Published monthly, August 2003

 

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Join us at Midsize Enterprise Summit, where we will examine the latest IT trends to find growth opportunities, exploit technology and sustain profits for your midsize business at Gartner-led Sessions that include:

Midsize Business Manufacturing Scenario: Glass Half-full or Half-empty?
Presenter: Bob Anderson, Research Director, BMIT and SMB, Gartner

Forward thinking manufacturers use economic downturns to invest in technology and processes that deliver lasting competitive advantage. Despite the tepid economic climate experienced recently, it appears a mild recovery is in the offing. Midsize manufacturers have begun to respond to this by again investing in those areas that will help them improve customer services and improve profit margins and productivity. However things have changed: the past euphoria associated with technology for technology's sake is gone and has been replaced by a focus only on those projects that can show a quick but lasting return on investment (ROI) given the total cost of ownership (TCO). This presentation will address the current issues and forces midsize manufacturers face, underlying trends, and actions that can be taken to address them successfully.


Why Midsize Businesses Care About Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
Presenter: David Hope-Ross, Research Director, Back Office and Operations, Gartner

The profit margins of midsize manufacturers continue to be impacted by a slow macro-economic environment and unilateral demands from large customers for price reduction. Because midsize manufacturers spend over 40% of revenues with suppliers, SRM represents a key opportunity to make better buying decisions, and ultimately, an opportunity for improved profitability. Yet these organizations face substantial barriers. Absent are systems that can provide end-to-end support for supplier interactions and many midsize businesses lack basic purchasing disciplines. In this presentation we will examine the potential of Supplier Relationship Management and associated applications to transform procurement and sourcing into a predictable and repeatable process - a strategic asset to the midsize manufacturing organization.


Delight Customers and Save Money With Order Fulfillment
Presenter: Jeff Woods, Principal Analyst, Back Office Operations, Gartner

Many midsize enterprises today are struggling with how to save money while continuing to meet the demands of increasingly tough customers. A comprehensive order fulfillment strategy including logistics design, visibility, warehouse management, and transportation management technologies can help an enterprise with this. In this session, we will discuss:

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How can I measure and define the perfect order fulfillment process?
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What technologies will help me now and in the future to deliver the perfect order fulfillment process?
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How can the branch act as the gateway to information?
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How can I implement and maintain the perfect order fulfillment process?

The IT Department and Sarbanes-Oxley: Selecting Technologies and Defining Processes for Compliance
Presenter: Mark Gilbert, Vice President, Knowledge Workplace, Gartner

Sarbanes-Oxley has created a great deal of confusion, and even panic in companies across the world. Vendors have responded with "Sarbanes-Oxley solutions" that cost a lot but deliver little. The short timeframes, harsh penalties and vague language of the Act have caused a rash of panic buying in enterprises. We outline what IT needs to deliver to help ensure compliance.


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What will the role of the IT department be in helping enterprises comply with Sarbanes-Oxley and other regulatory legislation?
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What combinations of existing enterprise technologies can be used to aid enterprises in compliance?
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Which vendors offer full or partial solutions to the challenge of complying with Sarbanes-Oxley?
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How can enterprises best position themselves to flexibly respond to the increasing demands of regulators for corporate transparency both now and in the future?

You will also be privy to a number of midmarket-specific sessions by senior Gartner analysts on topics such as mobile applications, saving money in IT, networking, storage, WLANs, and much more. Click here for a complete Summit Agenda.

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Vertical Focus
 

Midsize Manufacturers: There's Never Been A Better Time To "Go Lean"

Midmarket Perspective
  Improving the IT Vendor Selection Process

Midsize Enterprise Profile
  No Matter What - SOS Metals Keeps on Processing

Securing Critical Assets and Information

Simple (and Affordable) Steps To Improve Midsize Business Security Postures

 

Questions or comments? E-mail
midmarket@gartner.com


 

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