A further trend that is visible in distribution is the search for postponement opportunities. The principle of postponement is that the final configuration or form of the product should be delayed until the last possible moment. In this way maximum flexibility is maintained, but inventory minimized. The distribution function takes on a wider role as the provider of the final added value. For example, at Xerox the aim is not to hold any inventory as finished product but only as semi finished, modular work in progress, awaiting final configuration once orders are received. Similarly, at Hewlett Packard, products are now designed with ‘localization’ in mind. In other words, products will be designed for modular manufacture but with local assembly and customization to meet the needs of specific markets. In this way economies of scale in manufacturing can be achieved by producing generic products for global markets while enabling local needs to be met through postponed configuration.