Customer Stories
Case Study 1 of 3: Tire Stewardship BC uses PICTUS to Streamline Revenue Cycle
May 1 2025
The tire recycling program in British Columbia was the first in Canada, originally existing as a government program before being added to the Recycling Regulation in 2006. Since 2007 Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) is the producer responsibility organization (PRO) for scrap tires in BC. This work involves managing the registration, compliance and the remittance of eco fees from over 2,500 retailers. In addition, TSBC is responsible for the tracking and payment of incentives for the collection and processing of over 5 million scrap tires annually from more than 4,000 locations across BC.
Why Digitize Recycling Fee Revenue?
TSBC has long been a believer in the power of technology to automate and streamline business processes. In 2019, while an automated back-end system was in place, retailers were submitting eco fees monthly by paper and paying by cheque. TSBC was buried in data entry and paper.
After an IT Assessment was completed, PICTUS Registration and Filing was chosen as the preferred solution. A long-term relationship with the PICTUS team members was helpful, but more important was to get away from custom development of software. PICTUS offered a vision of packaged software developed on a software as a service model, while still working very closely with TSBC to meet specific needs.
The implementation of PICTUS started in 2019. Within a few months, the first wave of retailers were loaded and historical data back to 2007 converted. Three following waves were completed, with PICTUS automatically generating filings and providing retailer access to sales reporting through a web browser. Retailers could now readily see outstanding filings, and retailers and TSBC staff were now able to look at a single source of data. Electronic funds transfer was implemented as the preferred method of payment. Bank interfaces were created and PICTUS provided automatic matching of payments to open invoices. By early 2020, all retailers were operational on the new system.
The implementation of PICTUS has substantially freed up staff time, allowing them to concentrate on other program activities, while also offering a straightforward solution for retailers. Since implementing PICTUS, TSBC has:
- Decreased overdue sales reporting by 85%.
- Achieved over 95% electronic payments.
- Reduced effort on the revenue cycle by 75%
More Effective, Easier Communications
TSBC used to communicate with retailers manually about overdue filings and outstanding account balances. Now, with the PICTUS Communications component, this process is automated. Depending on how old the outstanding account is, different email templates are used, ranging from friendly to firm. A query identifies all relevant accounts and prepares a consolidated email for related businesses, simplifying communication for head offices managing multiple locations, such as tire chains and big box stores. This level of automation has reduced staff time and greatly increased the level of compliance.
From the start, member surveys have praised the system. A 2025 user survey achieved a 96% Excellent or Good satisfaction rating from TSBC users on the performance and reliability of the system.
Flexible Plans for Every Program
Find the Right Fit for Your Organization
We offer scalable pricing designed to match the size and complexity of your compliance program. From small teams to national initiatives, PICTUS can grow with you.