eCommerce Industries (ECI²) has acquired Britannia, one of the largest providers of industry-specific business system software for office product dealers.
Family-owned Britannia has been serving independent dealers since 1989, and now serves 1,000 office product dealers across the US. The company has become the most successful automation provider in the OP industry.
Traci Johnson, SVP at ECI², said: "Britannia is a great company with a strong customer base, highly talented employees and technology that complements ECI²’s existing products. Combining those strengths with ECI²’s resources represents a tremendous opportunity to deliver the kind of powerful, industry-focused business applications that independent dealers need to be able to successfully compete against the power channel."
ECI² will operate Britannia as a subsidiary and continue to support and market the Britannia product line which includes business dealer software BritNet and its BritLink Web storefront.
Sales will continue to be handled by Britannia’s staff in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Johnson said that it will remain business as usual in Fort Wayne and that day-to-day operations will be largely unchanged.
Peter Harrison, cofounder of Britannia was pleased to find himself under new ownership. "Over the past few years, consolidation has been going on all across our industry. From big boxes to wholesalers, buying groups to independents – everyone is working to keep pace with the changing landscape. At the same time, demands on business systems continue to grow in complexity, while product life cycles become shorter. To bring the very best technology to independent dealers, it makes perfect sense that the two largest and most innovative providers join forces to bring dealers the greatest possible value for their automation dollars."
The acquisition follows news earlier in the year of ECI²’s plans to pursue an aggressive acquisition strategy in areas that will benefit the company and its customer base. The Britannia takeover consolidates the position of ECI² as the largest technology provider for independent dealers in the industry.
