Purchasing professionals use the Internet to do business with industrial distributors more today than they did two years ago. Mainly, buyers are using the Web to find new suppliers and conduct transactions.

Seventy-six percent of Purchasing readers responding to a new survey say they go online to conduct business with distributors. Two years ago, this figure was 61%.

In addition to locating suppliers and processing transactions, buyers use the Web to get quotes, track orders and check inventory levels with distributors. Purchasers also research suppliers online.

Buyers say benefits to using the Internet include many of those that readily come to mind when someone turns to electronic tools to buy and sell goods and services: There's less paperwork and the process is fast and efficient. One survey respondent sums it up: "It's self-explanatory. Doing business electronically eases the process of doing business tremendously."

Another respondent says use of online tools "streamlines the purchase to minimize cost for both buyer and seller, and frees up time for the buyer to manage suppliers."