title: What the Internet means for the medical device industry.
abstract: The Internet is dramatically changing the structure of the industry. For the first time, direct communication between all suppliers and all hospitals is available. The Internet-based electronic market place not only provides the ability to choose products from a standardized catalogue, but also to send orders direct to suppliers' enterprise resource planning systems. One-to-one marketing is also becoming a reality. Medical device manufacturers are advised to test the different electronic sales and marketing initiatives that are now available.
authors.affiliation: GloMediX AG, Munich, Germany. Tilman.Frank@glomedix.com
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005060:Europe; D007221:Industry; D020407:Internet; D017008:Negotiating; D011682:Purchasing, Hospital / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States