Rootstock has announced that Halo Infusions has selected its ERP solution to power growth. Founded in 2013, Halo Infusions & Extractions LLC is a successful developer and distributor of Cannabis infused products. It operates in the US market that is estimated to be worth $33.88 billion in 2023. Expected to continue at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.66% from 2023 to 2028, resulting in a market volume of US$67.15bn by the end of 2028. (Source: Statista). To support that growth, it needed to identify an ERP product that would suit its growth plans.
Halo Infusions has been a leader in developing new Cannabis edible products, winning numerous awards for its edibles and other products. Its brands include Aunt Ellies, Cannabliss, Canna Confections, Chronic Health, Canine CBD Therapy, and Pure & Simple. While the firm was one of the first to gain a license in Arizona, the market has a high barrier to entry. Complex legislation requirements and limited licenses make it difficult to operate and compete with larger multi-state operators. It meant that any solution must be able to track and manage these complexities.
While it used QuickBooks for its accounting solution, it needed to find a solution that would manage the sometimes complex operational challenges. As Murray Stein, CEO at Halo Infusions, explained, “We have seven distinct production lines delivering a full suite of offerings. This requires us to balance a vast array of ingredients, products, and customer needs. The intricate nature of our operation requires meticulous tracking and comprehensive visibility.
“Implementing Rootstock will strengthen our supply chain coordination, inventory management, and production planning — the backbone of our operations — to ensure we stay ahead in the game.”
The selection
Halo Infusions conducted an extension review of the options available. That included other well known ERP solutions such as Acumatica and specific seed-to-sale solutions such as Fishbowl, Instant GMP, Canix, and Max Q. In the end, it chose Rootstock.
Stein commented, “What set Rootstock apart was the fact that it’s a robust ERP built on the reliable Salesforce Platform. By comparison, many seed-to-sale solutions aren’t as sophisticated, don’t provide real-time visibility, and just aren’t as stable.”
Halo Infusions also singled out the professionalism and expertise in the Cannabis industry. Rootstock has deployed its solution several times in the industry, including at Aphria and Nuleaf Naturals. Stein added, “This meant we could dive right into discussions about our company’s specific needs as a cannabis manufacturer. The team had insightful questions and a keen interest in understanding our operations, which allowed for rapid alignment toward a mutual vision for leveraging their ERP.
“Furthermore, their solution capabilities can map directly to our processes in various departments, including quality control and customer care.”
The firm also intends to start a white-label operation, and Rootstock ERP will enable the firm to manage that effectively.
Joe Massa, Chief Revenue Officer at Rootstock Software, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Halo Infusions as our newest customer,” said, “Halo Infusions has demonstrated remarkable innovation, particularly with its latest venture — the construction of Arizona’s largest infusion kitchen. This state-of-the-art facility is a testament to the company’s ongoing commitment to quality and growth. Rootstock Manufacturing ERP has the operational capabilities that Halo Infusions needs to strive toward its goals and adapt with the dynamic cannabis landscape.”
The project
Enterprise Times asked Stein some questions about the project, which Rootstock’s professional services team will conduct. I asked Stein what third-party solutions they are integrating with?
Stein replied, “We are currently using QuickBooks, which will be integrated to Rootstock. The goal is to eventually migrate into Rootstock Financials, LeafLink for Cannabis, and specifically B2B sales platform.”
The project began in November, and the go live is in April 2024. The project will not be phased but will deliver the key functionality on the go-live date.
Enterprise Times also asked Stein whether the firm was already using Salesforce. “We are not currently using any other Salesforce solutions, but we may review some of Salesforce’s products once we are live on Rootstock — most notably Salesforce Sales Cloud.”
Enterprise Times: What does this mean
Another Cannabis manufacturer selects Rootstock Manufacturing ERP. It is a market that Salesforce rarely comments on because of its controversy, but Rootstock has the expertise and experience to deliver success to organisations in the sector.
As Stein noted, “At Halo Infusions, our strategy is to deliver quality, consistency, and value for our customers. Toward these goals, Rootstock Manufacturing ERP will be pivotal in enabling us to achieve unparalleled cost control and optimized efficiency — essential elements to succeed in this competitive and complicated market.”
In a very competitive market, Rootstock is standing out, continuing to win business. With the go-live slated for April, it will be interesting to see whether Halo Infusions is willing to complete a case study. While there are still concerns about the cannabis market, it has matured significantly and is being recognised as a complex manufacturing use case. Certainly, Rootstock’s ability to meet its demand bodes well for other manufacturing industries as well, with the company demonstrating its solution at the upcoming Salesforce Manufacturing Summit at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead in Atlanta on January 10th.
