Spend Analysis: Transforming Data Into Value

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - October 6, 2009) - Spend analysis continues to be a viable process for the procurement organization, helping to arm sourcing professionals and other enterprise functions with valuable corporate spend data, according to a new study published by Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS).

The "Spend Analysis: Transforming Data Into Value" report, which surveyed the strategies, performance, and key capabilities and technology utilization of over 250 enterprises, found that the majority (81%) of organizations place high value on the spend analysis process in conducting business within today's economy.

"Spend analysis has become one of the most important processes within the procurement organization," said Christopher Dwyer, research analyst, Aberdeen. "Enterprises that not only leverage this key process, but also automate its crucial sub-processes, have seen tremendous gains, such as increased visibility into enterprise spend as well as higher levels of spend under management and cost savings."

The new report found that leading enterprises have leveraged automated data classification, cleansing, enrichment and reporting / analysis processes within their spend analysis programs to effectively spur a superior level of performance and help the procurement group drive greater value to the overall organization. These top-performing enterprises are:

--  46% more likely than Laggard organizations to conduct regular reviews
    of contract compliance
--  44% more likely to classify and cleanse their spend data
--  Nearly 40% more likely to leverage spend analysis data to identify
    sourcing opportunities
    

A complimentary copy of this report is made available due in part by the following underwriters: BravoSolution and Zycus. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=6014.

Visit Research.Aberdeen.com for additional access to complimentary Global Supply 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.

© 2009 Aberdeen Group, Inc., a Harte-Hanks Company
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Boston, Massachusetts 02210-1928
Telephone: (617) 854-5200
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www.aberdeen.com

Contact Information: Media Contact: Christopher Dwyer Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (617) 854-5280 chris.dwyer@aberdeen.com