Electronic catalogs primarily have lower creation and distribution costs than printed catalogs.

CD Distribution:
Even in a low issuance, the CD is much cheaper than a printed catalog, especially when the printed catalog is in color. Also, the postage fees are lower, because of the small format and light weight of CDs. However, the later disposal of CDs might be a cost factor.

Network Distribution:
Direct access via a network does not cause extra costs, provided the network is an internal network that was already established for other purposes. When accessing an external network, such as the Internet, you will have to pay connection and transmission fees.

Also, adequate transmission capacities must be provided accordingly, so the access from the outside can be granted in a reasonable amount of time. If, for each access to a single catalog page from a worldwide dealer network, a central server is addressed, the total cost and the access periods are an important factor.