ECI Staff

UK trend report to overcome the ETO time trap

16/03/2026—ECI Staff Contributors

Overcoming the ETO time trap: How can fabricators and machine shops spend less time quoting and scheduling – and make more?

Two manufacturing employees in safety gear reviewing data on a computer in a production facility

Business Intelligence

ERP

20/02/2026—ECI Staff Contributors

The hidden cost of doing nothing. What our ERP savings calculator could tell you about inefficiencies in your manufacturing business

Worker in safety vest standing in a manufacturing facility with industrial machines, illustrating ERP selection for manufacturers

12/02/2026—ECI Staff Contributors

How to choose the right ERP for your manufacturing business

Operator op de werkvloer gebruikt Ridder iQ op een tablet.

ERP

Trends

10/02/2026—ECI Staff Contributors

Five trends shaping UK manufacturing in 2026

Manufacturing manager reviewing production and performance data on the factory floor

Business Growth

Supply Chain Management

Business Intelligence

ERP

14/01/2026—ECI Staff Contributors

How UK manufacturers can achieve their growth goals in 2026

Manufacturing technician inspecting components on the shop floor at A2R Tooling

12/01/2026—ECI Staff Contributors

How A2R Tooling scales manufacturing operations with ERP

Santa’s elves struggling on a chaotic production line without ERP software

14/12/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

Nightmare before Christmas: what happened when Santa didn’t use an ERP?

Santa and his elves using ERP software on a digital workshop floor with sleigh and gifts on a production line

09/12/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

How Santa uses ERP software to deliver Christmas on time in 2025

Engineers in a smart factory reviewing data on a tablet with robotic equipment in the background.

01/12/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

Artificial intelligence: a manufacturer’s best assistant?

Manufacturing engineers reviewing data on a tablet with a cloud-computing graphic in the background.

24/11/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

Why moving your ERP to the cloud is no longer optional

Engineers reviewing production data on a tablet inside a modern manufacturing facility.

19/11/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

The changing role of ERPs with artificial intelligence (AI)

Visual representation of identifying inefficiencies and improving planning during seasonal slowdowns in manufacturing

18/07/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

Holiday downtime? Here’s how ERP keeps your production on track

ECI Production Downtime ERP Blog smaller

16/07/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

Reducing production downtime: the role of ERP in maintenance management

Two engineers discussing ERP-driven compliance and quality control in a robotic manufacturing facility

30/06/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

Managing compliance and quality control using your ERP

Spreadsheet icon with warning overlay, illustrating the risks of using Excel in complex machine building projects

ERP

23/06/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

Your machines are engineered to perform - your processes should be too

obotic hand pointing at a blocked spreadsheet icon, symbolising outdated spreadsheet use in metal manufacturing

ERP

17/06/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

Why Excel is failing metal manufacturers (and what it’s costing you)

A picture of the screen of a laptop with the screenshot of Ridder ERP on the screen.

26/05/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

Streamlining order processing: tackling inefficiencies with your ERP

Hands using a smartphone and laptop with holographic manufacturing data dashboards showing charts and analytics for real-time data visibility.

19/05/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

How can data visibility improve decision-making?

ECI ERP Inventory Management Blog smaller

Supply Chain Management

12/05/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

Overcoming inventory management challenges: How can your ERP help?

Man attends an online meeting in a post-COVID hybrid work environment

17/02/2025—ECI Staff Contributors

SMB Cybersecurity Tips for Remote and Hybrid Work Risks

ECI Laryssa And Trevor Connect 2024 Interview

Cloud-Computing

Business Growth

02/12/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

How ECI Is Powering the Future of Office Tech: 2024 Leadership Insights

Business Growth

21/10/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

How to optimize your production process

ERP

17/10/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

Meet the team: Shane Taylor

ERP

30/09/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

The smart choice for small manufacturing companies: Ridder iQ Essentials

ERP software: the key to sustainable business

Business Growth

27/09/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

ERP software: the key to sustainable business

05/09/2024—Lauren Campion

6 Uses for AI in B2B Ecommerce: Optimise Operations, Elevate Customer Service, and Increase Sales

CORP Blog 5 Reasons You need an Industry Specific ERP LP Header 2021

30/08/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

5 Reasons Your Business Needs an Industry-Specific ERP System

25/07/2024—Lauren Campion

Must-Have Ecommerce Features For Business Supply Dealers

15/07/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

How businesses can support employees when a change is coming: from a new ERP to a new module

ERP

18/06/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

One size doesn’t fit all: how to get the most value from your ERP

23/05/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

TECH LIVE 2024

ERP

22/05/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

10 Steps to ensure you select the right ERP software for your business

24/04/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

Technology Is Reshaping What It Means To Run A Timber And Building Materials Business Successfully

eCommerce consultant meeting with a timber yard owner, discussing digital strategy

Cloud-Computing

Business Growth

Customer Experience

Business Intelligence

ERP

18/04/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

Meet Jason Pooley: Helping Trade Merchants Thrive with eCommerce

13/02/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

Servitization: the future of the machine builder as a service provider

ECI and IXON Cloud organised a roundtable session, which was broadcast at the end of 2023. The session focused on the evolution of traditional machine building to servitization – where firms don’t only sell products but deliver exceptional service and value to their customers. Experts from IXON cloud, Stefan Van Dooren and Pieter van Lith, and from ECI, Laurens Verbree and Bart mous, share their perspectives and experiences on servitization, and discuss why it will play a crucial role in the industry's transformation.

08/02/2024—Lauren Campion

Personalisation: The Secret Weapon for B2B Ecommerce Success

Unlock Explosive Growth Through the Power of Ecommerce Personalisation

Builders’ merchants sore with shelves full of inventory

07/02/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

2024 Builders’ Merchants Industry Predictions & Trends

Builders’ merchants across the UK have continued to face challenges when it comes to attracting new staff, rising costs in materials, and embracing Net Zero. What does 2024 have in store for the construction and builders’ merchants industries? How can merchants get ahead and prepare strategies that will help to overcome the challenges? ECI polled businesses in the construction sector from around the UK to find out what’s in store for this year, and how to find the hidden opportunities.

02/02/2024—ECI Staff Contributors

The benefits of moving from a paper flow to a paperless environment

The manufacturing sector remains critical to the EU’s economy with production accounting for 17.3% of EU GDP and 83% of exports, which makes Europe the largest exporter of manufactured goods globally. Production processes have become increasingly digitised in recent years, led by the large firms and cascading down to small and mid-sized ones.

18/12/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

Advantages and Disadvantages of Offering a Work-from-Home Option

Customer Experience

30/10/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

Use This Simple Model to Resolve Common Customer Service Complaints

23/10/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

Eight Ways to Use Technology to Stop Shoplifting in Your Branch

Shoplifting unfortunately affects all brick-and-mortar businesses. However, hardware store technology that combines POS with inventory management software allows you to mitigate your risk and minimize theft in numerous ways.

Smiling office worker wearing a headset at a computer, with colleagues collaborating in the background.

11/10/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

UK Commuting Costs: Staff Spend Up to 22% of Salary Returning to Office

The debate over whether or not to return to the office is far from settled - and yet, the push to get employees back to the office is becoming more and more apparent.

Corporate employee inspecting phishing email warning on a cellphone and a desktop screen

Cloud-Computing

11/10/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

How to Prevent Phishing Attacks: 7 Crucial Tips for Employees

22/09/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

Meet Matt Lindley: Sales Engineer Helping Building Suppliers Streamline with Software

We sat down with Matt Lindley, Sales Engineer at ECI Software Solutions to learn more about his role within the team.

Business lady reviewing ERP budget plan and ROI forecast on laptop

21/08/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

5 Expert Tips for ERP Budget Planning That Maximizes ROI

26/07/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

ECI’s UK Productivity Index Reveals Top & Bottom Performing Industries

The dictionary definition of productivity is ‘produc[ing] or do[ing] a lot in comparison to the amount of resources used’ – but that’s become an almost unattainable goal for many businesses today.

ECI Spruce team posing at the BMF Conference venue in Istanbul

27/06/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

ECI Spruce Joins BMF All Industry Conference 2023 in Istanbul

ECI are proud to have sponsored this year’s BMF All Industry Conference. For the first time, the BMF Conference took place on two continents and yet remained in a single fascinating city, Istanbul which for centuries has provided a strategic link between Europe and Asia.

A warehouse employee using a digital device to scan inventory items on shelves

Business Growth

ERP

07/06/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

Inventory Tracking: Why It Matters and How It Helps Your Business

Illustration of an advanced supply chain control tower with real-time tracking and predictive analytics

Business Growth

ERP

05/06/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

What Is Supply Chain Planning and Why It’s Crucial for Business

23/05/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

Meet Lauren Harrison: Customer Relationship Manager in the Construction Industry

We sat down with Lauren Harrison, Customer Relationship Manager at ECI Software Solutions to find out more about her role within the team.

14/04/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

The skills shortages report: Which industries are struggling to bridge the gap?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses across the UK have been struggling to fill vacancies due to a lack of skilled workers. In fact, an ONS survey revealed that businesses experiencing a shortage of workers reached an all-time high of 16.8% in August 2022.

23/02/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

Builders’ Merchants Challenges 2023: Inflation, Net Zero & Supply Strains

It’s fair to say that the construction industry has had a turbulent few years. A jump in the price of raw materials has created considerable challenges for the sector, as well as the impact of inflation, labour shortages and rising interest rates. What will the upcoming months have in store for builders’ merchants? How will drops in consumer spending affect the industry – and what infrastructure trends do merchants need to be on top of to stay resilient?

Manager reviewing a business dashboard at her desk showing crucial ERP and performance reports

01/02/2023—ECI Staff Contributors

8 Crucial Reports Your Business Should Run

22/11/2022—ECI Staff Contributors

Most Hacked Football Passwords: Which Player Names to Avoid

Whether you’re looking to find a romantic partner or book a holiday, almost everything can now be done through the swipe of a screen or a click of a button. Brits love the convenience of digital-first culture, but this comes with more online accounts to manage than ever – and countless usernames and passwords to remember. We’re all familiar with that frustrating feeling of getting locked out, or worse, getting a notification to say that someone has been trying to access your account.

Builders merchant using cloud-based software to manage inventory and pricing

11/10/2022—ECI Staff Contributors

How Builders Merchants Adapted to Economic Pressures in 2022

2022 has seen builders merchants facing rocketing energy costs, inflationary pressures on construction projects and a slower-than-planned recovery from the materials shortage.

03/08/2022—ECI Staff Contributors

Top UK Professions for Hybrid Working & How to Future-Proof Your Business

Since COVID-19 accelerated the pace of change, hybrid working, where employees work both in the office and remotely, has gathered momentum quickly across the UK. The flexibility of hybrid working is now seen by many as a job perk, or even necessity, following a shift in the understanding of how traditionally office-based jobs can be done. Jobseekers get the best of both worlds - the instant communication and collaboration you get in the office, along with the convenience of being able to work from home.

27/06/2022—ECI Staff Contributors

UK Manufacturing Skills Shortage: The Cities Struggling Most

Almost every UK industry has struggled to attract people with the right skills – but manufacturers have felt the pressure more than most in recent months. Long-standing labour challenges came to a head towards the end of 2021, due to a shortage of skilled workers from the EU after Brexit and COVID-19-related supply chain disruption.

Portrait of Jamie Bradley, ECI field service sales engineer discussing career and industry insights

05/04/2022—ECI Staff Contributors

Meet Jamie Bradley: Field Service Sales Engineer at ECI

This month we feature Jamie Bradley, newly appointed sales engineer for Field Service at ECI Software Solutions. We sat down with Jamie to learn more about his role within the team.

04/04/2022—ECI Staff Contributors

7 Smart Strategies to Manage Email Overload at Work

Poster of ECI Builders’ Merchants Awards in London

09/02/2022—ECI Staff Contributors

ECI Customers Win Big at 2022 Builders’ Merchants Awards

Two ECI customers have been announced as winners at the prestigious Builders’ Merchants Awards. Coomers Timber and Building Supplies, a longstanding ECI Spruce customer, won the Kitchen and Bathroom Showroom of the Year award, while eCommonSense customer, Haldane Fisher took home the Online and Digital Strategy of the Year Award.

Business leaders shaking hands to symbolize forming a strategic partnership agreement

24/01/2022—ECI Staff Contributors

Strategic Business Partnerships: 3 Key Benefits and How to Build Them

Two business managers review and discuss purchase-to-delivery processes using an order management system.

Supply Chain Management

10/01/2022—ECI Staff Contributors

What is an Order Management System (OMS) & How Does It Work?

An order management system (OMS) is a software package that coordinates all of the disparate functions of an order fulfillment process and allows them to be controlled succinctly.

Supply Chain Management

10/01/2022—ECI Staff Contributors

What are the different types of inventory systems?

Juggling a supply chain is one of the trickiest, but most important, aspects of managing a manufacturing business. Keeping that supply chain healthy and working at its optimum means the business can perform to its best ability on a day-to-day basis.

Diagram comparing direct, indirect, and dual distribution channels in supply chain strategy

Supply Chain Management

16/11/2021—ECI Staff Contributors

How to Choose the Right Distribution Channel for Your Business

The supply chain distribution industry continues to evolve as companies are expected to meet customer expectations. Finding and creating a distribution chain that will support growth and improve performance is one of the key factors to staying ahead of the changes in the market.