Last Reviewed: November 22nd, 2024

Best Dispensary Software Of 2024

What is Dispensary Software?

Dispensary Software is a tech anchor for medical and recreational cannabis businesses, providing streamlined operations and strict regulatory compliance. Designed to tackle problems around inventory control, patient management, and regulatory reporting, its importance in the burgeoning marijuana industry is critical. By facilitating faster operations, regulatory compliance, and improved customer service, it bestows numerous benefits. Key functionalities cover POS transactions, inventory management, and patient tracking. Innovative features blooming within these systems now include online ordering, delivery tracking, and integration with accounting platforms. Users most suited to benefit are managers of medical or retail dispensaries, benefitting the evolving cannabis industry. However, implementation can face hitches like compatibility issues, high costs, and rapidly changing regulations. Despite these speed bumps, Dispensary Software emerges as a robust solution that bolsters operational efficiency, adheres to complex regulations, and enhances customer experiences, proving it to be a core asset in the rapidly expanding cannabis sphere.

What Are The Key Benefits of Dispensary Software?

  • Streamlined operations
  • Improved regulatory compliance
  • Efficient inventory control
  • Effective patient management
  • Accurate regulatory reporting
  • Robust POS transactions
  • Enhanced customer service
  • Online ordering capability
  • Responsive delivery tracking
  • Smooth accounting integration
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Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 38 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best Dispensary Software overall:

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$50
Monthly
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Why We Picked BioTrack

Reviews for BioTrack, a seed-to-sale inventory management software, paint a picture of a powerful tool with a bit of a learning curve. Users appreciate BioTrack's tight integration with state compliance systems, which automates reports and ensures smooth sailing through complex regulations. Imagine BioTrack as a compliance assistant, freeing you up to focus on growing your business instead of paperwork. However, some reviewers mentioned a steeper learning curve compared to simpler inventory management systems. Think of it as robust software with more features, but it might take some time to master all its functionalities.

Another strength highlighted in reviews is BioTrack's ability to minimize errors and boost efficiency. Integration with hardware like scales and label printers reduces manual data entry, a common pain point in seed-to-sale management. One reviewer mentioned slashing data entry time in half – that's more time cultivating high-quality product or interacting with customers. However, BioTrack can be pricier than some competitors, especially for smaller businesses. While BioTrack offers robust features and security, it might not be the most budget-friendly option for every cannabis operation.

Overall, BioTrack seems well-suited for medium to large-sized businesses that prioritize robust features, compliance automation, and data-driven decision making. BioTrack's Cannalytics feature generates insightful reports that can help cultivators and retailers identify trends and optimize their strategies. This can be a game-changer, providing valuable insights into what customers want and when, just like a crystal ball for your cannabis business. While there's a learning curve, the time investment can pay off in the long run for businesses that can leverage BioTrack's comprehensive functionality.

Pros & Cons

  • Streamlined Compliance: BioTrack integrates seamlessly with various state traceability systems, automating reports and ensuring you stay on top of complex regulations. Think of it as your personal compliance assistant, freeing you up to focus on running your business.
  • Fewer Errors, More Efficiency: BioTrack integrates with hardware like scales and label printers, minimizing manual data entry and reducing the risk of human error. Imagine slashing data entry time by half – that's more time spent with customers and cultivating your product.
  • Seed-to-Sale Tracking: BioTrack meticulously tracks your inventory from seed to sale, providing real-time data on everything from plant growth to product sales. It's like having an X-ray vision for your cannabis operation, giving you a clear picture of what's coming in and going out.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: BioTrack's Cannalytics feature provides insightful reports that can help you identify trends, optimize pricing, and make informed business decisions. It's like having a crystal ball for your cannabis business, helping you predict what your customers will want and when.
  • Learning Curve: Some users report BioTrack's interface can be complex for new users, with a steeper learning curve compared to simpler inventory management systems. Imagine it as learning a new language – it might take some time to become fluent in BioTrack's functionalities.
  • Cost Considerations: BioTrack can be pricier than some competing seed-to-sale solutions, especially for smaller businesses. Think of it as a robust security system – it offers great protection, but comes with a premium price tag.
  • Potential Downtime: A few users mentioned occasional downtime with BioTrack, which can disrupt operations if your system relies heavily on real-time data. Imagine your inventory management system going offline during peak hours – it can be like a power outage at a critical moment.

Key Features

  • Cultivation Operations: The cultivation operations component of BioTrack supports elements such as yield forecasting and genealogy tracking. It collects and measures harvest data to help facilitate larger yields. It can also keep track of cross-breeding, clone potency results and plant genetics. Users can set up customized processes to make weighing wet and dry plant by-products easier, while also grading product quality upon curing. Past harvest data is accessible along with information regarding any applied nutrients or pesticides and strain notes containing information on light and watering cycles. 
  • Processing and Manufacturing: The processing and manufacturing tools can help ensure that your business complies with all necessary regulations and standards. It also supports conversion tracking and retains a chain of custody that logs product notifications, cost per-gram calculations and any recalls. Invoices and purchase orders can be quickly generated through this function along with transportation manifests that contain vehicle, cargo and driver information. You can add details to your inventory items and print relevant information on labels, including expiration dates, ingredients and potency. 
  • Dispensary POS: This capability can apply discounts automatically and supports loyalty points programs. It can create discounts based on factors such as product, time, date and brand. With differing cannabis purchase limits in place across geographic areas, the system can ensure that you don’t over dispense products to your customers by tracking based on equivalency and type. Out-of-the-box CRM functionality in BioTrack includes the ability to target text and email campaigns based on purchase history, favorite products, birthday and more. It also supports automated data entry and customer profiles. 
  • Partner Integrations: Available integrations offer digital menu boards, online ordering and advanced CRM tools. Equipment and hardware are directly integrated into your specialized solution and include printers, scales, terminals, etc. Corporate security partners that specialize in the cannabis industry are also available and can help with secure transport, armed guarding, camera systems and integrated security technology. Official partners include springbig, MainStem, RMBP, Helix TCS and Creative Cannabis Group. 
  • State Integrations: BioTrack is the only cannabis ERP solution that’s completely integrated with all METRC state systems. With this integration, you can report all your compliance data automatically to your respective state’s METRC tracking system, regardless of the license that you hold. The program is also fully integrated with Leaf Data Systems in Washington and the BioTrack state systems for each state. 
  • Deployment Options: This program is available for deployment both on-premise and through the cloud. It’s currently the only option on the market that can be hosted locally. Its cloud offering is highly secure through the use of AWS cloud hosting standards. 
  • Inventory Management: The inventory management function enables you to audit the entirety of your inventory, whether you are producing a wide range of products or just a handful, making sure all data is present and nothing has slipped through the cracks. You can also leverage reports that address compliance requirements and monitor KPIs through this tool. The program is NTEP Certified and allows you to look at and track product details down to the milligram.&nsp;
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Key Features

  • Accounting: The accounting function is GAAP-compliant. It also prepares financial documents according to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) along with adhering to group reporting needs. 
  • Full Reporting Engine: Viridian Sciences contains Custom Crystal Reports that are built with the specific needs of the cannabis industry at top of mind. You can also build your own reports or ask the vendor’s team to create them for you. All forms can be exported into Excel, and SQL server support is included. 
  • Item Management: You can coordinate items through batches, standard item management or individual serialized identifiers in the program. This increases flexibility and enables you to track the most relevant metrics in your system. 
  • Deep Hardware Integration: Viridian Sciences provides a variety of integrations. At its core, it can connect to various mobile devices such as cell phones and tablets to give users access to the solution while on the go. It also connects to scanners such as RFID scanners, barcode scanners, driver’s license ID scanners and cash drawers. Integration with printers such as digital scales, receipt printers and label printers is included as well. 
  • Planning/Forecasting: Greenhouse planning and cannabis forecasting are two components of this program that are especially helpful for producers or those going through the production workflow. The system lets you map out the grow lifecycle of every strain and input requirements such as water, space, fertilizer and light. The forecasting tool estimates your grow yield by leveraging real-time data. 
  • Materials Resource Planning: The materials resource planning function in this solution gives users visualization and control over factors such as inventory, warehouse space and employee time to ensure that all resources are being used effectively. 
  • Labeling: You can create completely customized labels using this system. Some of the aspects that you can include on your materials consist of FDA food product labeling, patient information, barcodes, collective info and more. 
  • Distribution: Viridian Sciences lets you create efficiencies, no matter the operational size. It enables you to track and manage products across multiple warehouses and bin locations. Order fulfillment automation is also available and streamlines the workflow by leveraging locators and zones. 
  • Point-of-Sale: The program offers mobile and browser POS. It also contains a customer portal where you can gain insight on patient and customer transactions and other trends. The system has automated financial processes so you can easily develop invoices, orders and shipments. Marketing campaign management and customer relationship management are also supported in this solution to help gain better sales leads and retain more customers. Third-party e-commerce integration is available, as well. 
Start Price
$250
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Why We Picked Leaf Logix

Is Leaf Logix the real deal or just a bunch of hype? Leaf Logix, now part of Dutchie POS, was a popular cannabis ERP solution that helped dispensaries, cultivators, and processors manage their operations. While users praised its features like accounting, batch management, and cultivation management, they also pointed out some shortcomings. One common complaint was the software's user interface, which some found outdated and clunky compared to newer competitors like QuantumLeaf and 365 Cannabis. Another issue was the lack of customization options, which limited users' ability to tailor the software to their specific needs. Despite these drawbacks, Leaf Logix was still a valuable tool for many businesses, especially those who appreciated its focus on compliance and its ability to track inventory and sales data. However, with the acquisition by Dutchie, Leaf Logix's future is uncertain, and users are left wondering if the new platform will be able to maintain the same level of functionality and support.

Leaf Logix was most suited for businesses that prioritized compliance and needed a comprehensive solution to manage their operations. Its strengths lay in its ability to track inventory, manage sales, and ensure compliance with regulations. However, its outdated interface and lack of customization options may have made it less appealing to businesses that valued a modern and flexible platform. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use Leaf Logix depends on the specific needs and priorities of each individual business.

Pros & Cons

  • Easy to Use: Users appreciate the intuitive interface, making it simple to navigate and manage inventory, even for those with limited tech experience.
  • Streamlined Sales Process: The system efficiently handles sales transactions, reducing wait times and improving customer satisfaction.
  • Comprehensive Reporting: The detailed reports provide valuable insights into sales trends, inventory levels, and customer behavior, allowing dispensaries to make informed decisions.
  • Excellent Customer Support: Users praise the responsive and helpful support team, who are readily available to address any issues or questions.
  • Limited Inventory Management: Some users have reported difficulty managing inventory levels, particularly when dealing with large quantities of products. This can lead to stockouts or overstocking, impacting sales and customer satisfaction.
  • Complex Reporting: Generating reports can be cumbersome, requiring multiple steps and potentially leading to errors. This can make it challenging to track key metrics and make informed business decisions.
  • Lack of Customization: The platform may not offer sufficient customization options to meet the specific needs of all dispensaries. This can limit the ability to tailor the system to unique workflows and processes.
  • Integration Challenges: Integrating Leaf Logix with other essential business systems, such as point-of-sale (POS) or accounting software, can be difficult. This can create data silos and hinder operational efficiency.

Key Features

  • In-Depth Sales Reports: The point of sale module allows users to review thorough sales reports and analytics by product or by customer. This accessory also offers loyalty and discount programs.  
  • Develop Labels: Users can create and print various labels for products through the point of sale accessory. They can implement patient check-ins and link to third-party solutions.  
  • Monitor Plant Life: The cultivation component permits users to employ adjustable metrics and workflow wizards to oversee the activity of more than 50,000 plants. It also invites users to create and print inventory tags. 
  • Manage Commissions and Transactions: Users may view their transaction history and sales commission with the wholesale and distribution element. This tool integrates with METRIC, BioTrack and Leaf Data as well.  
  • Enable E-Commerce: The e-commerce module allows users to delegate products for pickup or delivery. Users can also embed this module right into their websites and automatically track customer loyalty and allotments.  
  • Monitor Business Intel: Leaf Logix's business intelligence tool permits users to create custom reports and graphs to track performance. They can also employ one-click reporting templates.  
  • Build Recipes and Blend Products: The processing module authorizes users to craft new recipes, merge products and split capabilities. They can also update orders based on inventory availability and state rules. 
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Key Features

  • Team Management: Trace quality and monitor worker performances by allocating responsibilities. 
  • Cultivation Management: Handle real-time virtual management for all growing procedures in all locations. Businesses can detect the exact coordinates of their herbs, which staff members socialized with it during the lifecycle and how each portion of the plant was utilized or thrown away. Establish nutrient tracking by plant groupings to know the fees for materials, product cultivation practices and BI on cultivation files. 
  • Manufacturing Management: Govern all phases of materials and suppliers in one centralized location. The tracking accessories alert users about product whereabouts and amounts in every part of the supply chain. Manufacturers can also track expenditures by day, hour, method, employee, product line and square foot; create notification reminders when reordering supplies; predict future sales and superintend suppliers and gain authorization to a product's sell-through information.  
  • Delivery Management: Facilitate delivery courses when integrated with OnFleet, trace compensation and inventory immediately, govern labor and fleet and decide future inventory requirements. This trait enables businesses to execute more tactical methods for delivery services and boosts ROI. 
  • Distribution Management: Administer costs, inventory flows and popular client products. This tool also offers up-to-date visualizations and analytical components to know a distribution building's past, present and estimated future performances. 
  • Retail Management: Condense retail methodologies and assist dispensaries in getting a realistic snapshot of gross profits and revenue, budtender performance, on-hand inventory, labor costs and prospect patron traffic and sales. The point-of-sale (POS) system chronicles proof to generate discount offers, coupons, loyalty programs and patron tiers for rewards. 
  • Collaboration: Track orders, invoice payments and statuses, among other variables. It delivers reordering notifications, invoice reminders and automatic reordering notes for vendors. 
  • Compliance Management: Leverage a secure API key to chronicle compliance records automatically. Stow cannabis company information away and share statistics with auditors. Distribute automatic warnings to users when compliances are in jeopardy. 
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Why We Picked Clover

Clover shines for its user-friendly interface and extensive app marketplace, winning praise for its ease of use and flexibility. "It took my new employee barely a day to get comfortable with the system," one restaurant owner shared. Users rave about the ability to customize Clover with industry-specific apps, like a salon owner who added online booking, saying it "streamlined appointments and boosted customer satisfaction." However, Clover's appeal may wane as businesses scale. Some users feel constrained by the reporting capabilities, wishing for the deeper customization offered by competitors like Shopify POS. "Clover reports were too basic for analyzing my inventory trends," noted one retailer. Additionally, transaction fees for high-volume businesses can become a sticking point compared to more cost-effective options like Stripe. Finally, some users caution about potential hardware lock-in, where switching to different POS systems or even upgrading within Clover can be expensive due to incompatible hardware. This can be a deal-breaker for businesses unsure about their long-term needs. Overall, Clover excels for smaller businesses or those prioritizing ease of use and app integrations. However, its limitations in reporting, fee structure, and hardware flexibility become more apparent as businesses grow, pushing them towards more powerful and scalable POS solutions. Ultimately, the choice boils down to prioritizing user-friendliness and flexibility in the early stages versus advanced features and scalability as a business matures.

Pros & Cons

  • Ease of use: Praised for its intuitive interface and touchscreen operation, enabling quick learning and adoption for new employees, saving training time and boosting efficiency.
  • App customization: Users love the vast app marketplace offering industry-specific integrations and features, like appointment booking for salons or online ordering for restaurants, tailoring Clover to unique business needs.
  • Data-driven insights: Detailed sales reports and inventory tracking are seen as game-changers, providing valuable data to optimize operations, identify marketing opportunities, and make informed business decisions.
  • Reliable hardware: Users appreciate the quality and durability of Clover hardware, minimizing downtime and disruptions during peak hours, with features like offline payments ensuring service even without internet.
  • Scalability and flexibility: Clover's ability to adapt to growing businesses is a plus, with various hardware options and plan upgrades facilitating smooth transitions as transaction volume and business needs increase.
  • Higher monthly fees for high volume: While competitive for low-volume businesses, Clover's transaction fees and higher-tier plan costs can become significant for businesses processing large volumes, making other options like Stripe potentially more cost-effective.
  • Limited reporting customization: Users with complex reporting needs may find Clover's report customization options insufficient, lacking the depth and flexibility offered by dedicated business intelligence tools or high-end POS systems.
  • Potential hardware lock-in: Some features require specific Clover hardware, making switching to other POS systems or even upgrading within Clover potentially expensive as existing hardware may not be compatible.
  • Occasional app limitations: While the app marketplace is vast, certain industry-specific features or integrations may be missing, requiring workarounds or alternative solutions if Clover doesn't fully address a specific business need.
  • Steeper learning curve for complex features: While basic operations are user-friendly, advanced features like inventory management or employee roles can require more training and familiarization, potentially slowing down adoption for some users.

Key Features

  • Intuitive interface: Easy-to-use touchscreen interface for quick navigation and efficient transactions.
  • Payment processing: Accepts major credit cards, debit cards, contactless payments, gift cards, and more.
  • Inventory management: Track stock levels, set alerts, and generate purchase orders to optimize inventory control.
  • Employee management: Track employee hours, assign permissions, and manage payroll with ease.
  • Sales reporting: Generate detailed sales reports to track revenue, analyze trends, and make informed business decisions.
  • Customer management: Store customer information, track purchase history, and create loyalty programs to foster customer relationships.
  • App marketplace: Access a wide range of third-party apps to extend Clover's functionality and cater to specific business needs.
  • Hardware options: Choose from various terminals, card readers, and printers to create a custom POS setup that suits your business.
  • Mobile app: Manage your business on the go with Clover's mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
  • Cloud-based: Access data and manage your POS system from anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Security: Protects sensitive customer data with industry-leading security measures.
  • Customer support: Offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and online resources.
Start Price
$249
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Key Features

  • Online Store: Manage the organizational workflow with an easy to use, eCommerce platform. Get real-time updates about business activity across all platforms, allow customers to register and place orders online, receive instant notifications, track orders and process payments from an in-built dashboard. 
  • Offline Functionalities: Make the most of POS technologies to meet business requirements and simplify workflow. Make inventory adjustments, access customer databases, manage payments, process orders and more even when the store is offline due to loss of internet connectivity. Get offline developments automatically synced to the system after the connection is restored. 
  • Database Management: Create and regulate patient profiles across devices, locations and time zones. Categorize patients into groups based on profession, illness and physical ability, among others, manage paperless documents, view purchase history and account activity, send promotional texts and emails, update new information and more with a consolidated database. 
  • Delivery System: Place home delivery orders without the hassle of in-store visits. Manage inventory, track driver activity, create route maps, view order status and control each aspect related to successful delivery to optimize workflow with the cloud-based delivery. 
  • Strategic Marketing: Boost revenue, drive sales and increase customer base with an extensive customer marketing and promotional system. Use intuitive tools to send targeted messages and personalized greetings, create loyalty programs, inform patients about new events, build campaigns and make effective business decisions based on customer actions. 
  • Data Insights: Get detailed insights with easy-to-understand, data-backed reports about new registrations, patient activity, total orders, credit usage, visitor growth, totals spend and more. 
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Why We Picked Toast

Toast garners praise for its user-friendly interface, robust reporting, and mobile capabilities, making it a popular choice for restaurants of various sizes. Users appreciate its intuitive design, which simplifies training and streamlines daily operations compared to competitors like Square and Lightspeed POS. Toast's extensive reporting, often highlighted as superior to competitors, empowers data-driven decision-making by offering detailed insights into sales, labor, and customer behavior. Additionally, the ability to manage orders and payments tableside using mobile devices sets Toast apart, enhancing staff flexibility and customer service during peak hours.

However, concerns arise regarding Toast's pricing structure, customization options, and technical glitches. The multi-tiered pricing, perceived as more complex than competitors, can become expensive for businesses with specific needs or multiple locations. While Toast offers various features, users sometimes find them less customizable than those in competitors like Revel Systems, restricting their ability to tailor the system to their unique workflows. Occasional technical issues and reported long wait times for customer support raise concerns about reliability compared to competitors known for their robust technical support, such as Micros.

Ultimately, Toast's strengths in user-friendliness, reporting, and mobility resonate with many users, but its pricing complexity, limited customization, and potential technical issues demand careful consideration. Deciding factors often boil down to individual business needs, budget constraints, and desired level of customization. Weighing Toast's strengths against its potential drawbacks alongside competitor offerings becomes crucial for making an informed decision.

Pros & Cons

  • Intuitive interface: Users consistently praise Toast's easy-to-learn and navigate interface, with clear menus, large buttons, and simple workflows, making it accessible for staff of all technical levels.
  • Robust reporting: Toast's comprehensive reporting tools provide valuable insights into sales, inventory, labor costs, customer behavior, and more, empowering data-driven decision-making.
  • Mobile flexibility: Staff can take orders, process payments, and manage tables directly from tablets or smartphones, enhancing tableside service and flexibility during busy periods.
  • Reliable payment processing: Users commend Toast's integrated payment processing for its speed, reliability, and security, ensuring smooth transactions and minimizing downtime.
  • Scalability for growth: Toast's ability to accommodate multiple locations, expanding menus, and growing staff needs makes it a popular choice for businesses with expansion plans.
  • Pricing complexity: Users express frustration with Toast's tiered pricing structure, which can become confusing and expensive, especially for businesses with multiple locations or add-on features.
  • Limited customization: Some users find Toast's customization options for menus, reporting, and workflows to be somewhat restrictive, hindering their ability to tailor the system to unique business processes.
  • Technical glitches: Users occasionally report software glitches, hardware issues, or slow performance during peak hours, leading to temporary disruptions in operations.
  • Customer support wait times: While Toast offers 24/7 support, users sometimes experience long wait times for phone assistance or delayed responses to inquiries, causing frustration when urgent issues arise.
  • Inventory management limitations: Users with complex inventory needs, such as multiple suppliers or intricate recipe tracking, find Toast's inventory management capabilities to be somewhat basic and lacking in advanced features.

Key Features

  • Online Ordering: Allow guests to order food online for takeout and delivery, schedule orders in advance, access the online menu and make contactless payments. Receive new orders directly in the restaurant’s point of sale system, customize the online ordering page, access customer insights and request guest feedback to modify services. 
  • Gift Cards and Rewards: Boost customer influx and increase revenue by selling modern e-Gift Cards. Allow users to text or email cards for in-store and online purchases. Check card balance and schedule gift cards in advance to build relationships with customers. Sell customized physical gift cards and review detailed reports on gift card sales. 
  • Expedited Delivery: Create an on-demand delivery network with local drivers at a single per-order fee. Simplify the process with real-time order tracking and advance scheduling, online payment options and review restaurant services based on customer behavior with reporting and analytics. 
  • Email Marketing: Improve communication and drive customer retention with emails. Run targeted promotions, increase revenue, automate outreach and campaigns, create custom email lists, run A/B tests to refine communication, and send customized messages to deepen brand loyalty. 
  • Self-help Services: Accelerate the online ordering experience with self-help kiosks. Leverage quick restaurant service, reduce wait times and increase staff productivity. Offer a personalized dining experience with order add-ons, SMS notifications and real-time menu updates. 
  • Workspace Management: Facilitate efficient team regulation with a centralized labor management system. Log and track work hours, monitor timesheets, calculate tips, ensure paycheck accuracy with automated wage recording, register new staff electronically and more. Get insight into employee performance with detailed reports and analytics. 
Start Price
$159
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Why We Picked Mindbody

Mindbody is a business management software designed for gyms, spas, salons and other businesses in the wellness industry. On the plus side, it offers an innovative user interface, calendar syncing, marketing and CRM integrations, and insightful reporting capabilities. It offers a dynamic booking and scheduling system to schedule group sessions, set appointments, sell retail products, manage staff hours and more.

Based on user reviews, the software faces frequent crashes and bug problems. Customer service executives are undertrained and take hours to respond. All things considered, Mindbody is an ideal solution for businesses in the yoga and fitness industry.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly: The system offers a practical and innovative interface with quality graphics, according to 80% of users who reviewed this element.
  • Reporting: 60% of users who mentioned this feature said reporting tools are extensive and varied.
  • Functionality: 90% of users mentioning functionalities said the software offers great scheduling, booking and cancellation options.
  • Customer Service: The support executives are unresponsive, and wait times are long, according to 90% of users who reviewed this aspect.
  • Cost-Effective: 100% of users reviewing pricing found the software expensive.
  • Operating System: 90% of users reporting this element experienced frequent software crashes, outages and system bugs.

Key Features

  • Online Services: Manage and deliver services online for an enhanced customer experience. Organize virtual fitness classes, interact with clients using an AI receptionist, manage appointments, process digital payments and connect with members around the globe. Allow clients to schedule courses, access the content library, accept offers, drop reviews and more. 
  • Client Profiles: Automate and personalize services by managing individual profiles for staff members based on availability. Set the upper limit to the number of clients able to enroll in a given class, create automated waitlists, track remaining courses and allow online scheduling and payments. Access the client history, including past classes, membership status, signed contracts, waivers, invoices, due bills and more using the customer management tools. 
  • Payment Tools: Fast-track payments using multiple transaction options and seamless integration with third-party channels. Simplify the checkout process using software tools like the credit card magnetic reader, electronic cash drawer, barcode labels, thermal receipt printer and more. 
  • Mobile Application: Create a personalized mobile app to increase your brand exposure and broaden the customer experience. Boost client retention, engagement and spending and allow customers to book, schedule and access services directly from the phone. Send push notifications for deals and events announcements, cancellation notices and manage business operations on a single screen. 
  • Automated Customer Marketing: Send automatic emails and texts, create smart contact lists to deliver tailored messages and personalize marketing campaigns. Share announcements, request reviews, offer rewards, take feedback and run insightful reports to boost customer loyalty and retention. 
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$69
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Why We Picked Lightspeed

Lightspeed POS, a cloud-based solution catering to retail, hospitality, and service industries, garners mixed reviews from users. While lauded for its user-friendly interface, robust features, omnichannel capabilities, and seamless integrations, some find its pricing complex, offline functionality limited, and specific functionalities lacking.

Strengths that shine: Users consistently praise Lightspeed's intuitive interface, making it easy for both tech-savvy and less-experienced individuals to navigate. The vast feature set, encompassing inventory management, reporting, customer relationship management, and employee tools, caters to diverse business needs. Integrations with popular software like QuickBooks and Shopify streamline operations and data exchange. Notably, Lightspeed excels in omnichannel management, allowing businesses to manage online and physical stores seamlessly, a crucial strength in today's retail landscape.

Weaknesses to consider: The pricing structure, with tiered plans and additional fees for features like offline functionality, can be confusing for some users. The lack of true offline functionality can be a dealbreaker for businesses with unreliable internet or operating in remote areas. While the feature set is comprehensive, some users report limitations in specific areas like advanced inventory management, which might necessitate workarounds or third-party integrations.

Standing out from the crowd: Compared to competitors like Square POS and Shopify POS, Lightspeed offers a wider range of features and caters to more complex business needs. However, these strengths come at a higher price point. Ultimately, the choice between Lightspeed and its competitors boils down to individual business requirements and budget constraints.

In conclusion, Lightspeed POS is a feature-rich solution with a user-friendly interface, but its pricing structure and lack of true offline functionality can be drawbacks. If you prioritize omnichannel capabilities, extensive integrations, and a robust feature set, Lightspeed is worth considering. However, carefully evaluate your needs and budget against potential limitations before making a decision.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly Interface: Users consistently praise Lightspeed's intuitive interface, making it easy to navigate and perform tasks efficiently, even with limited technical experience.
  • Robust Features: Lightspeed offers an extensive suite of features, addressing various business needs, including inventory management, sales reporting, customer relationship management, employee management, and omnichannel capabilities.
  • Integrations: The system integrates seamlessly with a wide range of popular third-party software, such as accounting, marketing, and e-commerce platforms, streamlining workflows and data exchange.
  • Omnichannel Functionality: Lightspeed excels in managing both online and in-store sales channels effectively, providing a unified experience for customers and streamlining operations across multiple touchpoints.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Users appreciate the comprehensive reporting tools that offer insights into sales trends, customer behavior, inventory levels, and employee performance, enabling data-driven decision-making.
  • Customer Support: Lightspeed offers multiple support channels, including phone, email, and online resources, with generally helpful and knowledgeable agents, providing assistance when needed.
  • Pricing Structure: Some users find the tiered pricing plans and add-on fees confusing, making it difficult to calculate accurate costs upfront.
  • Limited Offline Functionality: Reliance on an internet connection can be problematic for businesses with unreliable internet or those operating in remote areas.
  • Inventory Management Issues: Some users have reported challenges with inventory tracking accuracy, slow syncing across multiple locations, and a lack of advanced inventory features.
  • Customer Support Wait Times: While generally helpful, customer support can experience longer wait times during peak periods, leading to potential delays in resolving issues.
  • Steeper Learning Curve: The extensive feature set can be overwhelming for less tech-savvy users, requiring a greater investment in training and onboarding.
  • Customization Limitations: Adapting the system to highly specific workflows or unique business models can be challenging without extensive workarounds or third-party integrations.

Key Features

  • E-Commerce: Set up an online store with customizable, mobile-friendly templates and built-in SEO tools. Sync inventories across all physical locations, purchase stock from the Lightspeed Supplier Market and sell units from a unified dashboard. Manage in-store appointments and Google local inventory ads from the POS system. 
  • Payment Processing: Complete sales with simple pricing, no hidden fees, a fast and secure checkout experience, and built-in PCI compliance and fraud detection. Process transactions with EMV-compatible terminals and accept all payment methods. Receive a dedicated expert’s assistance on dispute management and chargeback issues. Available only in the U.S; external integrations are required for payment processing in Canada, Australia and the U.K. 
  • Loyalty: Offer a point-based loyalty program with flexible reward tiers to incentivize customer loyalty and boost retention. Manage both in-store and online promotions and coupons while providing one-time special offers on birthdays or to VIP shoppers. Boost custom marketing campaigns with seasonal promotions and auto-segment customers based on their purchasing habits. 
  • Analytics: Drill down on critical areas with customizable reports and monitor sales, inventory and employee performance to make growth-oriented decisions. With Analytics Core, pay only for the expert-crafted reports required for business instead of the whole suite of report templates. 
  • Lightspeed Accounting: This integration creates a link between a store’s POS and accounting systems. Record business finances with automatic bookkeeping and receive daily sales receipts, profit and loss statements and more. 
  • Hardware: Choose from various hardware bundles for businesses or acquire single items, including zebra label printers, USB or Bluetooth bar scanners, Verifone P400 PIN pads, TM-m30 receipt printers and more. Design branded gift cards for the store and ship them to customers’ doorsteps. 
  • Restaurant Point of Sale: Offers industry-specific POS system for restaurants. 
    • Delivery: Syncs menu with major delivery apps like UberEats, SkipTheDishes or DoorDash to scale business and reach more customers. Receive delivery orders, promote high-margin dishes, create delivery-only menus and more. 
    • Order Ahead: Provide customers with the flexibility to order ahead for takeout, curbside pickup and appointments. They can add custom notes, table and room number requested, whether utensils are required and more details. Keep customers in the loop with real-time SMS notifications. 
    • Self Order Menus: Let customers send their orders via an interactive digital menu directly to the kitchen, bypassing the need for waiters and servers. Realign employees to focus on faster cooking, increasing order accuracy and improving customer service. 
    • Kitchen Display System: Displays a detailed view of every order, including turnaround time and images, color codes orders according to assigned chefs, and sends alerts for pending orders. Have online orders directly go to the display board after submission for faster preparation. 
    • Customer Facing Display: Exhibit the total breakdown of customers’ orders, subtotal cost, tax percentage, tips paid and total price on a display screen. Customize the screen with business logo and brand colors while advertising high-margin dishes or the item-of-the-day. 
    • Enterprise: Run multiple restaurants located in different places with a cloud-based POS system. Monitor each location’s sales, employee and promotional data while centralizing customer data from numerous areas. Customize and scale as needed with an open API interface. 
  • Golf Course Management: Caters to businesses that operate golf courses. 
    • Tee Sheets: Personalize tee sheets according to the facility’s structure. Manage golf courses from nine to 54 holes. Accommodate any play type, including shotguns, crossovers, front or back nines and more. 
    • Booking Management: Players can register for tournaments and pick their tee times. Organize monthly or yearly leagues, track attendees and review metrics from the dashboard. 
    • Membership Management: Create unlimited types of memberships, customize booking restrictions and pricing structures per type, and automate the billing process. 
    • Professional Website: Increase online presence, showcase facilities, attract more golfers and provide flexible payment options through a personalized website and mobile application. Design websites with preset templates or customize them with source coding. The vendor takes charge of website maintenance. 
  • Integrations: Leverage various integrations for assistance in accounting, analytics, CRM, marketing, payment processing (In the U.K, Canada and Australia), ERP, invoicing and more. 
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Why We Picked Square POS

Square POS shines for its ease of use and affordability for small businesses, especially those starting out. Users praise its intuitive interface, seamless setup, and mobile accessibility, making it a breeze to ring up customers and manage basic sales. It also integrates well with popular tools like email marketing and accounting software, offering a centralized platform for managing various aspects of their business. However, Square's appeal wanes as businesses grow. Users lament its limited reporting and inventory management features, lacking the depth and customization offered by competitors like Shopify POS or Clover. Square's higher transaction fees for larger volumes also become a drawback compared to options like Stripe, which offer lower rates based on monthly transaction volume. Furthermore, Square's customer support receives mixed reviews. While some appreciate its responsiveness, others face frustrating wait times and limited communication channels, especially compared to the dedicated phone and live chat support offered by competitors. Overall, Square POS is a strong contender for solopreneurs and micro-businesses seeking a user-friendly and affordable POS solution. However, its limitations become apparent as businesses scale, pushing them towards more robust and feature-rich platforms. The choice ultimately boils down to prioritizing ease of use and affordability in the early stages versus scalability and advanced features as a business grows.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly: 96% of users who reviewed this element said the software is flexible and mobile with a clean user interface.
  • Economical: According to 70% of users who mentioned this aspect, the pricing is fair and competitive.
  • Card Payments: 80% of users who reviewed payments said the platform is useful for processing cashless transactions with cards and sending invoices.
  • Invoicing: Regarding this feature, 95% of users said it’s easy to create, add and send invoices to clients.
  • Costly for high-volume transactions: The per-transaction fees become significant as your business grows, pushing Square beyond cost-effective for many merchants.
  • Limited reporting and inventory: Users find Square's reports lack depth and flexibility, making detailed sales analysis and inventory management challenging.
  • Unreliable customer support: Users report difficulty reaching support, long wait times, and frustrating email-only communication, leaving them feeling helpless when issues arise.
  • Account holddowns and closures: Square's automated fraud detection can lead to sudden account freezes and closures, causing business disruptions and difficulties resolving the issue.
  • Clunky hardware: Some users find the Square hardware, particularly the chip reader, clunky and frustrating to use, impacting checkout workflow and customer experience.

Key Features

  • Intuitive Register Interface: Easy-to-use touch-screen interface with customizable menu items, modifiers, and employee permissions.
  • Payment Processing: Accept all major credit cards, debit cards, contactless payments, gift cards, and cash.
  • Inventory Management: Track stock levels, set low-stock alerts, and generate purchase orders.
  • Employee Management: Track employee hours, create schedules, and manage payroll.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Store customer information, track purchase history, and send targeted marketing campaigns.
  • Sales Reporting: Generate reports on sales, inventory, employee performance, and customer behavior.
  • Mobile App: Access Square POS from your smartphone or tablet to process payments, manage inventory, and view reports on the go.
  • Online Ordering: Allow customers to order and pay online for pickup or delivery.
  • Loyalty Program: Reward customers for repeat business with points, discounts, and special offers.
  • Gift Cards: Sell physical and digital gift cards to boost sales and customer loyalty.
  • Integrations: Connect Square POS with other business tools, such as accounting software, payroll providers, and email marketing platforms.

COMPARE THE BEST Dispensary Software

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$50
Monthly
No
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Still gathering data
No
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$250
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No
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No
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$0.10
Per Transaction, 2.3% Flat Rate
Yes
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$249
Yes
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$69
Per Terminal, Monthly
Yes
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$159
No
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$69
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$29
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All Dispensary Software (38 found)

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Toast

by Toast
Toast
Toast is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system designed to streamline operations for restaurants and businesses in the hospitality industry. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, including order processing, inventory management, employee scheduling, and customer relationship management (CRM) tools. Toast caters to businesses of all sizes, from independent cafes to multi-location restaurant chains. One of its key strengths lies in its ease of use and intuitive interface, making it suitable for both tech-savvy and non-technical users. Additionally, Toast boasts robust reporting capabilities, providing valuable insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and staff performance. Integration with third-party delivery services and online ordering platforms further enhances its functionality. While Toast offers a free basic plan with limited features, paid subscriptions are required to access its full potential. Pricing varies depending on the number of users, terminals, and desired functionalities. Compared to similar POS systems, Toast generally falls within the mid-range price bracket, offering a good balance between affordability and feature richness. However, user reviews highlight that its pricing structure can become complex for businesses with intricate needs. Pros Easy to use interface Robust reporting tools Third-party integrations Scalable for all businesses Free basic plan option Cons Mid-range pricing complexity Limited customization options Occasional technical issues Long customer support wait times Not ideal for complex inventory
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
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Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Buyer's Guide

Dispensary Software Is All About Serving Customers Better

Dispensary Software BG Intro

With legalization sweeping many U.S. states, legal cannabis use is on the rise. But, as much as the drug has become more widely accepted for medicinal and recreational uses alike, the cannabis industry is still fairly new, and dispensaries face challenges that are unique from other retail businesses.

That’s where dispensary software comes in. It’s a handy point of sale tool specialized for the needs of dispensaries, helping you manage your day to day operations smoothly and efficiently. They also support other essential functions of your business, and keep you on top of modern retail trends, like contactless payments and curbside pickup.

Want to find out what the right dispensary software can do for your business? Read on!

Executive Summary

  • Dispensary software helps effectively manage front and back-office operations.
  • It handles business inventory, customer relationships, marketing, reporting and analytics, and payment processing.
  • It works with hardware solutions like touchscreen terminals, barcode scanners, label printers, tablets and mobile devices, customer-facing displays and credit card readers.
  • Be sure to ask potential vendors any questions you may have about the software before committing to a solution.
What This Guide Covers:

What Is Dispensary Software?

Dispensary software is a point of sale solution specialized for the needs of dispensaries and other cannabis retail businesses. In addition to processing payments and completing purchases, dispensary software also helps with supportive tasks in your daily business operations, like inventory management, and keeps easily accessible records of important data like your sales and transaction history.

These solutions go beyond the scope of what was possible with a traditional cash drawer. You can connect offline and online stores, as well as multiple brick-and-mortar store locations, to a single platform, giving you a fuller picture of your business operations. The software also provides a CRM suite to manage customer relationships and help market products and services strategically.

Primary Benefits

Let’s go over some of the ways the software can help your dispensary.

Primary Benefits of Dispensary Software

1. Customer Retention

Reward programs, coupon giveaways and flash sales incentivize customers to return to your business. You can also send them personalized messages on special occasions, gather and address their feedback, and build targeted email campaigns.

2. Accuracy

Save time on manual tasks such as counting inventory, data entry, sending notifications and processing payrolls. Advanced automation tools handle everyday business functions accurately and in less time so you can focus your customers’ experience.

3. Better Decision-making

How much cannabis are you selling daily? Which products are customers’ favorite? Advanced reporting and analytics provide insights into various KPIs, including total sales, profit margins, top-performing employees and customer retention. This helps you evaluate business performance and takes the guesswork out of future planning.

Key Features & Functionality

Inventory Management

Calculate, update and track in-store and online inventory from a central platform. You can edit item quantities, add product descriptions, manage pricing and more for all store locations without switching platforms.

Scan product barcodes to automatically update quantities when an item sells or is restocked, and determine order volumes based on sales trends to avoid wasting money on unsold goods.

Customer Relationship Management

67% of retailers say enhancing customer experience is their top business priority, and 41% use personalization to achieve it.

Tailor your marketing to retain existing customers and find new ones using advanced CRM tools. Collect and segment personal information like age, location, profession and total spending to build targeted email campaigns, offer special discounts, recommend products and send personalized messages.

Send promotional messages to customers and keep them updated about new stock, policy updates, store hours and new locations via email, SMS and in-app notifications.

Reporting and Analytics

Generate data reports to evaluate business performance and identify key strengths and weaknesses. Measure valuable KPIs like accounting, inventory, sales and payments using analytical BI tools.

Employee Management

Plot schedules and meetings, mark holidays, track time off and more on an integrated calendar. Keep track of employee working hours, regulate system access based on job roles and set sales targets for staff members.

Using real-time data reports, get a breakdown of each employee’s hourly sales, total time worked, time off taken, items sold and more.

Integrations

Integrate key business areas like reporting, accounting, inventory, marketing and CRM with popular third-party applications.

Sell more across platforms, centralize multi-location decision-making and enhance your online presence to reach more customers and make profits.

Software Comparison Strategy

Now that we’ve covered the basics of dispensary software, let’s discuss the process of selecting one for your business.

Knowing what your business needs is a good place to start. What are your goals? Which features do you need to achieve them? To get a sense of where your business could improve, discuss your business goals with key stakeholders and staff.

Next, list top market solutions and compare them in terms of pricing, features, customer support options and customer reviews. If you feel overwhelmed by this step, don’t worry. We’ve curated top software options in our software comparison report to help narrow down your choices.

Before committing to any solution, you’ll want to have a conversation with potential vendors and make sure all of your questions are answered. Make sure to go through vendor websites, talk to customers who have worked with them and read online reviews about their services.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

The cost of dispensary software depends on various factors, like the size of your business and customer base, industry type, the number of users and primary requirements.

Some factors that affect the total cost are:

  • Installation and configuration
  • Third-party integrations
  • Subscription plan
  • Licensing
  • Branding
  • Customer support
  • POS Hardware
  • Customizations

The Most Popular Dispensary Software

To help with your search, our analysts have curated the top three dispensary software solutions on the market. Check out our picks below!

Lightspeed

Lightspeed provides POS solutions to vape, hemp, CBD and legal cannabis merchants through its 2ACCEPT integration. Some software features include inventory management, reporting and analytics, eCommerce, payment processing and multi-store management.

Lightspeed

Generate real-time data reports to evaluate business performance. Source

Square

Square offers POS tools for CBD and hemp retailers like sales tracking, inventory management, payment processing, reporting and analytics, and invoicing. You can record all transactions offline by storing data locally and managing item details, such as names, prices and quantities, from a single location.

Toast

Integrate with hardware devices to improve operations. Source

Korona

Korona provides POS solutions like inventory management, eCommerce, sales reporting, automated ordering, CRM, multi-store management and contactless payments. The product fully complies with state and regulatory laws, has an online store menu and advanced hardware solutions to simplify business management.

Korona

Manage in-store and online inventory processes from a single location. Source

 

 

Questions To Ask

Get a better sense of what your business needs by asking yourself questions like:

  • What is my budget?
  • What are my primary requirements?
  • Do I have existing hardware?
  • Do I plan to scale?
  • How many people will use the software?

Dispensary Software Key Questions To Ask

Here are some questions to ask potential vendors about the vendor and the software:

  • Which devices does the software support?
  • Can you provide customer recommendations?
  • Is the system remotely accessible?
  • Does the system backup data automatically?
  • When was the last software update?

In Conclusion

By covering the essentials, dispensary software can transform how you run your cannabis business. It’s a great tool to improve your customers’ experience and take your business to the next level.

Ready to see what dispensary software can do for you? Get started today with our POS software requirements template and take the next step in finding the right solution for your needs.

Product Comparisons

Additional Resources

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Technical Content Writer
Ishani is a Technical Content Writer at SelectHub who covers LMS, workforce management, telemedicine and POS. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and is passionate about translating complex technical concepts into engaging and accessible content for readers. Along with keeping the professional spirit hydrated, she likes petting dogs, looking up random facts and listening to any Lumineers song on repeat.
Technical Research By Mohit Hariramani
Senior Analyst
Mohit has a degree and Master in Finance from Mumbai, India, his years of professional market research experience started in 2019. His expertise lies in categories such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Manufacturing, Inventory Management, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Facility Management Software (FMS), POS Systems (Point of Sale) and more. Through his academic and professional background, he honed skills in attention to detail, navigating ambiguity, and analytical prowess, which uniquely equip him to manage and thrive in the dynamic landscape of these diverse categories. He's passionate about leveraging his knowledge and experience to contribute effectively to the assigned technology areas.
Technical Review By Kankana Kalita
Principal Analyst
A seasoned business and research analyst, Kankana Kalita specializes in ERP, CMMS, manufacturing, construction, supply chain, HRMS and CRM. Prior to joining SelectHub, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Engineering, an MBA in Operations and Marketing, and worked in email marketing and logistics.
Content Editor
As an editor, Dianna Dragonetti leads a team of five writers in writing about a variety of software, with an emphasis on how these tools empower businesses. Categories include accounting, learning management systems, content management systems, supply chain management, and electronic data interchange.