is used in more than 17,000 retail operations. CannaPoint uses radio frequency identification (RFID) for precise, compliant inventory tracking, employing Mariner-provided scanners and software customizations that can count more than 54,000 tags a minute at a distance of more than twenty feet. The platform’s AI-enabled, mobile- and desktop-friendly analytics dashboard is color-coded for at-a-glance insight and allows business owners to track operations and project sales from anywhere. Other advanced features include digital menus, a kiosk check-in and ordering system, customer purchase tracking, and integrated payment processing, making CannPoint a comprehensive assistant for streamlining operations and reducing overhead.
Sorting Robotics
One of the most intriguing tech companies operating in the cannabis space today, Sorting Robotics is best known for its Stardust kief-coating robot. Just as Stardust brings automation, consistency, and increased operator safety to “fuzzy” joints, the company’s Jiko and Jiko+ robots perform similar functions for infused pre-roll production.
The Jiko units use both pressure and temperature to control the infusion process based on settings the operator selects on a sophisticated touch-screen interface. Both machines accommodate a variety of pre-roll sizes and types. In addition, Jiko+ allows operators to automate production of uniform donut or “hash hole” joints at scale.
Hefestus Technologies
Building on expertise gained over decades in the food industry, Hefestus Technologies has spent the past ten years perfecting pre-roll automation. The company’s innovative AuraX system adapts to various strains, cone sizes, and infusions while producing up to thirty-six uniform pre-rolls per minute.
The unit’s compact design and low power consumption make it energy- and space-efficient, and simplified, user-friendly operation requires minimal manpower. According to Cannabis Division Leader Shahar Yamay, “Our philosophy of ‘simplistic sophistication’ means we avoid overengineering. Our machines are easy for operators to work with and yet versatile enough to handle almost any type of joint while maintaining quality and consistency.” The Hefestus team provides onsite training and 24/7 tech support.
New Frontier Data
Long an industry stalwart in retail data and analysis, New Frontier Data’s latest undertaking aims to help retailers transform their approach to customer acquisition. Called NXTeck, the platform leverages real-time data from more than 980,000 unique retail locations, 430 million devices, and 60 million consumers to help retailers attract foot traffic from what New Frontier estimates is an untapped market of hundreds of millions of potential brick-and-mortar customers. Marketing- and advertising-focused NXTeck’s insights facilitate precise targeting of local consumers followed by strategic outreach to those most likely to purchase at the moment they’re ready to buy. Real-time campaign tracking helps retailers optimize operations, understand market trends, and drive growth.
Phylos
Phylos Bioscience, a provider of genetics and rare cannabinoids, stands out for its advanced DNA-marker-assisted breeding technology. Home to what the company says are the industry’s first phenotypically stable, day-neutral, short-season, fully feminized F1 hybrid seed lines, Phylos leverages proprietary, patent-pending technology to provide rare cannabinoid genetics for both cannabis and hemp. In addition, the company’s Natural Natural brand powers a supply chain with naturally derived THCV. Phylos’s most recent research-backed release is Elite Seeds, a line of varieties that can compete with indoor clonal cultivars for top-shelf quality and potency. The company promotes sustainable cultivation by developing seeds that reduce resource use and pathogen risk.
Jointly
Jointly’s newest product, Spark Pro, provides budtenders with the insight and intel they need to fulfill their pivotal role in the ecosystem and improve customer experiences. Introduced in July, Spark Pro puts the power of first-party data in budtenders’ palms, leveraging AI to make sense of millions of data points from the organic reflections of consumers who use Jointly’s mobile app. With Spark Pro, budtenders can provide the kind of personalized recommendations and accurate answers experienced consumers would give their friends and family members. “This is the power of combining advanced AI with real-world data to transform the retail experience,” said Jointly co-founder and Chief Executive Officer David Kooi.
Xylem Robotics
Xylem Robotics grew from a company that developed highly precise water baths and immersion circulators for laboratory environments. Using precision pharmaceutical-grade technology, the company’s robotic solutions allow manufacturers to scale quickly and efficiently. The Xylem X4, an automated cartridge filler, offers inline filling and capping at a rate of as many as 1,650 units per hour.
Precision ceramic pumps, combined with inert gas overlay, result in finished carts with leak-resistant vacuum locks and visually higher fill lines. The Xylem Y1 low-temperature infusion system allows operators to infuse pre-rolls of any type at a rate of up to 600 units per hour.
