Accounts Payable Automation Eliminates Paper to Generate Bottom-Line Savings

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - April 2, 2008) - Seeking to deliver value and drive transformation of accounts payable (A/P) from a tactical, back-office function to one that delivers strategic and bottom-line value, enterprises are leveraging automation to drive out paper and error-prone processes. Enterprises are increasingly turning to automation in their quest to eliminate paper from their A/P departments, according to a new benchmark report published by the Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS).

The "E-Payables: Imaging and Workflow" report, the first in a three-part series of Aberdeen benchmarks on A/P automation, focused on the initial stages of A/P process -- invoice receipt and workflow management. The report, leveraging the insights of more than 200 executives, found that integrating A/P automation solutions with existing IT systems pose the greatest challenge to paper removal. As a result, forty-four percent (44%) of enterprises do not utilize any electronic invoicing solutions. Enterprises that automate invoice receipt and workflow management demonstrate significantly lower invoice-processing costs and cycle times, while improving visibility and control over spend and reducing regulatory compliance risks.

"There is more to accounts payable automation than just cost savings; imaging and workflow management solutions promote compliance with business controls allowing A/P staff to focus on more strategic tasks," said Amit Gupta, research analyst, Aberdeen. "Enterprises that have adopted various flavors of e-payables solutions have transformed the A/P function to a source of competitive advantage, supporting business planning and decision making."

Best-in-Class enterprises are excelling in many performance metrics, and demonstrate the following A/P performance benefits by utilizing automated solutions:

--  Invoice-processing costs 83% lower than all other enterprises
--  Invoice-processing cycle times are 80% faster than their peers
    

The "E-Payables: Imaging and Workflow" report recommends that enterprises should start with a centralized shared services model for A/P operations and adopt an imaging solution with OCR technology to manage paper-based invoices that are delivered via postal mail, fax or e-mail.

A complimentary copy of this report is made available due in part by the following underwriters: Metafile, ReadSoft, and Verian Technologies. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=4663.

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.

© 2008 Aberdeen Group, Inc., a Harte-Hanks Company
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Contact Information: Media Contact: Amit Gupta Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (925) 264-1828 Amit.Gupta@aberdeen.com