Self-service has brought flexibility to waste collection, but the use of multiple channels and self-service stations makes effective information management harder. The software, which can be integrated with various cash register and billing systems, enables waste management operators to improve flow of information and the efficiency of recyclers’ transactions.
Digitalization continues to revolutionize the waste management sector: new ways of doing things reduces staff costs and improves the efficiency of waste collection. However, different service models, such as self-service stations, can increase the administrative burden as information flows across multiple locations.
In this blog post we continue reviewing the omnichannel approach to waste management – this time from the perspective of management and cash flows.
Waste station charges and billing are an important part of effective information management
From the consumer’s point of view, dropping and paying for waste has become much easier with the proliferation of self-service stations. In addition, self-service and a variety of service options are profitable for private and public waste management operators alike, as human resources previously employed in waste collection have been transferred to, for example, specialist work.
The same cost-effectiveness and flexibility should be reflected in management. When multiple channels are used to receive waste, transaction reports are often scattered across many different systems. On top of this, if the systems do not communicate with each other and several hours are spent on data collection, money is wasted in many ways.
Billing and payment practices may also be diverse: business customers are billed by a separate system, and at the recycling station, waste fees may be collected from customers with several POS and payment terminal systems, especially if the self-service machine is connected to an existing system.
Uniform reporting practices serve all parties
Clear practices in waste management are in everyone’s interest. An effective solution combines an efficient information system with a streamlined process that takes into account all the involved parties: the end customers, i.e. the recyclers, the administrative staff, and the employees in the field, e.g. for load inspection and warehouse management.
The administrative burden is significantly reduced as technology helps minimize wasted working hours and capture data reliably. In this case, the manual work in waste collection mainly includes the handling of changes and exceptions, as well as potential complaints. Costs are reduced, and the change is also reflected in a smoother flow to the customer when recycling processes are designed according to a flexible model.
A system specialized in waste stream management and reporting helps store data reliably from different channels, view it according to a breakdown of your choice, and easily extract it for future use. Integrations with different payment systems make things easier for customers, as they can continue to pay with the methods they are already familiar with. Modern systems include, for example, POS integrations for payment terminal and card payments, integrations with online payment systems such as Paytrail, and ERP integrations for billing.
Specialized in improving material flows in the circular economy, Pinja’s Flow solution aggregates transaction reports from all channels, and they can be viewed together or separately – as a single view for all facilities, by facility or by channel. Data is a great asset for business development and the use of BI tools, for example, which also supports scalability and internationalization. Decision-making can be supported by grass-roots data at regional level, for example on housing types and recycling rates.
With efficient information management, the diverse waste management service models work as part of a functional package, and all involved parties can make the most of the digital tranformation.
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Would you like to know more about how to smoothly integrate transactions and waste station charges into your waste stream reporting? Download our free brochure Flow by Pinja – optimized waste flow management for recyclers.
Flow by Pinja
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