Paul Cabra

Five who thrive by tempering technology with the personal touch At Glenwood, Minnesota-based American Business Forms, technological changes in the industry present both opportunities and challenges. Because of its ability to buy back time, President Larry Zavadil believes that Internet technology is one of his company's biggest assets. "The Internet gives customers the ability research and order products without having to be personally guided, face-to-face, through the process," Zavadil said. "With the extra time, sales associates can again prospect during the day, and write orders in the off hours." When used improperly, however, Zavadil stressed that e-commerce can be as much of a

E-forms are a value-added product about to reach the mainstream By Eric Fiedler FOR YEARS, e-forms were considered a product of the future. For many distributors, the future is now. More than three-fourths of Business Forms, Labels & Systems' Top 100 Distributors sell electronic forms, including nine of the top 10. While most of the larger companies introduced electronic form programs three to five years ago, they say the benefits are just beginning for both their clients and themselves. "People are increasingly ready to take advantage of electronic forms because they now have the necessary infrastructure in place," said Daniel Siadak, CDC, president of RBF in Lansing, Mich.