A Professional Publisher of documents and catalogs for Print, Internet, On-line & CD-ROM media. A professional catalog publisher and developer of catalogs via Print, Internet, Online, CD-ROM media. We specialize in electronic supplies, electrical supplies, paper supplies, telecommunications supplies, safety supplies, maintenance supplies, hardware supplies, computer supplies, graphic arts supplies, data connect supplies and chemicals.

A Technical Publisher
"Creation of content for Internet, CD-ROM and Print medias"

(See Part I for introduction and methodology)

Part II: Survey of Purchasing Managers

Over half of purchasing managers surveyed purchase from less than 20 distributors.

Over one-third of purchasing managers said the number of distributors they purchase from is greater than the number they purchased from three years ago.

Graphic-Use of Distributors by Purchasing Managers

Just under half of purchasing managers surveyed said they have access to a computer equipped with a Web browser. Of those who do not currently have access, three-quarters expect to eventually get access and use the Web to gather information from distributors.

Each purchasing manager that has a browser-equipped computer spends, on average, about 3.2 hours per week using the Web.

Graphic-Use of the Web by Purchasing Managers

Nearly one-half of purchasing managers surveyed said that 6 or more of their distributors have a Web site.

About one-fifth of purchasing managers with a browser-equipped computer spend over half of their time using the Web to gathering information from distributors.

Graphic-Use of Existing Distributor Web Sites by Purchasing Managers

Purchasing managers mentioned availability and pricing information most often when asked to name the services they use on distributor Web sites.

Graphic-Use of Existing Distributor Web Sites by Purchasing Managers (cont)

When asked to name the services they would like to see from their distributors that are not currently on their Web sites, purchasing managers mentioned availability and pricing information most often.

Graphic-Current and Future Use of Distributor Web Sites by Purchasing Managers to Make Purchases

Almost three-fourths of purchasing managers using the Web do not currently conduct distributor purchasing on the Web. However, these purchasing managers generally expect a steady increase in their use of the Web to conduct distributor purchases. Those surveyed expect distributor purchases on the Web to account for, on average, 20% of total distributor purchases one year from now, 32% in two years, and 49% in five years.

When compared with distributor expectations (see page 10), it is evident that purchasing managers generally expect the implementation of Web commerce to occur at a quicker pace than that predicted by distributors.

Why?

Allows/ will allow easier/ faster distribution and receipt of information: 71%
Overall use will increase: 13%
More commerce/ transactions will take place on the Web: 11%
Will facilitate improved communications: 3%
Others: < 3% each

Graphic-Purchasing Manager Opinions about the Impact of the Web

Why Not?

I prefer personal contact: 39%
Too difficult to use: 17%
Security problems: 11%
Response time is too slow: 11%
Others: 6% each

Eight in ten purchasing managers feel the Web will dramatically change the nature of electronics distribution. Nearly three-fourths of these purchasing managers explained that this dramatic change will occur because the Web allows/ will allow easier and faster transfer of information between distributors and customers.

(Go back to Part I)
[Return to Home Page]