ECI buys Drypowder to boost ERP payments & AR tools

ECI Software Solutions has acquired Drypowder, a financial technology company focused on accounts receivable, billing and digital payments for the building materials and construction sectors.

The deal adds payments and receivables products that integrate with ECI's ERP software. The acquisition is positioned as a step toward embedding financial processes directly into the operational systems customers use in construction-related and other industries.

ECI sells business management software for small and mid-sized companies across manufacturing, building and construction, field service and distribution. It reports serving 25,000 customers in more than 90 countries.

Drypowder focuses on the invoice-to-cash process, from issuing an invoice to collecting funds and reconciling payment. Many building materials and construction firms manage this work across multiple locations, using a mix of project billing, credit accounts and service arrangements.

These operating models can add complexity for receivables teams. Manual processes may slow collections, increase errors, complicate reconciliation and tie up working capital.

Payments focus

Drypowder's software integrates invoicing and collections with ERP data. ECI said the combined approach links payment activity to the operational records already held in its industry-specific ERP systems.

ECI also highlighted a greater role for automation, combining ERP data, digital payments and AI-driven tools to prioritise collections and automate routine tasks. It cited predictive cash flow and risk reduction as potential customer outcomes.

Andres Ricaurte, President, Payments at ECI Software Solutions, said accounts receivable is often manual and disconnected from core systems of record.

"Across the industries we serve, accounts receivable is often manual and disconnected from the systems teams rely on every day," said Andres Ricaurte, President, Payments at ECI Software Solutions. "With Drypowder, we are embedding intelligent, automated AR workflows directly into our ERP platforms, making it easier for customers to get paid faster, improve cash flow visibility, and reduce administrative burden. AI-driven automation powered by our ERP data will help our customers improve the entire invoice-to-cash process while delivering a better experience for their buyers."

Two products

Drypowder brings two core products to ECI. The first, Vault, is a customer payment platform that lets buyers select invoices and pay digitally. It also provides payment confirmation and posts transaction data back into the ERP system, according to ECI.

The second product, Homebase, is a workspace for accounts receivable operations. It centralises collections activity, dispute handling and communications in a single view. ECI said it offers visibility into receivables status, along with workflow automation and insights for collections teams.

For companies managing large volumes of invoices, these capabilities can influence collection speed and the quality of receivables data. They can also shape how finance teams communicate with customers about disputes and payment status.

Integration strategy

The acquisition also reflects a broader push by ERP vendors into payments and receivables tools. Embedded payments can reshape how software firms generate revenue and how customers choose suppliers, as payments features become part of a broader system purchase rather than a separate procurement.

ECI described the transaction as part of a strategy to link ERP, payments and AI-driven financial workflows, aiming to deliver a more connected experience across the industries it serves and extend data-driven financial operations for customers.

Kevin Ehinger, Founder and CEO of Drypowder, said the company will maintain its operating focus after the acquisition.

"From day one, our mission has been to modernise accounts receivable inside ERP systems our customers rely on every day," said Kevin Ehinger, Founder and CEO, Drypowder. "Joining forces with ECI allows us to accelerate that mission without changing what makes Drypowder successful. Our team, our products, and our commitment remain the same. What grows is our ability to innovate faster, deepen integration with ECI's ERP solutions, and deliver even greater value with the backing of a global software leader."

ECI is headquartered in Westlake, Texas, with offices across North America, Europe, India and Australia. It has more than 30 years of operating history and sells software spanning ERP, CRM, data and analytics, eCommerce, mobile applications and payment processing.

Drypowder will now sit within ECI's portfolio, with integration work expected to continue across ECI's ERP platforms and payments offering.