Procurement Contracts: Real Value and Returns Through Contract Management

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - April 8, 2009) - In the newly released "Procurement Contracts: Real Value, Real Returns" research report, Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), found that over 75% of all enterprises have noted that an increased emphasis has been placed on the management of procurement contracts. Top performing enterprises have demonstrated a distinct ability to capitalize on the benefits of contract management, securing top-company status by developing compliance measurement capabilities 85% to 145% more frequently than their peers and by being 79% more likely to use contracts as part of their formal sourcing processes. Obtain a complimentary copy of the procurement-contracts report at http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=5848.

As a global recession marches onward, enterprises are finding that they must closely monitor and control spending to protect their company performance. And when it comes to maximizing savings and managing spend, most of the enterprise turns to the procurement organization. Within the context of procurement's skill-sets, management of procurement contracts has become more readily recognized as a process that can support attainment and sustainment of savings. By leveraging contract management technologies and engaging in targeted strategies, top enterprises have realized the following benefits:

--  83% higher realized savings on contract spend
--  2.8 times higher rates of compliance on contract spend
--  15% to 20% lower cycle times for contract creation and approvals
    

"Procurement, purchasing or buy-side contracts are no longer just paper documents filed away that list pricing and maybe some delivery terms," said William Browning III, research analyst, Aberdeen. "They are actively utilized records that companies must manage throughout their procurement programs to ensure that the savings they've negotiated have been captured, that supply risks are managed better and that there is true visibility into their buying relationships. Every dollar is important, especially in this down economy where credit markets remain tight and capital is key, and contracts are another tool that can be used to deliver real value and returns to the organization."

A complimentary copy of this report is made available due in part by the following underwriters: Axxerion and Zycus. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com//summary/report/benchmark/5848-RA-procurement-contracts-value.asp.

For additional access to complimentary Global Supply Management Research, please visit http://research.aberdeen.com/index.php/-global-supply-management.

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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Contact Information: Media Contact: William Browning III Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (617) 854-5229 William.browning@aberdeen.com