BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - March 18, 2010) - The economy, global competition, ongoing business transformation, and the increased lead-times/complexity of global supply chains are resulting in an increased awareness to transportation costs and to improved levels of control over transportation spend, according to the latest landmark research study by Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (
"It is often argued that automating processes first will bring better data visibility; however many practitioners today are of the belief that getting technology in place that provides data visibility is the most important step because it's that data that will help determine what additional technology is necessary to drive more efficiency," says Bob Heaney, senior research analyst, Aberdeen Group. "According to this study, it is the combination of technology with process and organizational changes that will create the most impact." Top performers are much further ahead and have clearly separated themselves from the pack through achieving a 22% higher percentage level of carriers who are compliant with contractual cost.
The study, Transportation Procurement and Payment: Gain Control over Spend, surveyed over 200 companies, finding several notable differences in the pressures and actions various companies are taking. For example leading companies are:
- 1.85-times as likely as Industry Average, and 4.3-times as likely as Laggards to have a centralized spend management platform in place capable of multi-language and multi-currency
- 1.6-times as likely as Industry Average, and 6-times as likely as Laggards to use an electronic routing of a TMS solution for daily carrier selection
A complimentary copy of this report is made available due in part by the following underwriters: TMW Systems and U.S. Bank Transportation Solutions. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=6294&camp2.
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.
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