ECommerce Industries
eCommerce Industries, Inc. (ECi) is a private software group that provides business systems and other IT solutions to independent dealers and distributors in numerous industries. The ECi family of companies is constituted of software development houses around the globe and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. ECi is arguably the foremost developer of ERP systems, e-commerce, and mobile logistics solutions that are tailored for use in specific industries. These industries include:
- Office Furniture
- Office Machines (Business Equipment)
- Office Products
- Janitorial & Sanitary Products
- Lumber and Building Materials (LBM)
- Educational Supplies
- HVAC & Plumbing Supplies
- Farm & Ranch Supplies
- Hardware & Home Centers
The shorthand name and structure of eCommerce Industries have changed in 2008. ECi was formerly known as ECI2, and was structured as a loose conglomeration of individual software companies. In early 2008, eCommerce Industries changed its moniker to ECi and moved to a consolidated brand structure, wherein subsidiary companies are gathered under the aegis of one central ECi brand. Software brands and products subsumed under the ECi brand are listed in the infobox to the right.
The company's software is in use at over 2,000 independent businesses in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. All totaled, ECi software systems process over $15 billion in transactions annually .
Industry-Specific
ECi specializes in industry-specific business systems, which are designed for use in a specific industry and include tools to meet the unique demands of that industry. This stands in CONTRAST to generic business systems, which are intended for general business use and often lack the functionality necessary for work in a given industry.
For example, the Advantage business software is primarily geared for use in the lumber and building materials industry (e.g. lumber yards and hardware stores). Advantage's programmers have enhanced the business system with many features relevant only to LBM, such as a millwork calculator and direct lines of communication with national hardware suppliers.