The Supply Chain Executive's Agenda 2009: Weathering the Recession

A new study published by Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), "The Supply Chain Executive's Agenda 2009: Weathering the Recession," highlights the top supply chain trends reported by over 200 supply chain executives in response to the current market pressures.

"Economic volatility has been the cause for the majority of supply chain disruptions over the past year," said Viktoriya Sadlovska, product value chain researcher, Aberdeen and co-author of the report. "This report explores the strategies companies can adopt to mitigate the effects of the recession through supply chain management."

Leading performers in this study have superior capabilities in:

Supply chain integration: The leading performers are more likely to have closed-loop integration of supply chain planning and execution and B2B connectivity with partners.

Supply chain responsiveness leading to a more customer-driven process: The top performers are more likely to have the ability to treat inventory in transit as available for the safety stock calculations and have the ability to make mid-course changes to shipments.

A more "intelligent" and "enabled" supply chain: The leading performers are more likely to use supply chain visibility software, transportation management software, and inventory optimization software.

"The recent global economic downturn has led to major challenges in global supply chain management," comments Nari Viswanathan, VP/ principal analyst, and report co-author. "In the short term companies can utilize a number of strategies such as reducing inventory, renegotiating partner agreements or discontinuing unprofitable product lines; however, in the long-term, supply chain infrastructure must be improved by increasing supply chain visibility and integration, increasing supply chain responsiveness, and enhancing supply chain risk management."

To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=5867.

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.

Copyright 2009 Aberdeen Group, Inc., a Harte-Hanks Company
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Boston, Massachusetts 02210-1928
Telephone: (617) 854-5200
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www.aberdeen.com

Media Contact:
Viktoriya Sadlovska
Aberdeen Harte-Hanks
(617) 854-5239
Viktoriya.Sadlovska@aberdeen.com

Nari Viswanathan
Aberdeen Harte-Hanks
(972) 580-0940
Nari.viswanathan@aberdeen.com

SOURCE: Aberdeen Group

mailto:Viktoriya.Sadlovska@aberdeen.com
mailto:Nari.viswanathan@aberdeen.com

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