Accounts Payable Market Set to Rise in 2010 According to Latest Aberdeen Group Report

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - October 13, 2009) - With cost containment and cash management still at the top of the executive agenda, accounts payable professionals find themselves more closely aligned with senior leadership than at any time in recent memory, according to E-Payables Benchmark 2009: Accounts Payable Rising, a new study by Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS).

"The paper-laden accounts payable function sits in stark contrast to today's business environment that is relentless in its pursuit of process efficiencies and cost reductions. A/P needs an exit strategy from its paper 'quagmire,'" comments Andrew Bartolini, Vice President of Global Supply Management research, Aberdeen Group. "Our research indicates that the broad-reaching transformation of accounts payable departments that lost momentum will regain course and continue to rise in 2010."

Aberdeen's latest e-payables-focused report examined the top priorities, business pressures, and intentions of more than 150 executives seeking to improve accounts payable performance. The report also highlights the strategies employed by leading enterprises to drive the following performance levels:

--  Invoice-processing costs that are, on average, 83% below their peers
--  Invoice-processing cycle times that are, on average, 83% faster than
    their peers
    

A complimentary copy of the E-Payables Benchmark 2009: Accounts Payable Rising report is available due to the underwriting support of Basware, Brainware, Direct Insite, Metafile, Inc., and U.S. Bank PowerTrack. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=6015.

For additional access to complimentary research on Accounts Payable and related matters, please visit http://research.aberdeen.com/index.php/-global-supply-management

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: Andrew Bartolini Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (617) 854-5310 andrew.bartolini@aberdeen.com