Revolution through electronic purchasing

Automation is finding its way in the world of purchasing. This development could evoke dramatic effects in the long term, not only on purchasing but even on the market place itself. Nowadays, EDI and CD-ROM are examples of automation applications that purchasing departments use frequently. Internet and other global communication systems are not yet perceived as major added value applications for purchasers. Nevertheless this medium could change purchasing in a revolutionary manner, provided that the information such global media present, is structured in an easily accessible way. At that point major elements of traditional purchasing will be automatically shifted to the end user. As a consequence the marketplace for these products will become completely transparent, creating a new fundamentally different reality. This will allow new competitors to enter and will demand new services to be rendered.