A survey in the January issue of Building Operating Management magazine reports that only half of FMs are regularly making purchases online; the rest are proceeding with caution. Half the respondents attribute the caution to internal processes such as restricted use of credit cards for purchasing, which most e-commerce businesses require, as the major stumbling block. Other reasons included difficulty in finding the right provider, lack of information, and not being convinced of the benefits of e-commerce. Many FMs were also hesitant to replace a trusted longtime vendor with a computer. Overall the survey found that FMs anticipate an increase in online purchasing in the years to come, largely because of benefits such as faster transactions and less paperwork.
