BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - September 10, 2009) - While corporate meetings and events remain a key
component of the business world, many enterprises lack the visibility and
control to effectively draw savings from this complex category of spending,
according to a new study published by Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks Company
(
NYSE:
HHS).
The
Strategic Meetings Management report found that 61% of organizations
across the globe currently have a strategic meetings management program in
place (a 22% increase over the last two years), a signal that this category
is being managed with a more careful eye than in previous years. The growth
of strategic meetings management programs is indicative of both the value
of meetings and events to the enterprise, but also presents the need to
establish greater controls over processes and spend by establishing formal
polices, processes and guidelines to improve their performance in managing
a category that equates to millions of dollars of spend.
"Meetings and events are critical to the success of many companies," said
Christopher Dwyer, research analyst, Aberdeen. "Spend is significant and
the economy has taken its toll as budgets are being frozen or even rolled
back, so it is more important than ever to take a strategic approach to
managing all meeting and event types and sizes in order to control spend
and optimize the returns available."
The study found that Best-in-Class enterprises have achieved superior
levels of savings on meetings spend, as well as desirable compliance rates,
as a result of leveraging key technology solutions, strategies and
capabilities. Top-performing organizations are:
-- 42% more likely to actively manage meetings and events than all other
organizations
-- 69% more likely to standardize polices and processes for meetings and
events management across the entire enterprise
-- 49% more likely to involve procurement in the meetings and events
management process
To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit:
http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=5854
Visit
Research.Aberdeen.com for
additional access to complimentary
Global Supply 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 Contact:
Christopher Dwyer
Aberdeen Harte-Hanks
(617) 854-5280
chris.dwyert@aberdeen.com