Efficient Data Management Drives Business Performance for Leading Companies

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - January 12, 2011) - In the newly released report, Data Management for BI: Fueling the Analytical Engine with High-Octane Information, Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), found that companies taking a structured and well-conceived approach to data management are reaping the benefit of agile data integration and faster delivery of key information. The research discovered that leading companies are able to incorporate new data sources into their BI systems at an average of 12-times faster, leading to critical time and cost savings. Findings also indicated that the top performers deliver 93% of key information on-time and within the window required to make an informed business decision.

In the same way that an engine will perform better with higher quality fuel, BI and analytical systems will create better business insight when supplied with cleaner and more relevant data. The challenge that companies face in today's business climate is an overload of data volume and complexity. Aberdeen research shows that the average organization sees their data grow by 41% per year while struggling to manage an average of 15 data sources that feed into their analytical systems. The ability to capture the most important pieces of data, cleanse, enrich, and integrate that data into their BI infrastructure is separating top performing organizations from the rest of the pack. Leading companies are leveraging an efficient combination of processes, skill sets, and knowledge capabilities to maximize the value of their data and arm their best decision makers with the business insight needed to position the organization for long-term growth and stability.

"The goal that most companies have is to capture as much relevant data as possible, provide an environment that is simultaneously secure and accessible, thus enabling faster and more informed decisions," said Michael Lock, senior research analyst, Aberdeen. "While certain data may require special treatment, and certain users may require non-standard access capabilities, the research shows a strong correlation between the ability to centralize management of company data and enhanced performance."

A complimentary copy of this report is made available due in part by the following underwriters: Data Roket and Talend. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=6692&camp=2.

Visit Aberdeen.com for additional access to complimentary Business Intelligence 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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