Influences of electronic business tools on the people involved in industrial purchasing processes

This study investigates the changes of the group of people which are involved in industrial buying processes through the introduction of e- business tools and in which way their involvement has changed. In order to achieve this research purpose this study contains a multiple case study of two companies, Volvo Lastvagnar AB in Umeå and SCA Packaging Munksund AB in Piteå, representing the important Swedish manufacturing and paper industry. The outcome of this study is that more and more e-business becomes a regular element in industrial purchasing processes. The results are faster processes with less people involved and a split between strategic and daily purchasing decisions. The tasks of the purchasing department are elevated towards strategic sourcing and the strategic designing of the electronic business systems, while the employees are freer to do purchasing on their own within these systems.Validerat; 20101217 (root