Advantages of digitization for buyers

INDURSTRIE 4.0 In order to make work processes as efficient as possible, more and more companies are using companies to digitalization. Industry 4.0 is already well advanced in Switzerland. At least that's what a recent survey of 148 buyers from the supplier search "Wer liefert was" shows. 33 percent of respondents stated that suppliers have fully automated production. When searching for products, services and raw materials, a high degree of digitalization offers buyers advantages that benefit the entire company. For example, 64% of respondents stated that they benefit from digital processes by finding suppliers more quickly. 41% save costs through digital processes and for 35% of buyers, digitalization brings another significant advantage in procurement: procurement is no longer tied to a specific location.Increased efficiency is a benefit for companiesDigitalization leads to an increase in efficiency, which is a benefit for companies in these fast-moving times. 36% of respondents stated that they themselves are more efficient thanks to digital processes. 16% of those surveyed also stated that the efficiency of their own company had generally increased. An important success factor for companies in a digitizing world is their own presence on the Internet. In other words, the online findability and visibility of their own services. Buyers view the status quo of suppliers in terms of online presence quite positively. 70 percent stated that suppliers have a website with all business-relevant information. After all, the website is a company's business card. Therefore, the first step towards digitalization must be a good online presence.

Mobile offerings on the riseBusiness search engines (39 percent) and other online marketing measures, such as Google ads, banners or mailings (20 percent), are also part of the status quo for providers, according to the buyers surveyed. While mobile offers were not yet on the suppliers' agenda in the past, the current survey of buyers revealed that this area is also finding its way into companies. Almost one in five (21 percent) stated that suppliers now have a mobile offering (mobile website, mobile app). This also represents immense progress.Buyers want detailed online informationThe results of the survey also show what buyers generally need when searching for products and suppliers digitally. Two thirds of buyers agree that they need price information (63%) and product images (61%) to help them understand products more quickly. 53% need the entire portfolio of the product they are looking for at a glance and 48% need information on order quantities and delivery conditions or availability. These are expectations that suppliers can easily meet these days. For example, it is possible to present the entire product range in the "Who delivers what" provider search: This means displaying product photos and adding product details, price information, delivery times and availability.Personal contact remains importantIn addition to the clear expectations of buyers with regard to digital processes, one criterion is indispensable: Personal business contact. Almost half (41 percent) of those surveyed stated this.