Manufacturers’ websites mainly used for product specifics, prices, and technicalities
Although many websites offer a full range of information for architects, the European architect values the website of manufacturers highly. The starting point of the search is more generic in the beginning: searching on the internet via search engines, and eventually being directed to the manufacturer’s website as this is a reliable source for architects. This is especially the case when architects are looking for specific product information, prices, or more detailed technical information. In each of the involved countries in the study, this is the most essential information that architects expect from the manufacturer’s website. The website of manufacturers is trustworthy and who else has the best and most up-to-date detailed information available on their products?
The website is not yet used often to get inspired; architects use independent sources for this
Just as when looking for product specifics, the starting point for architects when looking for innovations and novelties is generally the internet. While manufacturers do their best to offer relevant content for architects, they do not seem to fully succeed at that. The website is surely an important and key information source, but architects throughout Europe need additional sources to fully comply with their information needs when they search for inspiration. It seems that architects have a strong preference for sources other than the manufacturer, especially when it comes to information on aesthetics, novelties, and new product innovations. For this type of information, architects rely more on independent information sources such as professional or trade magazines, but also on newer information sources as online architectural portals.
