Aberdeen Group Publishes Manufacturing, SCM, Retail, GSM, Storage, Virtualization Research Reports

Covering Quality, Demand, Change and Event Management, Cluster Software


BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - Jun 14, 2011) - Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), today announced the publication of new research reports from its Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Retail and Banking, Global Supply Management, and Storage and Virtualization practices.

Prepared by Matthew Littlefield, Senior Research Analyst for Aberdeen's Manufacturing practice, "Closed Loop Quality Management: Creating Visibility and Reducing Risk across the Value Chain" reveals that closed loop quality management continues to be a source of competitive advantage for many Best-in-Class manufacturers but is often misunderstood by many other organizations. Examining the design-make-deliver processes, there are a number of workflows where quality management connects disparate job roles, departments, and trading partners. The companies that successfully define and effectively ensure closed loop quality management across the enterprise and the supply network are able to achieve improved productivity with a 89% OEE rate, overachieving operating margin targets by 25%, ensuring 98% on-time complete shipment rate and a 95% new product introduction rate. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, made available in part by IBS, Inc., EtQ, Cebos, and IQS, Inc., visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=6392&camp=2.

The "Demand Management: Bridging External Market Inputs with Internal Statistical Forecasting" research study, authored by Nari Viswanathan, Vice President / Principal Analyst, Supply Chain Management, explores the demand management process within the various elements of the demand network such as manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers. The report is based on survey results identifying how the Best-in-Class close the loop with supply and inventory and create the ability to segment demand forecasts based on key product and customer characteristics. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report made available in part by Logility, JDA Software Group, Inc. and Demand Works Co., please visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7007&camp=2.

The "Mission-Critical Merchandising and Replenishment: Increasing Customer Traffic, Volume, and Profits" research study, authored by Sahir Anand, Aberdeen Vice President and Principal Analyst, Retail and Banking, details how an in-depth retailer introspection process will shape retail growth prospects and merchandise change management in the coming years. The document also highlights the significance of unit-level merchandise planning, forecasting, analytics, and execution strategies to facilitate optimum in-store assortments and agile shelf-level replenishment. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report made available in part by JDS Solutions, Galleria RTS and Predictix, please visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7014&camp=2.

"Strategic Meetings Management: A View into the Best-in-Class Strategic Meetings Management Program," authored by Christopher J. Dwyer, Research Analyst, Global Supply Management research practice, highlights the advancements made by top-performing organizations in managing corporate meetings and events. The new benchmark report finds that the average company spent nearly 22% more on strategic meetings and events in 2010 than in 2009, presenting a need for efficiencies across the entire scope of strategic meetings management. The new study also details the importance of data analytics within the modern SMMP, the criticality of end-to-end SMM solutions in streamlining and automating the SMMP's crucial processes, and Best-in-Class strategies for managing the increasing flux of virtual meetings. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, made available in part by underwriters CVent, Maxvantage, and e-DMC, please visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7135&camp=2.

"High Availability for Virtualized Applications: Protecting Against Unplanned Downtime," prepared by Dick Csapler, Senior Research Analyst, Storage and Virtualization/IT Infrastructure research practice, illustrates how companies protect enterprise applications that have been deployed on hypervisors. Several technologies exist that can protect applications from hardware crashes or application corruption including cluster software, hypervisor high availability options, and fault tolerant servers. The report demonstrates that cluster software remains the technology of choice for enterprises looking to protect mission-critical applications. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report made available in part by underwriters Vision Solutions, StorageCraft, and SIOS, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7063&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.

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.

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