April 20th (4/20) is the biggest day of the year for Canadian cannabis retailers. Foot traffic surges, online orders spike, and your dispensary tech is pushed to the limit. A single glitch can lead to long lines, frustrated customers, and missed revenue opportunities.
Before the rush hits, run through this essential 4/20 cannabis tech checklist to ensure your operations are fast, smooth, and stress-free.
1. Stress-Test Your Cannabis POS System
Your Point of Sale (POS) system will be under maximum strain.
- Run test transactions during peak hours.
- Ensure your budtenders are fully trained and confident.
- Monitor system speed and reliability.
A slow or crashing system on 4/20 can lead to long lineups and lost sales. Your POS should offer real-time performance and minimal downtime under pressure.
2. Confirm Real-Time Inventory Sync Across Channels
Selling out of a product in-store while it’s still listed online? That’s a customer service nightmare.
- Make sure your POS, online store, and in-store menus sync in real-time.
- Double-check inventory for 4/20 promos and top-sellers.
- Ensure automated stock level updates across platforms.
Accurate inventory management prevents overselling, protects your reputation, and keeps operations compliant.
3. Inspect and Back Up Your Dispensary Hardware
Don’t let a broken receipt printer or barcode scanner slow down your biggest sales day.
- Test barcode scanners, payment terminals, receipt printers, and scales.
- Clean and calibrate devices ahead of time.
- Keep spare hardware for mission-critical equipment.
Hardware hiccups cause instant bottlenecks, prepare now to avoid last-minute chaos.
4. Optimize Your Cannabis Checkout Experience
How fast can you serve each customer? On 4/20, every second counts.
- Test Express Lanes, mobile POS stations, and self-checkout kiosks.
- Train your team to guide customers to faster checkout options.
- Set up signage to help manage customer flow and reduce wait times.
The smoother the checkout, the more sales you make and the happier your customers are.
5. Set Up Cannabis Retail Reporting Tools
4/20 data is gold if you’re capturing it.
- Make sure your POS tracks sales by product, time, and employee.
- Collect insights on which promos worked best.
- Use reporting to plan future promotions, staffing, and inventory strategies.
Robust reporting helps you make smarter decisions post-4/20.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let a Tech Issue Cost You on 4/20
April 20th is your opportunity to shine! But only if your dispensary tech stack is ready for the pressure.
Taking time now to run through these critical checks can mean the difference between a record-breaking day and a missed opportunity.
Ready to Future-Proof Your Dispensary?
Switch. Scale. Succeed.
TechPOS – Cannabis POS You Can Trust.
If you’re exploring ways to upgrade your tech, streamline your operations, and boost your bottom line, we’re here to help.
👉 Reach out today to learn how TechPOS empowers cannabis retailers across Canada to grow with confidence.
