Case study: Giving 314 Pure digital batch records in seconds not days

TL;DR - Thanks to Elevated Signals' software, 314 Pure cannabis was able to save time, money and boss its audits! Here are the key successes:

  • 5x more cost effective that its paper + seed-to-sale combination
  • Batch release in 10 seconds, rather than 10 days
  • 15x increase in functionality compared to the previous system
  • Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements

You can download the case study here, or read the full story below ☺️

The Situation

314 Pure is a licensed cannabis producer with cutting-edge grow rooms in its 42,500 sq. ft facility in Crossfield, Alberta.

314 Pure is focused on using sustainable methods to develop small batch, premium cannabis products, which it sells under its consumer brand Poolboy.

314 Pure originally used Seed to Sale software alongside pen, paper and spreadsheets to manage its inventory and Health Canada compliance. While there were cracks in this hybrid system from day one, the inefficiencies were heightened as the producer’s operations began to scale. “The whole process was becoming very time consuming and expensive to manage,” said Katie Kapcsos, QAP, “and on top of this the Seed to Sale software we were using had limited capabilities.”

According to Katie, in its existing Seed to Sale platform the team was unable to track anything other than plant inventory, “our quality records were on paper and not linked in any way to our inventory, meaning we lacked context on our batches - loads of important information and data points were essentially filed away.”

These limitations resulted in a scramble before their first inspection. “I spent 18 hours here one day gathering every piece of paper that had ever touched this batch and putting it into a binder — and the inspectors still hated it.”

“I spent 18 hours here one day gathering every piece of paper that had ever touched this batch and putting it into a binder — and the inspectors still hated it.”

“The old software kept arguing with reality. We had a room with 200 plants and it would say we had 174. It wouldn’t allow us to change anything and it was impossible to speak to customer service. It was infuriating,” said General Manager, Joel Darichuk, 314 Pure. “My goal was to make sure that we had all of our reports in on time, that they were accurate, and that our inventory and accounts matched up. I needed to find a new system that would help us do that.”

“The old software kept arguing with reality. We had a room with 200 plants and it would say we had 174. It wouldn’t allow us to change anything and it was impossible to speak to customer service. It was infuriating.”

The Solution

Joel and Katie knew they needed a new system, and with Elevated Signals they found one that met all of their requirements.

With Elevated Signals, Joel and Katie found a system that met all of their requirements. The software digitizes and automates batch recordkeeping so that all reports, including those required by the CTA and CRA, are always easily accessible. Custom forms can be developed to capture facility specific environmental and production focused data. “It’s a flexible system in an inflexible industry, which is very valuable,” said Joel.

“With Elevated Signals, we were able to do a lot more with less. It was five times more cost effective than our previous approach of combining seed-to-sale software with paper records, and it was 15 times as functional,” Katie Kapcsos, QAP, 314 Pure.

“With Elevated Signals, we were able to do a lot more with less. It was five times more cost effective than our previous approach of combining seed-to-sale software with paper records, and it was 15 times as functional”

Being able to rely on their recordkeeping system gave the 314 Pure team more control and confidence in their QA program. As Katie puts it, “with Elevated Signals I can oversee everything that happens at the facility without physically being there. It’s intuitive and laid out in a way that, if somebody asks me a question about a batch, I have an answer in two seconds.”

The speed, and accuracy, at which 314 Pure is able to create batch records in Elevated Signals has also allowed the producer to remain compliant with Health Canada and CRA regulations, without worrying if it will meet its deadlines. “Since using Elevated Signals, we have not missed a deadline or had to ask for an extension. Our reports have been absolutely accurate too,” said Joel.

The Success

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Batch Records in 10 Seconds Rather Than 10 Days: 314 Pure estimates that it takes 10 seconds to generate a complete batch record with Elevated Signals, compared to 10 days with its old hybrid, seed to sale and paper based system.
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5x Cost Savings: 314 Pure Estimates that Elevated Signals cost five times less to implement, compared with its old approach of using seed-to-sale software combined with paper record-keeping.
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15x the Functionality: Detailed, fully-digital record-keeping, automated batch records, and customizable forms were all features that were missing in 314 Pure's previous solution.
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Flexibility to Adapt to Changing Requirements: "As regulatory requirements change, or when a facility’s manufacturing processes evolve, a lot of systems become obsolete, but because of its flexibility, Elevated Signals does not,” said Joel. “The pliability of the system is great and the team keeps innovating the platform."

Download the full case study here ☺️

Looking to replace your Seed to Sale system, see how Elevated Signals could help at your facility:

Credit - 314 Pure