Online document ordering systems of online vendors

The commands and features of four selected online document ordering systems are compared, and potentially useful features lacking in these systems are suggested. Three advantages of such systems are examined: referral to efficient document suppliers, convenience, and speed. Despite this, a telephone survey of German users shows very low usage, and reasons for this are suggested — primarily cost, and the ability to supply requests from in‐house or local sources. For very urgent orders cost is a minor factor but for normal ones it is the most important. The users surveyed also comment on the features available in current ordering systems.