Arcadia has great utility capabilities and helps companies needing large-scale, international intel. But waste management is a different space from other utilities. DSQ Discovery is specifically built for waste-specific invoice auditing.

We get compared to Arcadia a lot. Maybe it’s because we both build technology that gets thought of as “utilities”, or because we are both focused on producing bottom-line results with automation.

So what’s the difference?

Arcadia’s reach is expansive. Its utility bill management is a solid choice for companies needing tariff knowledge and energy pricing to make business decisions. Arcadia, via their Urjanet acquisition, is responsible for retrieving water, gas, and electric utility invoices across the United States.  

At DSQ, we concentrate our efforts on waste and waste only. DSQ Discovery is designed for brokers and waste generators who want to streamline their waste invoice processes, produce reliable waste invoice data, and focus on higher-value tasks.    

Specialized Expertise vs. General Approach

DSQ Discovery was built from the ground up with waste invoicing in mind. Waste invoices present unique challenges that other utility bills don’t–they’re not simply reading a meter like electric or water utilities. They involve complex service schedules, variable waste volumes, different container types, and numerous surcharges and fees.

Arcadia, while offering coverage across multiple utilities, is best suited for invoices and statements that include standard meter reads, like water usage or gas utilization. This method misses the nuanced complexities specific to waste management, where units are sometimes inferred based upon semantics, potentially leaving money on the table and errors undetected.

Accuracy and Specificity: Waste-Specific vs. General Utility

DSQ Discovery audits 100% of waste-specific line items, dramatically increasing accuracy in data collection and analysis. This includes both metered and unmetered waste-specific utility information, providing the most accurate waste volume and diversion profiles available.

Arcadia takes a broader approach, recovering all utility billing across multiple categories. While this offers breadth, it sacrifices the depth and specificity needed for truly effective waste invoice auditing.

Data Availability: Complete History vs. Limited Visibility

With DSQ Discovery, you gain access to comprehensive historical data from day one. This historical context is crucial for identifying trends, establishing baselines, and understanding the complete picture of your waste management spending.

Arcadia provides data from the onboarding date forward, potentially leaving you blind to historical patterns. If historical context isn’t needed for your business, Arcadia is a great option.

Integration Capabilities: Swift and Specific vs. Limited and Generic

DSQ Discovery's Rovers deliver quick and efficient integrations with waste service providers. These purpose-built connections allow for more granular and specific data collection, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.

Arcadia provides strong provider integrations in most utility sectors but can struggle with waste, leading to less detailed data collection and a higher likelihood of missing critical invoice elements.

Authentication Speed: Instantaneous vs. Delayed

DSQ Discovery provides instantaneous authentication responsiveness for waste invoices, allowing immediate access to critical data.

Arcadia traditionally proceeds with a 24-hour wait for authentication responses, creating unnecessary delays in your auditing process and postponing potential cost-saving discoveries.

Error Handling: Proactive vs. Reactive

DSQ Discovery provides daily error reports, allowing teams to proactively address issues before they impact operations.

With Arcadia, users experience errors firsthand, creating a reactive environment where problems are discovered only after they've already affected processes and/or decisions.

Customer Support: In-Office vs. Off-Site

DSQ Discovery maintains an in-office Help Desk, ensuring that support staff understand the nuances of waste management in your region. DSQ can assist without communication barriers.

Arcadia utilizes an off-site help desk, which can lead to communication challenges and less intuitive problem-solving, particularly problematic in the specialized waste management field.

Process Automation: Fully Automated vs. Human Intervention

DSQ Discovery offers a fully automated process, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring consistent application of auditing rules across all invoices. This also ensures quality of data for better reports and decision-making.

Arcadia includes human elements in the auditing process, introducing potential inconsistencies, delays, and subjective interpretations.

Is Arcadia a Good Alternative to DSQ Discovery?

Yes, Arcadia can definitely be a great alternative! For organizations managing multi-utility portfolios, Arcadia offers a centralized platform that simplifies and unifies utility invoice management across all categories. Its broad scope is ideal for enterprise-scale businesses seeking an umbrella solution.

If your team could benefit from 100% audit coverage of waste-specific line items, DSQ Discovery offers the tools needed to optimize spending and improve operational efficiency.  

Learn more about the DSQ Discovery waste invoice automation process with our team. Schedule a conversation here.

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A note from the team at DSQ:

Software product comparisons can easily be read as US vs. THEM content.

At DSQ we don’t see the world function that way too often. We think waste & recycling often requires unique solutions, which often means deploying multiple tools to suit your needs.

We hope you find this comparison insightful and accurate. If it’s not accurate, tell us, we will update it.

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