Aberdeen Publishes Communications, Manufacturing, and Retail/Consumer Markets Research

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - Nov 14, 2012) - Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), today announced the publication of new research reports from its Communications, Manufacturing, and Retail/Consumer Markets research practices.

"Manufacturing-Grade Video Collaboration: A Key to Agile TQM," authored by Andrew Borg, Research Director for the Aberdeen Communications research practice, examines the impact that the latest video communications and collaboration technology has had on key Total Quality of Manufacturing metrics: organizational agility: speed-of-decision-making, time to market, and ultimately, customer engagement. The study reveals that top-performing organizations reported a 2 to 3-times greater acceleration in the basic stages of the product development cycle as compared to all other respondents. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/Aberdeen-Library/8207/AI-agile-video-collaboration.aspx.

Also authored by Borg, "Next-Generation Enterprise Mobility: Putting Mobile to Work" documents progress towards a long-term goal of Enterprise Mobility: putting mobile to work to produce quantifiable business benefits. The report examines recent Aberdeen research in three industry segments: retail, field service, and healthcare. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/Aberdeen-Library/8208/AI-enterprise-mobility-management.aspx

"Operational Risk Management: Getting Ahead of the Risk Curve," prepared by Nuris Ismail, Research Analyst in the Manufacturing research practice at the Aberdeen Group, highlights the steps taken by manufacturers to successfully mitigate risks in order to reduce the potential impact on their financial goals. It is extremely difficult, and in most cases with large, dispersed companies, impossible, to expansively address risks on a piece-meal, siloed basis. This study will provide a roadmap for companies planning to adopt a risk-based approach to managing and reduce adverse events in manufacturing operations on a predictive basis. Readers of this report will learn how to take a holistic approach by establishing an Operational Risk Management (ORM) framework and implementing it through change in business processes and organizational structure. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7930&camp=2.

"Workforce Management: The Key to Retail Customer Service," prepared by Deena M. Amato-McCoy, analyst for Aberdeen's Retail and Consumer Markets research practice, examines the role of workforce management systems, not just from a scheduling standpoint, but also from a customer engagement perspective. Retailers know it is mission critical to position knowledgeable associates at store-level as a way to deliver more value during the shopping experience. By adopting more open, integrated and mobile platforms, retailers can optimize their workforce management initiatives, and also create engaging and valuable customer experiences. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, made available in part by Kronos and Red Prairie, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7841&camp=2.

Also from Amato-McCoy, "The RFID Revolution" examines how retailers are beginning to rely on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology as a key component within their loss prevention risk management strategies. With one-third of retailers reporting that razor-thin loss prevention budgets as their top business pressure, especially as they struggle to fight shrink with limited staff and technology, and 24% struggling to gain more visibility into store-level activities, more companies are evaluating how RFID can help them get a handle on internal and external factors contributing to enterprise losses. This report examines how retailers need access to real-time data to stay one step ahead of shrink. Based on Aberdeen's loss prevention and RFID solutions data, the report reveals how smart technology gives retailers more agility in monitoring loss incidents and detecting and lowering shrink rates, thus improving profit. To obtain a complimentary copy, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/Aberdeen-Library/8235/AI-loss-prevention-retail.aspx.

"The Curious Case for Mid-Market Retail Transformation," prepared by the Aberdeen Group's Retail and Consumer Markets research practice, suggests that Mid-Market retail needs a new, innovative, and transformational approach to manage their stores and cross-channel business so they can offer customers a seamless experience during the entire customer experience lifecycle. This report examines short- and long-term business, strategic, and technology implications for Mid-Market retailers compared to the best practices of leading retailers. It also provides an overview of the role of new strategies and solutions that are shaping current and future customer and business objectives in the Mid-Market. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, made possible in part by Citixsys and SAP visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=8239&camp=2.

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company
Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), is a global, full-service, multi-channel marketing services firm with deep expertise in developing research-based technology marketing content. Enabled by its team of 40 analysts covering 17 industry-sector categories, Aberdeen provides B2B marketers with relevant content assets available in multiple formats that target each stage of the customer buying cycle.

Aberdeen has offices in Boston and London. Harte-Hanks operates 25 offices in the United States, and has locations throughout Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Latin America.

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