Accounts Payable Transformations Deliver Tremendous Enterprise Value

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - January 8, 2008) - Enterprises constantly seek ways to drive savings to their bottom line and establish process efficiencies across the organization. As a critical multi-faceted cog in the cash management machine, the A/P function is ripe with opportunity for a makeover that will deliver value to the organization. Often considered more of a tactical organizational activity, accounts payable is now being viewed as a rising opportunity for outsourcing. However, automation is also a critical driver for the transformation, which will generate operational efficiencies and optimize the financial value of A/P to the enterprise, according to a new study published by Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS).

The benchmark report, "Accounts Payable Transformation: Better, Faster, Cheaper," leveraging the insights of accounts payable and procurement professionals from over 150 enterprises, found that 43% of enterprises are expected to engage in A/P outsourcing in the next two years to address the pressures to lower transaction costs, gain access to technology and improve the overall competency of their A/P operations.

"Accounts payable is often overlooked as tactical, back-office function," said Bill Browning, research analyst, Aberdeen. "However, more companies are realizing the significant savings and operational efficiencies that can be delivered from A/P through automation and outsourcing services."

Best-in-Class enterprises are excelling in many performance metrics, demonstrating:

--  Invoice processing costs 88% lower than all others
--  Invoice processing cycle times that are 52% faster than their peers
--  66% higher rates of on-time payments
    

The Accounts Payable Transformation benchmark report recommends that enterprises should start by carefully evaluating current process and technology capabilities to establish a baseline and identify outsourcing needs, and then focus establishing executive support for these initiatives.

A complimentary copy of this report is made available due in part by the following underwriters: Anybill, iPayables, PurchasingNet, Puridiom and SourceNet Solutions. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=4188

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company

Aberdeen is a leading provider of fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having benchmarked more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is uniquely 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 http://www.aberdeen.com or call (617) 723-7890, or to learn more about Harte-Hanks, call (800) 456-9748 or go to http://www.harte-hanks.com.

© 2007 Aberdeen Group, Inc., a Harte-Hanks Company
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Telephone: (617) 723-7890
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Contact Information: Media Contact: Bill Browning Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (617) 854-5229 bill.browning@aberdeen.com