Announcing the e-procurement census

By Douglas A. Smock -- Purchasing, 9/7/2000

Seven in 10 purchasing departments are now actively pursuing e-procurement, according to a new research study by Purchasing Magazine. Electronic procurement may have more fundamental impact on how purchasing takes place in America than any single event or development in recent memory. The potential is becoming obvious. The biggest problem? Sorting through the maze of models, suppliers, hype and jargon.

The E-Procurement Suppliers Census is a new annual directory from the editors of Purchasing Magazine that will run as a supplement in our first February issue. It will be the most comprehensive directory ever assembled of the companies that provide electronic buying services. These include:

• Single companies that have mounted Web sites where they sell products,

• Vertical exchanges (electronics, chemicals, metals, etc.),

• Multi-company trade exchanges,

• E-procurement software providers,

• Net market-making technology providers, and

• Companies that make ancillary software products or services.

The largest section of the E-Census will be an A-Z listing of all suppliers. Listings will contain extensive information about these companies based on research by Purchasing Magazine. Most of the information will be specific to the type of e-procurement service offered. That is, the questions we ask software providers are different from the questions we ask Net market makers. The directory will also contain listings of suppliers organized by these categories describing the providers' business: 1) e-procurement software, 2) Net market-making technology, 3) Net market maker or "e" hub, and 4) Ancillary software products or services. There will also be listings of exchanges by product category, e.g. chemicals, metals, plastics, electronics, office supplies, MRO, etc.

The registration form for our Census can be found at our Web site www.purchasing.com. Please send a copy to your e-procurement suppliers. If your company sells over a Web site, please forward a form to your marketing department.