PART 2: THE MOST COMMON METRC TRANSITION CHALLENGES ACROSS THE SUPPLY CHAIN

DISTRIBUTION

TRANSFER BOTTLENECKS AND LACK OF METRC PACKAGE TAGS

The BCC is advising to manage all inventory within METRC as a batch rather than serialization by case.

From our previous operational experience it became very clear the only way to accurately maintain METRC inventory was through serialization on a case level rather than by batch. Learn more about METRC Package Tag management here.

In most other states that use METRC, the state allows the licensed operator to order package and plants tags by purchasing the tags directly in the UI (a tech term for User Interface). However, California functions a bit differently. The price of METRC Package Tags are included in the application fee. California has provided a set amount of tags per license type and volume of sales in the operation. In our opinion, this is attempting to dictate how the licensed operator controls their inventory without the state of California fully understanding the impact this creates to the operation.

Tags may be in short supply but they still should be used properly to ensure all inventory items can be tracked from seed to sale. Look at the diagram to better understand the flow of METRC package tag management.

BOTTLENECKS IN THE CALIFORNIA SUPPLY CHAIN ARE OCCURRING BECAUSE THE TRANSFERS API ROUTE IS INACCESSIBLE.

The lack of an open Transfers API route within METRC will effect every single licensee in the supply-chain. At California’s scale and volume of transactions it is imperative this API route opens up for the success of the California market on METRC.

Be warned - Any technology solution that is overselling stating they have automated the building of the METRC manifest is not telling the truth. There are some other available system features to help facilitate this, however, the actual building of the manifest is not automated for anyone in California. Learn more on what API questions to ask Third Party Technology Solutions in our blog Ghost Weight: What Your Technology Provider Isn’t Telling You About METRC Compliance.

This is Part 2 of a 5-part series. View the other installments here: 

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BriAnne Ramsay