Wholesalers and manufacturers at odds regarding e-business
A new study by Adam J. Fein, president of Pembroke Consulting, finds that wholesalers and manufacturers differ significantly on their views regarding the future of e-business. According to the report, titled Facing the Forces of Change: Future Scenarios for Wholesale Distribution, 56% of manufacturers surveyed expect online exchanges to generate loyal customers by 2006, while 60% of distributors express serious doubts that online exchanges will attract customers.
The study, funded by the Distribution Research and Education Foundation of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, is based on 1,600 responses from manufacturers, distributors and customers across 50 different industries and 75 in-depth interviews with leading supply chain and distribution channel experts.