Aberdeen Publishes BI, ERP, SCM, Enterprise Apps, Service Management, IT Infrastructure Research

Topics Include Benefits of MDM and Portals, Agile BI, ERP in Finance, Outsourced Logistics, Service Revenue, and Smart Grids


BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - Oct 12, 2011) - Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), today announced the publication of new research reports from its Information IT Infrastructure, Business Intelligence, Enterprise Resource Planning, Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Applications, Service Management, and IT Infrastructure research practices.

"Data Quality and the Supply Chain: The Benefits of MDM and Portals," written by Nathaniel Rowe, Senior Research Associate for the Aberdeen IT Infrastructure practice, examines how supply chain professionals are improving visibility and overall supply chain efficiency through better data management. To manage internal data, often distributed in multiple silos throughout the organization, top performers are turning to master data management (MDM) to increase the accuracy and quality of their data. For external data feeds, online supplier and carrier portals are quickly growing in popularity as a means to automate and manage this data, while minimizing supply chain management costs. The document examines the performance benefits organizations experience by deploying these technologies. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7238&camp=2.

"Agile BI: Power to the People" prepared by David White, Senior Research Analyst in Aberdeen's Business Intelligence practice, examines how the growth in data volume and data sources, combined with the increasing demand for timely management information, are driving organizations to seek a more agile and flexible approach to business intelligence. Business intelligence is being used to support tactical decision-making at the line of business level. For this to be successful, a flexible solution is required that can easily be adapted to meet rapidly changing business needs through a self-service BI solution. This document examines some of the key criteria required for self-service BI to be successful. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report made available in part by Alteryx and MDS Lavastorm Analytics visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7353&camp=2.

"ERP's Impact on Finance Executives: Visibility Leads to Stability," prepared by Nick Castellina, Senior Research Associate of Aberdeen's Enterprise Applications research practice, examines the challenges facing finance executives today, and the ways in which ERP is helping overcome these challenges. As a transaction-oriented system, it seems only natural that ERP would have a major impact on the day-to-day activities of finance executives. Still, not all finance executives are getting the full use out of ERP. As those responsible for the financial stability of the organization, informed finance executives are utilizing ERP to stabilize back-office functions, gain full visibility into financial metrics, identify opportunities to cut costs, devise more-accurate plans, and make more agile, informed decisions. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7273&camp=2.

"Outsourced Logistics vs. In-house Comparisons and Strategies," prepared by Bob Heaney, Senior Research Analyst, Supply Chain Management, details how 90% of survey respondents are using Logistic Service Providers (LSPs) in warehouse, transportation and other supply chain activities. Thirty percent (30%) of the companies have ongoing relationships with five or more LSPs. This document outlines the key areas for outsourcing (and in-house) realignments and provides the criteria that top performing companies use to form LSP partnerships and align their supply chain operations/technologies for in-house versus outsourced deployment. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report made possible in part by Argos Software, C.H. Robinson WorldWide, Inc., and MercuryGate International visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7146&camp=2.

"Service Revenue: The State of the Market," authored by Sumair Dutta, Senior Research Analyst, Strategic Service Management, highlights the key trends in the path to increase service revenue opportunities to combat increased strains on product margins. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the 150 service organizations polled by Aberdeen, and 94% of the top performers, indicate that they have had a service revenue program or initiative in place for more than two years. The attainment of revenue from service operations continues to be a major goal for organizations but not at the expense of efficiency or the customer experience. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, please visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7013&camp=2.

"Managing Compliance for a Smarter Grid," authored by Max Gladstone, Senior Research Associate for the Aberdeen IT Infrastructure research practice, reveals that new or changing regulations are the top pressure driving utilities to make their grid smarter -- and that many utilities are not taking evolving industry standards and future regulations into account as they deploy new systems. Government action and public pressure are driving utilities companies to become smarter -- to deploy intelligent sensors through their distribution network, manage the data provided by those sensors, and take action based on that data. This study describes the business processes and technologies that help utilities succeed with regulatory compliance. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, please visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7335&camp=2.

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.

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