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Tech spending by distributors to grow

Technology investments by distributors and wholesalers is forecasted to exceed $80 billion by 2008, according to new research from Pembroke Consulting.

The report, “Facing the Forces of Change: The Road to Opportunity,” included survey responses from more than 1ꯠ wholesale distribution executives.

Over the next four years, spending on computer hardware and software will focus on: online ordering; customer relationship management; sales force automation; and warehouse management systems, according to the report.

“In the coming years, distribution executives will invest in technologies that improve productivity, enhance existing service offerings, and meet new demands for customer self-service in B2B supply chains,” says Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., president of Pembroke. —AO

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