Smart Software Sponsors Aberdeen Group Research That Finds Forecasting Can Supercharge Service Parts Execution

Belmont, Mass., June 5, 2007 - According to a new Aberdeen Group report co-sponsored by Smart Software, Inc., best-in-class service parts firms are four times as likely as laggard companies to use service parts execution solutions and three times as likely to use parts planning and forecasting tools.  The report, entitled "Managing the Last Mile - Driving Effective Service Parts Execution", also found that such firms have higher part fill rates and first time fix rates than all other companies, and are four times as likely to achieve 90% or better service level agreement (SLA) compliance rates.

For this report, Aberdeen surveyed nearly 170 companies, including several Smart Software customers.  The report evaluates the impact of effective parts execution and planning on a company's financial and operating metrics.  The study concluded that optimizing a company's post-sale service performance involves three key elements: 1) meet or exceed customer demands, 2) drive out cost, and 3) increase revenue.

"Managing seemingly dichotomous goals of meeting customer demand for higher asset availability and reducing service costs is a top of the mind issue for many service executives," said Micky Long and Amit Jain, research analysts and co-authors of the report.  Their report also states that "the best parts execution process can be supercharged when aligned with forecasting and planning strategies that help predict and prepare for fluctuations in service parts demand."

Smart Software's SmartForecasts^® , a cross-industry solution for demand forecasting and planning, helps service parts operations reduce inventory, lower costs, and improve customer service.  Dozens of Smart's customers use SmartForecasts and its intermittent demand forecasting capabilities to accurately predict parts demand and stock their service parts inventories.  These companies include Siemens Power Generation, ThermoFisher Scientific, Ametek Aerospace, SKF Vehicle Service Market (SKF VSM), Prevost Car, Motor Coach Industries, and others. 

According to the Aberdeen study, "Planning and forecasting tools can help ensure higher SLA compliance and fewer stock outs while at the same time minimizing the need for last-minute logistics expense to transport needed parts."  The study also found that best-in-class firms were more than twice as likely as all other firms to have experienced increases in service profitability over the last two years.  One of the reasons for this is that best firms are more successful in keeping smaller parts inventories despite the fact that a majority of their customers require parts onsite sooner than customers of other companies.  In fact, 36% of best-in-class companies indicated that they were successful in reducing parts on hand inventory over the last two years when compared to only 19% of all other firms.

To obtain a complimentary copy of the Aberdeen report, "Managing the Last Mile - Driving Effective Service Parts Execution", please click on the link below:
Managing the Last Mile - Driving Effective Service Parts Execution

About Smart Software, Inc.
Founded in 1984, Smart Software, Inc. is a leader in providing businesses with enterprise-wide demand forecasting, planning and inventory optimization solutions.  Smart Software's flagship product, SmartForecasts®, has thousands of users worldwide, including customers at mid-market enterprises and Fortune 500 companies, such as Monsanto, Mitsubishi, Siemens, Disney, Pfizer, GE and The Coca-Cola Company.  SmartForecasts gives demand planners the tools to handle sales seasonality, promotions, new and aging products, multi-dimensional hierarchies, and intermittently demanded service parts and capital goods items.  It also provides inventory managers with accurate estimates of the minimum inventory and safety stock required to meet future orders, thereby ensuring the most cost-effective inventory allocation to achieve desired service levels.  Smart Software is headquartered in Belmont, Massachusetts and can be found on the World Wide Web at www.smartcorp.com.

SmartForecasts is a registered trademark of Smart Software, Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For more information, please contact Smart Software, Inc., Four Hill Road, Belmont, MA 02478.
Phone: 1-800-SMART-99 (800-762-7899); FAX: 1-617-489-2748; E-mail: info@smartcorp.com

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