In 1993, relatively few maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) buyers had Internet access. Penton Research Services, Cleveland, Ohio, reports that today almost half of all MRO supply purchase decision-makers in the U.S. use the Internet in their job, and 82.9% expect to use the Internet for job-related purposes in the next five years. Ken Long, Penton Research Services director, says thatproviding buyers with electronic access to information has become a necessity for firms selling to industry. Seven out of ten MRO purchase decision-makers surveyed said that they expect to respond to more ads over the next five years by visiting the company's Web site or by sending e-mail to the company.
These and other research findings are outlined in the new study, Industry Inquiry Trends. The report presents the results of a survey of 676 managers, executives, engineers and purchasing agents in the U.S., who are involved in buying decisions for their organizations. For more information, call Penton Research at 800-736-8660 or e-mail [email protected].