Questioning the E-Form Existence

"E-forms are growing in popularity and the majority of new applications that we install today incorporate them in one way or another," he said. "It didn't used to be that way."

In fact, Plantrol has been suggesting the use of e-forms to its customers for about 10 years. But it hasn't been until the past 18 months that they've seen it is a valuable business tool, noted DeBiso.

"Using the Internet to transmit e-form data is the way a lot of future business is going to go, and customers are realizing how easy and effective it is," he said. "It gives them instant gratification."

Still, DeBiso experiences a lot of apprehension about e-form use, because, "They replace what distributors, manufacturers and end-users are used to dealing with.

"We just have to prove its advantages over time. Once they see the benefits and potential, generally people are willing to take it on," added DeBiso

Right now, Plantrol sees that the more progressive manufacturers are willing to provide forms on a diskette without requiring a paper-based copy. But they are in the minority.

"It is basically the technological counterpart to traditional paper-based forms," DeBiso said. "I would think the distributor of the future would promote technology to compliment other products."