Hey everyone, Chris O here, Dutchie’s CTO.
I’m kicking off a new blog series to share our vision for what we call the “Dispensary of Tomorrow.” I want to start with our next-generation platform for digital experiences: Dutchie E-commerce Pro.
To understand why we built it, we have to go back to 2017 when Dutchie was founded. We saw a clear problem: the burgeoning cannabis industry was on fire, but it was being held back by crummy software. Entrepreneurs were constantly bogged down by the lackluster tools they were given.
That challenge has driven me ever since. Eight years later, our mission is the same: help dispensary owners focus on what matters most by shipping technology that improves your business without getting in the way.
Dutchie E-commerce Pro is our latest and most powerful commitment to that mission.
For years, cannabis retailers on our platform faced a tough choice. On one hand, you had our straight-forward embedded menu: reliable and easy to set up, but limited in brand expression and SEO potential. On the other, there was Dutchie Plus: a powerful, API-first toolkit for a fully custom site, but one that came with significant cost, complexity, and a constant maintenance burden.
It was a frustrating compromise between simplicity and power. We built Dutchie E-commerce Pro to end that compromise.
Pro isn’t just an update; it’s our solution to the problems of the past. It’s built on a new model we call "Managed Core + Extensions."
The Managed Core is our new e-commerce engine. We run it, we optimize it, and we pour all our innovation directly into it. Think of it as the powerful, reliable foundation for your site. It comes with the tools you need to win right out of the box, like AI-powered personalization to surface the right products, social login and one-click loyalty signup to make it easy for you to reward your top customers, and advanced SEO to help you get discovered. These are the kinds of revenue-driving tools that were previously out of reach for most, now built right into the core of your storefront.
The Extensions part is where our partners come in. This model lets agencies create unique brand experiences without the headache of building from scratch. Agencies in our Certified Partner Program can now focus on what they do best: building the parts of the site that make a brand unique. Instead of spending time on the foundational plumbing, they can dedicate their efforts to crafting a beautiful digital storefront, designing a unique product discovery experience, or building a custom look and feel that perfectly matches a dispensary's brand identity. They can build specific features as self-contained components—like a custom header, a dynamic "deal of the day" banner, or an interactive store locator—and plug them directly into our core engine. It also makes it easier to integrate technology from partners like Strainbrain or Moodi Day. Ultimately, our partners get to focus on the creative work, not the plumbing.
This is the future we’re committed to: a more reliable, more innovative, and ultimately, a more collaborative way to build. It’s a platform that reflects a maturing industry, where performance and predictability are what matter most.
A platform is only as strong as its ecosystem. We’re formalizing our commitment to the best builders in cannabis with the new Dutchie Certified Partner Program. This program provides unparalleled access and a deep, collaborative partnership to the digital agencies our customers have trusted for years, and we're proud to launch with an incredible inaugural group already building on the platform:
"Dutchie Pro is the cannabis retail engine that keeps your shop running. CannaPlanners is the creative partner that makes it look, feel, and sell like you. Together, we turn your menu into an online experience that’s fast, beautiful, and built to convert. You bring the platform. We bring the glow-up." Will Read - Founder & CEO, CannaPlanners
"StrainBrain is the first language model developed specifically for the cannabis industry. When combined with Dutchie, it represents a shift in how consumers interact and discover products. With the power of AI, in just a few clicks, shoppers can find the desired effect and, in the form, factor they want." Noel Burkman - Co-Founder, Strainbrain
"Dutchie Pro E-commerce is the exact solution we, as an SEO first Wordpress specialized web agency, have been asking for. We get all of the SEO benefits of menu pages indexing, ability to insert content on pillar pages like category and brand pages, customized meta descriptions and page titles all while having an easy to integrate ecommerce shopping elements throughout a Wordpress website without the need for full headless development." Matthew Shterenberg - CEO & Co-Founder, Deeproots Partners
"We're excited to tap into the power of Dutchie Pro to continue to offer exciting and innovative custom cannabis e-commerce features for our customers and partners - with Dutchie Pro as the infrastructure, we're looking forward to what the future holds for dispensaries across the country!" Nick Stephenson, Leafbridge
We will be expanding this program and adding more certified agencies in the coming months. If you are a digital agency with a proven track record in cannabis retail, we invite you to learn more by visiting https://business.dutchie.com/ecommerce/ecommerce-pro.
This is just the first step. E-commerce Pro is the foundation, but it's part of a much bigger vision for what a truly integrated cannabis technology platform can do. This is part one of our Dispensary of Tomorrow series, and there is so much more yet to come for E-commerce Pro and all of Dutchie's products. We can't wait to build it with you.
Onward,
Chris Ostrowski
1. I'm currently a Dutchie E-commerce customer using Plus. How do I get started on Dutchie E-commerce Pro?
That's great to hear! The first step is to connect with your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or our support team. They will walk you through the benefits, discuss the migration path for your specific site, and coordinate with you and your agency partner to ensure a smooth transition.
2. I'm currently a Dutchie E-commerce customer using an embedded menu. How do I get started on Dutchie E-commerce Pro?
Upgrading to E-commerce Pro is a fantastic way to take your digital storefront to the next level. Please reach out to your CSM or our sales team to discuss the upgrade process. They can provide a demo of the platform's capabilities and help you determine the best path forward for your business.
3. My agency isn't a Dutchie Pro Certified Partner. What should I do?
We recommend two things: first, encourage your agency to apply for our certified program by visiting https://business.dutchie.com/become-a-ecommerce-pro-certified-partner - we are always looking to partner with great builders. Second, if you're ready to get started right away, our team can connect you with one of our excellent certified partners who can help bring your vision to life on the new platform.
4. What is the price of Dutchie E-commerce Pro?
Dutchie E-commerce Pro is a premium platform, and pricing is tailored based on your specific needs, including the number of locations and the complexity of your implementation. For detailed pricing information, please contact our sales team for a personalized consultation.
5. Do I need to use an agency to use Dutchie E-commerce Pro?
No. While working with a certified agency partner is a great way to achieve deep, brand-forward customization, it is not required. E-commerce Pro will offer a range of powerful out-of-the-box templates and configurations that can be managed without a dedicated development team. We recommend discussing your specific goals with our sales team to determine the right fit for you.
6. Do I have to leave my Dutchie Plus site right away?
We are committed to supporting our legacy Dutchie Plus customers through the end of 2026. To take advantage of the new features and performance benefits, we recommend starting the conversation about upgrading to E-commerce Pro today.