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When working with integrating applications from two vendors, the experience can be frustrating for end-users. Data exchanges may not always flow smoothly, particularly when there’s no front-end for one of the applications.
Without a front-end, the integration grows exponentially more complex. Users cannot tap into an interface with menus, buttons, and checkboxes to make sure they enter the correct information and format it properly. Users also have no way of knowing if their data submissions have been received and processed by the application back-end without development tools and experience.
That’s the challenge Florida cannabis businesses faced when the state announced it would use BioTrack as its track-and-trace compliance platform. The platform had no front-end for cultivators, processors, distributors, and retailers.
Without a front-end, cannabis operators can’t confirm with certainty if they are entering all the required information to maintain compliance with state regulations. They must rely and trust their software partners and systems that the integration is working as needed. Adding to the challenge…the state announced hefty per day fines in 2024 for any cannabis businesses that did not submit and complete an integration with BioTrack by a specific date identified without coordination with those developing the integration.
In response to the Florida BioTrack challenge, Velosio jumped into action. We wanted to help our customers who rely on SilverLeaf-our end-to-end solution that runs on the enterprise-class Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP platform and provides comprehensive financial management capabilities along with full seed-to-sale tracking for cannabis businesses.
SilverLeaf has long integrated with Metrc, a track-and-trace compliance platform used by many states. The states using Metrc provide a front-end for applications like SilverLeaf to connect to. However, the integration with BioTrack in Florida required complex coding for the API.
Not to worry—the Velosio application developers were up to the task!
We worked closely with BioTrack software developers as well as SilverLeaf customers to make sure we understood both perspectives. We were the first to successfully integrate a full-featured ERP solution that includes financials, inventory control, cultivation, and seed-to-sale tracking. We even passed the integration test on our first attempt.
From there, we continued to collaborate with BioTrack and our customers to iron out issues as SilverLeaf end-users submitted compliance data to BioTrack. Our Florida customers now have a streamlined process for automatically uploading compliance data from SilverLeaf to BioTrack.
As users log into SilverLeaf, they encounter guardrails ensuring compliance as they move cultivation to sales orders and other modules. Our Florida customers appreciate the wide range of cannabis workflows provided by SilverLeaf, but in particular, they value three features as they interact with BioTrack:
Auto tag generation – users don’t have to wait for BioTrack to conduct their work in SilverLeaf. We created a workflow to replace tags in SilverLeaf with tags from BioTrack once the work is complete in SilverLeaf. So if the Florida BioTrack system is down, users don’t have to stop their work.
Inventory reconciliation – SilverLeaf reconciles state-tracked inventory with BioTrack to make sure all controlled cultivation and manufactured items sync between the two systems. Every plant and product that has any THC gets a tag, and SilverLeaf confirms what the state thinks you have matches what you actually have. This feature gives you one screen for viewing all your sub-lotting movements when you break up batches.
BioTrack output quantity – this feature auto populates the cannabis output quantity in manufacturing to submit to BioTrack, but in the background SilverLeaf is not only submitting the cannabis quantity, it is additionally running a second procedure to consume and input additional non-cannabis ingredients from the bill of materials. This is a multi-step procedure in BioTrack that SilverLeaf has solved in a single step for users. An example of this procedure would be converting raw distillate into mixed distillate containing non-cannabis derived terpenes.
While handling these processes and other compliance workflows, the SilverLeaf integration with BioTrack happens behind the scenes. Users can focus just on the SilverLeaf inputs—knowing they are providing the right compliance information for BioTrack and getting the right information back.
Good News for All Florida Cannabis OperatorsThe integration between SilverLeaf and BioTrack is also good news for cannabis operators in Florida with rapidly growing businesses that run on entry-level accounting software. Simplified solutions (like QuickBooks and standalone seed-to-sale software) provide one-dimensional insights and then make you do the heavy lifting with spreadsheets to get the answers you need.
• Enhance process efficiencies
• Maintain regulatory compliance
• Streamline production
• Gain insights for strategic planning
• Streamline procurement
• Manage inventory levels
• Coordinate cultivation
• Apply quality controls
• Facilitate sales and order fulfillment
These disconnected and incomplete applications rob organizations of the visibility to sustain growth, expansion, and profitability. In contrast, SilverLeaf-with functions tailored for the cannabis industry gives cannabis operators a clear way to run their business as it grows. This includes workflows for planting, processing, distributing, selling, and order fulfillment along with maintaining compliance.
With Business Central as the base technology, deploying SilverLeaf also allows you to connect your ERP platform to integrate with the Microsoft technology stack. This includes popular productivity tools such as Excel, Word, Teams, and Outlook as well as Power Apps and Power BI.
The integration between SilverLeaf and BioTrack in Florida is also good news for cannabis operators in other states that rely on BioTrack. This includes New York, Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico, Virginia, and five other states.
In these states, the BioTrack platform offers a front-end. This allows Velosio to quickly set up the integration with SilverLeaf, and with the integration in place, compliance-related data input into SilverLeaf flows automatically into BioTrack.
For cannabis companies not using SilverLeaf, it’s the easiest path to get integrated with BioTrack so that the whole process of complying with the state regulations becomes smoother and easier.
Velosio has spent three decades implementing and configuring ERP solutions for various industries. We value Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central as the foundation of SilverLeaf because it gives our team the flexibility to configure extensible solutions that are industry-specific for cannabis growers, yet manageable for a lean IT team.
For more information on SilverLeaf and how Velosio can integrate the solution with your state track-and-trace compliance program, contact Velosio today. We also invite you to schedule a demo. Discover how end-to-end business management built on top of best-in-class ERP functions empowers your operations—from accounting and inventory to production processing and regulatory compliance.
Talk to us about how Velosio can help you realize business value faster with end-to-end solutions and cloud services.
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