An anonymous source gave RMR a copy of a new Gartner report put together for the WSLCB that sheds further light on issues with the state traceability system. We already knew there were issues with the implementation of MJ Freeway’s Leaf Data Systems.
The impending license expiration for the legacy traceability system forced the WSLCB to deploy the Leaf Data system within three to four months. MJ Freeway wasn’t even able to make the platform live until February, a month late. At that time reports showed the system containing 160 bugs. By June 2018 the system had over 400 known bugs.
The industry has been reliant upon this buggy system since the beginning of the year. It was originally meant to track and manage compliance, but with such broken functionality, it’s harshly impacting business operation and compliance. MJ Freeway is responsible for the implementation of the Track and Trace system with support from State staff and a QA vendor providing high-level program oversight.
What the Gartner report reveals is that the LCB barely gave them anything to assess. They solicited an RFP (request for proposal) that essentially directed Gartner to steer clear of any relevant issues that would place blame on them.
This Gartner report is only focusing on the “Solution Development & Implementation” category. This is only six categories they are looking at out of 28 that Gartner can assess! Everything not within the red box in the image below are areas that undoubtedly would have shown massive LCB screw-ups.
Licensee Comments Reveal Persisting Issues
Some big issues lie within these unacknowledged categories such as—budget, risk, communications, support, and all of data management. Despite this small scope of assessment, the section containing comments from licensees reveals immense issues with all of these things.
One of the licensee comments highlights “error messages” relating to a “host of issues.” It goes on to state that “both inside Leaf and in our third-party system that connects to Leaf, we come across error messages.” The comment concludes saying “Leaf has been inconsistent in following up regarding these issues, sometimes taking a day or two, other times taking weeks.”
Another licensee comments that their “third-party traceability service noted that a Leaf bug was randomly deleting batches of inventory” from their system. Other licensees make note of inventory issues, and incorrect drawdowns. Businesses are severely suffering in maintaining the state’s mandate for rigorous compliance, and these licensee comments further prove this fact.
Action needs to be taken to gain full insight into the ramifications of implementing the Leaf Data Systems prematurely. Why is the WSLCB submitting these Gartner reports without allowing all areas to undergo inspection? When such extreme evidence of a faulty system exists, the question lies in why this system is still even in use.
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