BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/13/13 -- Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), today announced the publication of new research reports from its Manufacturing, Enterprise Applications, and Enterprise Mobililty & Collaboration research practices.

"Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) in Asset Intensive Industries," prepared by Reid Paquin, Research Associate for the Manufacturing research practice at the Aberdeen Group, highlights how a well-executed MRO program can improve asset management and inventory optimization. Given the current economic climate, energy markets, and unstable customer demand, executives in asset-intensive industries must make rapid and difficult business and operational decisions. This study provides guidelines for maintenance and reliability professionals looking to improve the availability, reliability, and safety of their assets, people, and products. Readers of this report will learn how to take a holistic approach to MRO by viewing asset management and maintenance at an enterprise level. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=8324&camp=2.

"Manufacturing Industry Outlook," written by Mariela Koenig, Director of Research for the Aberdeen Manufacturing research practice, describes the lessons learned from industry leaders presenting at the 2012 Aberdeen Group Manufacturing Leadership Summit. The report provides examples of industry best practices, and demonstrates the continuous improvement spirit, and the different opportunities that emerge from collaboration across the product design, production, and delivery disciplines. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/Aberdeen-Library/8335/SI-manufacturing-industry-outlook.aspx.

Technology can help manufacturing organizations spur improvements, but technology is not enough to produce positive outcomes. "Community, Collaboration, and Cloud," also written by Mariela Koenig, describes how manufacturers seeking ways to manage and protect their technology investments by managing the connections between people, processes, and technology to execute on the strategy, and generate returns from their combined efforts. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/Aberdeen-Library/8339/AI-operational-excellence-collaboration.aspx.

"ERP in the Process Industries: Functional Ingredients to Create a Good Mix," prepared by Nick Castellina, Research Analyst in the Aberdeen Enterprise Applications research practice, shows how Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), with its origin in Materials Requirements Planning (MRP), has long been a powerful tool used by manufacturers to effectively run their business. Although many of the business drivers and benefits of ERP are consistent for manufacturers as a whole, individual capabilities and requirements for a suitable ERP solution can vary significantly. This report identifies the top pressures driving ERP strategies, key functionality required, and the benefits of ERP in process manufacturing. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, please visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7509&camp=2.

"Professional Services Automation in the Cloud: Maximizing Employee Value," also prepared by Nick Castellina, examines how cloud technology can connect employees deployed across geographic locations and provide real-time visibility in operations for decision-makers. The financial benefits of cloud solutions are significant for organizations with insufficient internal IT resources and limited resources for up-front capital expenditure. Some industries, notably manufacturing, have been slow to accept cloud technology while data reveal professional services firms are more willing to consider a cloud solution vs. traditional on-premise solutions. This report will illustrate the reasons cloud-based solutions are particularly attractive to professional services firms, and the benefits derived by organizations that implement cloud solutions to run their business. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=8313&camp=2.

"Mobile App Crowdsourcery: Greater Business Benefit with Less Budget Growth", authored by Andrew Borg, Research Director for the Aberdeen Enterprise Mobility and Collaboration research practice, reveals that crowdsourcing ("leveraging the wisdom of the crowd") has emerged as a viable option for organizations planning to develop custom mobile apps in 2013. Organizations that crowdsource were 28% more likely to access business-critical information within the required timeframe; and were able to complete 45% more of their daily workload on mobile devices than non-crowdsourcers, demonstrating their relative maturity in terms of overall mobile app adoption. Crowdsourcers also reported a 50% greater improvement in operational efficiency and a 54% greater increase in employee productivity than non-crowdsourcers, with only a small increase in their overall mobile software initiative budget. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, please visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=8326&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 16 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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