Integrating Finance Organization Into the Sales and Operations Planning Process

Only 4% of Respondents Indicate That Finance Organization Drives Their S&OP Process


BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - August 5, 2009) - Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), announced the release of its recent report, "Sales and Operations Planning: Integrate With Finance and Improve Revenue." The study highlights the result of 214 companies participating in a survey on Sales and Operations planning-related initiatives. The goal of this study is to compare and contrast the view points of supply chain and finance organizations relating to S&OP processes.

"Ideally, the output of the S&OP plan should drive the income statement and balance sheets of companies. Companies should create internal projects and SWAT teams wherein the S&OP plan is mapped to the key financial documents with collaboration between finance and supply chain," said Nari Viswanathan, vice president and principal analyst, Aberdeen. "Once this activity is completed, very interesting insights can be gained by both sides of the organizations, in terms of supply chain tactics that can impact corporate goals and vice versa."

The report also highlights the key topic of change management and process sustainability. Sixty percent (60%) of companies indicate that they do not have S&OP related training programs and 43% of companies indicate that their employees do not consider S&OP to be a critical process. The need to recruit, retain and cultivate talent in organizations is higher than ever before even though 75% of companies have indicated that they had to make changes in terms of retrenchments and layoffs.

A complimentary copy of this report is made available due in part by the following underwriters: Plan4Demand, Supply Chain Consultants, JDA, and Adexa. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=5884.

Visit Research.Aberdeen.com for additional access to complimentary SCM 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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Contact Information: Media Contact: Nari Viswanathan Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (617) 854-5293 Nari.viswanathan@aberdeen.com