The adoption and utilization of online auctions by supply chain managers

This study contributes to the online auction literature by empirically examining the differences across three groups (current users, past users, and nonusers) in terms of their emphasis on supplier collaboration, cost management, and sales revenue and profit enhancement. The paper further compares the online auction usages for maintenance/repair/operations and shipping and transportation services across high and low groups in supplier collaboration and cost management. A survey of supply chain professionals coupled with appropriate statistical analysis was employed to investigate adoption and utilization of online auctions. Study findings indicate significant differences between users and nonusers. Study findings specifically indicate that current online auction users have a greater belief in the auctions as a cost containment tool than past or nonusers. It was also found that nonusers place a greater level of importance on supplier collaboration and sales revenue and profit enhancement than either current or past users.