TO imagine how the Internet s rapid growth in the last decade has affected site selection decisions. No longer are they at the mercy of reports that are outdated by the time they are completed. In many cases, Internet information is as fresh as new-fallen snow and available at lightening speed. In the increasingly competitive global economy, data needs to be fast and accurate so companies can turn a strategy into reality as soon as possible. The faster a product or service can reach the marketplace, the sooner the revenues will be rolling in.
Consultants agree that the Internet is playing an ever-increasing role in siting new operations.
Thanks largely to the Internet, the time it takes to research and select a new plant site sometimes can be cut in half. Clark Gillespy, a principal with Fluor Global Location Strategies in Greenville, S.C., says, Everyone is becoming more technically proficient and using the Internet as a primary tool. Companies no longer have the flexibility to take a great deal of time in making these decisions. By spending a couple of hours on the Web, they can easily see states and, to some extent, local communities that meet their needs. Time frames have been greatly compressed.