A key component of any good cannabis security plan is keeping an eye on inventory as it moves through the supply chain from cultivation and manufacturing to retail dispensaries.
Traveling with product can be a high-risk activity, and it’s the reason that some cannabis operators use armored vehicles for added protection. For an additional layer of security, some operators install security cameras inside their vehicles, also known as mobile video surveillance, so they can visually track product wherever it goes and resolve any incidents of missing inventory. For example, if a dispensary claims there was damaged or missing goods, mobile surveillance allows you to review recorded video of the product being loaded onto a truck at the cultivation center and unloaded at the dispensary location. Video doesn’t lie, making it easy to confirm what was delivered and its condition upon delivery.
Help Business Operations
With some mobile surveillance systems, you can go one step further to manage your inventory with radio frequency identification (RFID) data integrated with video. With this type of solution, the video system captures RFID-tagged plants as they move from point A to point B. All of the RFID data is searchable in the surveillance system, so you can literally track product from seed to sale. In the case of missing or damaged product, you can quickly search the RFID number or product ID code and see the associated video footage for the plant, which is especially helpful in states where RFID tagging is already required for cannabis seed-to-sale tracking. Furthermore, these video insights can provide valuable business intelligence by tracking inventory turns, as well as monitoring losses and damages.
Additionally, an all-IP mobile surveillance system can also be integrated with vehicle CAD and AVL systems to gather GPS location. This type of integration also allows you to monitor the vehicle’s speed, traffic accidents or violations, and other vehicle information from start to finish. With home deliveries becoming a more popular option for consumers, it is important to have video surveillance that can evaluate driver behavior and determine if proper regulations are being followed, such as ensuring that a vehicle doesn’t accidentally cross a state border where cannabis sales are still illegal.
Integrate Fixed and Mobile Video Feeds
Depending upon the system you choose, it’s possible to have the same video management software for both your fixed facilities and transport vehicles. This ensures that you see the full picture and can adequately monitor your supply chain, from cultivation to transportation, and onto sales to customers. Again, if you choose a system with business intelligence reporting tools, it can also provide you with valuable data on employee behavior and customer interactions.
Ultimately, by tracking your product in-transit with mobile video surveillance, you are gaining business insights, reducing security and safety risks, as well as maintaining regulatory compliance for your jurisdiction.
About the author: Chris Jensen is the Cannabis Market Manager for March Networks.
