The market in supply chain management and procurement software grew by 7.3 percent to $8.9bn (£5.27bn) in 2013, according to Gartner.

A shift is underway for distributors of industrial supplies and the e-commerce experience they provide to their customers. In 2013, more than 63 percent of industrial supply buyers said they made purchases online, with half of those purchasers spending at least 50 percent of their annual budget with suppliers who have an e-commerce platform.

Analyst Insight: Alignment is the number one strategy to increase business value. Alignment is realized when the business strategy, functions, employees, business processes and technology are optimized for growth and profitability resulting in substantial shareholder returns. Procurement’s opportunity for excellence begins with alignment to the business and the broader enterprise strategy. – Mickey North Rizza, BravoSolution