In industrial goods, there is much more standardization and uniformity as technical considerations are paramount and purchasers everywhere are looking for the best products. This trend is re-emerging. General Electric in the USA is an excellent example of this, focusing solely on what it does best. It only operates in industries and market where it ranks No. 1 or No. 2. Many other multinationals are cutting their product lines, focusing on their core competence.
Globalization means that more companies operate in more and more countries.
This means they seek more efficient ways to the market. A more recent departure is selling networks, e.g. General Motors and Daimler-Chrysler have established a selling network to sell original machine parts to different companies around the world. The Internet can contribute to efficient distribution but products must be available at a reasonable proximity to the buyer to allow rapid delivery. Not only can the Internet expedite delivery, i.e. offer quicker and better service for the customer, but it also reduces inventory for the producer. If we look at the intermediaries in distribution, i.e. the wholesalers and retailers, we can see that they too are going international.