Supply Chain Visibility Excellence

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - March 9, 2011) - Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), surveyed 183 companies documenting their processes and capabilities regarding Supply Chain Visibility. The Aberdeen Group report, Supply Chain Visibility Excellence: Fostering Security, Resiliency, and Efficiency, reveals that operational pressures of growing global operations and complexity (44%), and the need to improve speed and accuracy (37%) are top of mind. The increased complexity of global supply chains has led to longer lead times, more pipeline inventory, and the need to control downstream and upstream logistics. This, in turn, has contributed to increased supply chain management costs (supply chain execution cost is ranked at 29%, the third highest priority following complexity and accuracy).

"It is not surprising that in the situation of the global economic turmoil, many companies have turned to their supply chain organizations in search of ways to cut costs, while enabling faster and more efficient responses to changing customer demands. Reducing costs by driving down excessive inventory and avoiding or quickly responding to disruptions has become critical for companies in today's economy. But before a company can collaborate or partner with others to reduce pipeline inventory or landed cost or improve lead-times, it needs to have visibility into them," explained Bob Heaney, Senior Research Analyst of Supply Chain Management at Aberdeen.

The ultimate objective is to achieve what we term agile and adaptive supply chain execution. Visibility is one step but the objective doesn't stop there, it goes beyond the tactical ability to see the flow of materials and finished products to include a strategic business transformation component that ties into the strategic objectives. As companies return to expansion following the economic downturn it will be up to supply chain executives to continue on the journey of adapting to change with each new challenge.

A complimentary copy of this report is made available due in part by the following underwriters: GT Nexus, Management Dynamics, and SAP Americas. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=6834&camp=2

Find out where your company's international transportation management capabilities rank among the top performing companies. Take our Supply Chain Visibility Assessment Tool: http://assessment.aberdeen.com/1alkNX2TXL/index.aspx

Visit Aberdeen.com for additional access to complimentary Supply Chain Management Research.

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company
Aberdeen provides fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having queried more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is positioned to educate users to action: driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the global technology markets, corporations turn to Aberdeen for insights that drive decisions.

As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement - Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role Harte-Hanks brings to the market. For additional information, visit Aberdeen or call (617) 854-5200, or to learn more about Harte-Hanks, call (800) 456-9748.

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