Hope still lingers, however, among some companies that see potential for exchanges to make inter-business transactions and collaboration cheaper, easier and more effective. The survey shows companies expect to conduct the bulk of direct and indirect materials spending through exchanges within three years.
Businesses hope the exchanges will eventually reduce the cost of goods and the cost of the buying and selling processes. However, the study also found that companies acknowledge that their organisations must change to truly benefit from exchanges. Giga Vice President Andrew Bartles noted, “companies now realise that exchanges are not panaceas…but they still think the gains are worth the pain.”