Improve Warehouse Operations

Increase Responsiveness Through Automation


BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - August 5, 2009) - Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), announced the release of its latest warehousing study, "Warehouse Operations: Increase Responsiveness through Automation." This report examines what processes and technologies high-performing companies are using to achieve exemplary results.

"The focus of this report is on factors for justifying investment on automation projects. Improving warehouse operations to achieve corporate goals requires a combination of strategic actions, organizational capabilities, and enabling technologies," comments Nari Viswanathan, vice president and principal analyst, Aberdeen Group. In this study, top performers were distinguished from their peers based on three performance measures: order pick accuracy, inventory accuracy, and percentage of on-time and complete shipments. These measures serve to address key performance areas within the four walls of the distribution center. This internal focus captures true warehouse performance, without penalizing respondents for external factors like transportation delays that impact end-to-end measures such as perfect order percentage.

For both Best-in-Class (36%) and Industry Average (42%) organizations, rising operating expenses represent the top pressure driving interest in improving warehouse operations. How do these organizations, currently achieving superior results across warehouse operations, combat this pressure without compromising performance? "There is no silver bullet for achieving superior performance in the warehouse," said Scott Pezza, research associate, Aberdeen. "However, those companies achieving top performance do differ from their peers when viewed across current capabilities. For example, forty-six percent (46%) more likely than all others to utilize advanced pick methodologies, such as batch, zone and cluster picking."

A complimentary copy of this report is made available due in part by the following underwriters: Swisslog, Infor, and Psion Teklogix. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=5985.

Visit Research.Aberdeen.com for additional access to complimentary Supply Chain Management 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
451 D Street, Suite 710
Boston, Massachusetts 02210-1928
Telephone: (617) 854-5200
Fax: (617) 723-7897
www.aberdeen.com

Contact Information: Media Contacts: Nari Viswanathan Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (972) 580-0940 nari.viswanathan@aberdeen.com Scott Pezza Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (617) 854-5380 scott.pezza@aberdeen.com