Britannia™ Business Management System

Features

The following is list of Britannia's automation modules, each with dozens of features to help you get the job done:

Accounting

• Accounts Payable & Receivable
• General Ledger (supports multiple locations)
• Multi-location Accounting
• QuickBooks Data Export

Order Entry & Billing

• Ecommerce Web Storefront available
• Consolidated Billing
• Corporate Accounts
• Credit Card Processing
• Retail POS
• Flexible Invoicing: Print or Email Proforma, with Custom Notes
• Quotes
• Quick Order Review

Purchasing

• Internet Purchasing with Major Wholesalers and Buying Groups
• Cost Analysis to Optimize Purchasing
• Direct Buy Cost Preservation & Management Procurement

Inventory

• Real-Time Wholesaler Stock Check
• Inventory Tracking
• Multi-Location Inventory Management
• Inventory Reports
• Load Item Files from Most Major Wholesalers

Pricing

• Wholesaler/Buying Group Price Files Loaded in Minutes
• Automated Contract Management
• Cost+, Discount for List, and GP-based Pricing
• GP Protection Algorithms
• Variable Margin Pricing
• Unit of Measure Management

Reporting

Benefits

Integration

The fully integrated Britannia system offers every feature that a growing office products dealer needs in a single, cost-effective package. That’s double the savings: you don’t have to buy multiple programs to manage different areas of your business (accounting, purchasing, reporting, etc.), and you never have to re-key data.

It sounds simple, but with hundreds of man-hours eliminated, the cost reductions are staggering. That’s something that generic accounting software like QuickBooks can’t offer.

Automation

By using software instead of employees to do basic tasks (and in a fraction of the time) you can dramatically cut costs. Since Britannia can automate virtually every facet of your operation, each module can save you thousands of dollars.

Internet-Based Software

Britannia is a hosted solution. You can manage and grow your business without unnecessary IT expenses. You access the software over the Internet while we handle server security, item file loads, back-ups, and routine maintenance — a dramatic savings in hardware and labor.

Britannia users also enjoy trouble-free, overnight system updates. When a new version of the software is released, it is automatically loaded for all Britannia users.

Plus, you can access your business data from home—or any other location. All you need is a Web browser and Internet connection.

Scalability

Britannia is specifically designed for growing businesses. The software is scalable from start-ups to $5 million+ companies — with a clear upgrade path for future growth.

Multiple Lines of Business

OP dealers frequently sell other types of products, both to maximize revenue from their existing customer base and to create a safety-net against market changes by diversifying their business. Britannia’s inventory and distribution features support all of an OP dealer’s likely verticals, including:

• Coffee and Break Room Supplies
• IT Supplies
• Jan/San
• Printing and Ad Specialty
• School Supplies
• Office Equipment
  • Call Tickets
  • Serialized Inventory
  • Custom Contracts
  • Click Counts
• Office Furniture
  • .sif File Import (from CAD Specifiers)
  • Track P/Os, Acknowledgements, Receiving, and Installation
    

Options

ECi offers a number of options and advanced tools that expand the capabilities of the Britannia system.

BritLink™: Integrated Web Storefront

Britannia integrates with BritLink, a web storefront specifically designed to help growing dealers compete in the world of online office supply sales.

Acsellerate®: Business Intelligence

Britannia integrates with Acsellerate, the industry's most advanced business intelligence solution. Acsellerate pinpoints low-margin items and at-risk accounts to help you sell more — and make higher margins on every sale. Every Britannia user who uses Acsellerate has seen gross profits increase at least +0.5% in the first three months, with some experiencing as much as a 3% jump.

NET1: Credit Card Processing

A credit card processing solution that comes fully integrated with the Britannia system — no extra software or hardware required. NET1's dramatic savings from settlement matching, free-standing Web interface, and a meet-or-beat guarantee for other processors' rates are just a few reasons why Net1 is ECi's recommended credit card solution.

RoutePerfect™: Delivery Route Optimization

RoutePerfect optimizes delivery routes to cut fuel and labor costs. Quickly rebalance loads or change routes to account for absent drivers, construction or priority deliveries.

E-mail Marketing

AdLinks™ creates cost-effective, customized flyers in minutes.

Furniture Project Manager

• .sif File Import (from CAD Specifiers)
• Manufacturer P/O Tracking
• Acknowledgements and Delivery Information Records
• Delivery and Installation Management

Service Management

• Call Tickets
• Serialized Inventory
• Custom Contracts
• Click Counts

GoldMine® CRM

Use the Britannia business system in conjunction with the GoldMine CRM tool for operational insights that can help you drive sales, raise profits, and improve customer retention rates.

GPS/AVL Fleet Logistics

RouteVision™ provides tracking and automatic vehicle location for your delivery fleet, improving route efficiency across the board.

Signature Capture and Delivery Confirmation

RouteTrak™ offers electronic signature capture for delivery confirmation. By reducing labor costs and delivery/billing disputes, RouteTrak is proven to save the average user over $300 per month, per truck!

Services

No other technology provider has more experience in helping small office products dealers grow than ECi. We understand the industry, we understand what it takes for an independent dealer to succeed, and our experienced trainers and support technicians will be there to help you every step of the way.

Implementation

Implementing a new business system doesn’t have to be a challenge. We’ll assign a training specialist to get you up and running on Britannia as soon as possible. As a result, the average implementation takes only a couple of weeks.

In-depth software training is provided through a combination of webinars and phone-based training sessions, and is supplemented by phone support to answer questions and help you set up the software. Britannia also offers on-site implementation options, with in-person setup and one-on-one training.

Training

Whether you’re breaking in new employees or implementing new features, ECi offers the training to help you make the most of your technology investment. Britannia users can choose from a variety of training options, including:

• Monthly webinars on specific, system-related topics
• Personalized phone-based training
• On-site training
• National and regional users meetings with formal, classroom-style training

Support

ECi’s experienced technicians are available to help if you have any questions or issues concerning the software. And when you call, you’ll speak to a qualified technical specialist who understands your business as well as our software. Britannia Technical Support is available during regular business hours in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in each time zone. Weekend support service is also available at a small additional cost.

ECi’s experienced technicians are available to help if you have any questions or issues concerning the software. And when you call, you’ll speak to a qualified technical specialist who understands your business as well as our software. ECi support technicians have an average tenure of eight years with the company, and many have hands-on experience working in office products, furniture or equipment dealerships just like yours.

Britannia Technical Support is available during regular business hours in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in each time zone. Weekend support service is also available at a small additional cost.

System Requirements

Since Britannia is a hosted solution, you can grow your business with a minimal IT infrastructure. Network and client PC requirements are listed below, along with information on supported printers, POS equipment, and other devices.

Basic Client Computer Requirements

• Windows 98 Second Edition or higher (Windows XP Professional preferred)
• Pentium class CPU 233mhz or higher
• 32mb memory or higher
• Internet Explorer (latest version)
• System must have a parallel port

Basic Client Network Requirements

• Basic Windows TCP/IP LAN (Peer-to-Peer Networking is sufficient)
• Internet connection sharing ability
• Use a high bandwidth connection if 3 or more computers are sharing the connection
• If you have firewall technology in use, please be sure that port 23 is open for telnet access
• Satellite and/or wireless Internet connections are not recommended
  

Supported Printers

Laser Printers

• HP LaserJet series (Preferred)
• Samsung
• Brother (note: Model 1440 is known to have compatibility issues)

Inkjet/Deskjet Printers

• HP DeskJet series
• Lexmark
• Epson
• Brother

Multi-Function Printers

• HP
• Brother
• Lexmark
• Epson
• Samsung

Supported POS Equipment

Cash Drawer

EP-127-W with RJ connection (http://www.mscashdrawer.com, 626-792-2111)

Bar Code Scanner

M2000LAS-ME9521 kit ( available from American Micro Systems: http://www.amltd.com, 817-571-9015)

Pole Displays

• Epson Pole Display
• Partnertech CD7220 series
• Partnertech VFD 650 series

Dot Matrix Receipt Printer

• Star Micronics #DP8340RC with power supply
• Star Micronics #SP212 Parallel Printer ( Use Generic Windows XP driver, then select Generic/Text)

Thermal Receipt Printers

• Epson TM88-IV
• Star Micronics TSP100 series
• Star Micronics TSP143 USB (Must be used with Windows 2000/NT/XP, http://www.starmicronics.com; The driver to be used is the default Star Driver)
• Star Micronics XR200 series