Investing in pre-roll automation can be a game-changer for your cannabis business, but it’s not without its risks.
Before making the leap, it’s crucial to understand the potential pitfalls and how to mitigate them.
1. High Initial Costs
Industrial pre-roll machines are expensive. The initial investment could act as a significant financial strain, especially for smaller operations.
Reality Check:
It’s quite possible you may not have enough pre-roll business to financially justify automation. Contact the Hefestus team today if you have questions about that.
However, if you can drive enough demand through consumer sales and/or co-packing for other brands, the savings on labor alone will be more than enough to cover your monthly payments on the machine.
Amazing, right? Yet this is exactly what other Hefestus clients have told us.
Mitigation:
Hefestus offers financing options, giving operators greater flexibility in how they grow their business.
2. Maintenance and Downtime
Automated equipment is prone to the occasional malfunction. Sometimes parts wear out and need replacing.
All that is inevitable.
Reality Check:
The real question is how long it takes you to get the machine running again.
Perhaps you’ve heard the horror stories here. Pre-roll machines collecting dust for weeks or months because the team can’t even get it to work.
Mitigation:
With Hefestus, clients have 24/7 tech support, fast access to parts, and guidance every step of the way.
Downtime for Hefestus machines is rare although typically ranges from 30 minutes to a single shift if we need to overnight ship any parts to you.
3. Learning Curve and Training
New technology often requires a steep learning curve for your team, potentially disrupting your production initially.
Reality Check:
Your staff might need weeks to get fully up to speed with new machinery, affecting productivity during the transition.
Mitigation:
During installation, a lead tech from Hefestus will spend up to five days on site, training the team on the ins and outs of the machine, drilling them on every nuance.
He doesn’t leave until he’s satisfied that the team has mastered how to operate the machine.
4. Compatibility Issues
Integrating new automated systems with your existing processes can be challenging and may require additional modifications.
Reality Check:
Incompatibility between new and old systems can cause operational inefficiencies that will only slow you down.
Mitigation:
Work closely with your automation partner to ensure seamless integration. You way want to explore the optional add-ons from Hefestus, such the low-heat industrial grinder, the tube labeling machine, or the pre-roll weighing machine.
5. Changing Roles and Processes
When you invest in reliable pre-roll technology, it changes your manufacturing outlook. How you navigate this phase is important for the future of your business.
Reality Check
Your business is growing and evolving. Your manufacturing processes will have to evolve with it if you want to run a tight operation and make the most of your pre-roll automation.
Mitigation
If this is a struggle for you, don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Connect with manufacturers in other markets who have the same machine you do. Many of them will be happy to privately share their lessons learned and their wins.
Ready to explore pre-roll automation?
Download Hefestus’s free brochure today if you want to grow your pre-roll business:
