ECI Software Solutions, a global leader in cloud-based business management software, recently announced the acquisition of Avid Ratings, a renowned customer experience solutions provider for the homebuilding industry. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Avid Ratings delivers advanced analytics and AI-driven tools that empower homebuilders to enhance customer satisfaction. This strategic acquisition strengthens ECI’s suite of industry-specific solutions, particularly by integrating tools that manage and analyze the homebuyer journey, from initial engagement through post-move-in services.
In this post, we’ll explore the significance of this acquisition, ECI’s commitment to AI and innovation, and how these new tools will enhance customer experience and operational efficiency for homebuilders.
Expanding ECI’s Homebuilder Solutions with Avid Ratings’ Expertise
The acquisition of Avid Ratings is a strategic move by ECI to broaden its reach and offer more specialized software for the homebuilding sector. ECI has been a longstanding provider of comprehensive cloud-based solutions across various industries, with a focus on helping businesses streamline operations, improve productivity, and gain insights into their customers. With Avid Ratings now in its portfolio, ECI can extend these capabilities to homebuilders looking to improve the quality of their customer relationships and experience management.
“Avid Ratings’ solutions offer unmatched, industry-specific capabilities that help homebuilders better understand and enhance the customer experience, filling a key gap in our portfolio,” said Trevor Gruenewald, CEO of ECI Software Solutions. “This acquisition aligns perfectly with our commitment to investing in AI and other innovative technologies to deliver comprehensive software suites and keep our customers competitive.”
Introducing Avid Ratings’ Advanced Customer Experience Tools
Avid Ratings brings a wealth of customer experience management tools to ECI. Known for its deep understanding of the homebuilding market, Avid Ratings offers innovative solutions that help builders monitor and enhance customer satisfaction throughout the entire homebuying process. Its flagship product, AvidCX™, is a customer experience management platform specifically tailored to meet the needs of homebuilders. Through AvidCX™, homebuilders can gather and analyze feedback at each stage of the homebuyer journey, helping them understand their customers’ needs and address potential pain points.
Moreover, Avid Ratings’ technology suite includes AI-powered tools like AvidWarranty™—an innovative platform currently under development. AvidWarranty™ is set to streamline the management of post-sale warranties, ensuring a seamless experience for both homebuilders and homeowners. By automating warranty tracking and issue resolution, AvidWarranty™ will likely become a valuable asset for homebuilders who want to reduce warranty-related workloads and maintain customer satisfaction post-sale.
Another noteworthy addition is HomeKeep™, a post-move-in home management platform designed to improve the homeowner experience. HomeKeep™ enables homeowners to manage essential maintenance tasks and access important information about their homes, fostering long-term satisfaction and engagement. This platform aligns with the increasing trend of homebuilders providing value-added services that go beyond the initial sale, helping them build lasting relationships with their clients.
How This Acquisition Will Benefit Homebuilders
The integration of Avid Ratings into ECI Software Solutions opens a wide range of opportunities for homebuilders. By bringing together ECI’s powerful construction management tools with Avid’s customer experience technology, homebuilders can leverage enhanced data-sharing and automation capabilities. Some expected benefits include:
- Streamlined Customer Feedback: AvidCX™ will allow homebuilders to gather, analyze, and act on customer feedback more efficiently, ensuring they meet customer expectations at every stage of the buying process.
- Enhanced Post-Sale Support: The AvidWarranty™ platform will enable homebuilders to manage post-sale warranties with minimal hassle, improving customer satisfaction by ensuring a smooth and responsive experience post-purchase.
- Improved Long-Term Engagement: HomeKeep™ fosters ongoing engagement with homeowners by providing a centralized platform for maintenance and home information, helping homebuilders stay connected with their customers well beyond the initial sale.
By providing these tools, ECI and Avid Ratings will enable homebuilders to enhance their customer-centric services, resulting in better customer loyalty and stronger brand reputation.
Strengthening ECI’s Integrated Homebuilding Solutions
A key part of this acquisition’s value lies in its integration with ECI’s existing home construction solutions, including MarkSystems® and Lasso®. MarkSystems® is a leading ERP software for homebuilders, and Lasso® is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform tailored for the homebuilding industry. Together, these platforms allow homebuilders to handle everything from project planning and scheduling to sales and customer engagement.
With Avid Ratings’ tools integrated into this ecosystem, ECI can offer a more comprehensive solution for homebuilders. For example, feedback data gathered through AvidCX™ can now be shared seamlessly with MarkSystems® to inform construction and quality control. Similarly, insights from HomeKeep™ can be integrated into Lasso®, helping homebuilders track post-sale interactions and maintain a stronger connection with homeowners. This deeper level of integration means homebuilders can more easily track customer satisfaction metrics, manage post-sale warranties, and engage with homeowners throughout the lifecycle of homeownership.
ECI’s Vision for the Future: A Commitment to AI and Innovation
The acquisition reflects ECI’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology in homebuilding. AI and machine learning are increasingly transforming customer experience management, enabling companies to predict trends, personalize interactions, and optimize operations. By investing in Avid Ratings’ AI-driven platforms, ECI is empowering homebuilders with tools that simplify decision-making and enhance customer satisfaction.
AvidRatings’ advanced analytics tools, combined with ECI’s existing construction and customer management platforms, create a robust ecosystem that fosters greater efficiency and innovation. As a result, homebuilders can rely on predictive insights, automate routine tasks, and prioritize customer satisfaction. ECI’s commitment to integrating AI technology means that homebuilders will have access to sophisticated tools without needing to build or manage these capabilities in-house.
Final Thoughts: A Promising Collaboration for the Homebuilding Industry
The acquisition of Avid Ratings by ECI Software Solutions is a transformative step for both companies and the homebuilding industry at large. By merging Avid Ratings’ customer experience expertise with ECI’s powerful suite of homebuilding solutions, this partnership provides homebuilders with an end-to-end, AI-driven toolkit for managing every aspect of the customer journey. From pre-sale engagement to post-move-in support, ECI and Avid Ratings are setting new standards for customer satisfaction and operational excellence in the homebuilding sector.
As ECI continues to invest in advanced customer experience technology, homebuilders stand to gain powerful new tools to meet evolving customer expectations, enhance efficiency, and build enduring client relationships. This acquisition is a pivotal moment for ECI, Avid Ratings, and homebuilders looking to strengthen their competitive edge in a dynamic market.