(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 11, 2002 ) A new survey found that chief financial officers (CFOs) and finance directors now consider information technology (IT) to be viewed as a value center, rather than a cost center. The survey, conducted by CFO Research Services and sponsored by Getronics, also found that CFOs look at the Total Value of Ownership rather than Total Cost of Ownership when making IT investments. In focusing on the return-on-investment (ROI), CFOs realize that information technology investments can help create new products, generate additional revenue, and improve customer service. The study finds that CFOs are moving from being scorekeepers of IT spending to proactive leaders for strategic growth.

As a result, CFOs are looking at IT expenditures as investments, with 86% using at least one financial metric to guide their decisions about the allocation of funds. CFOs are determined to invest shareholder capital in IT projects that promise a strategic and a financial return over the long term. The survey reveals that 64% are conducting ROI analysis and 63% researching the projected payback period for IT investments. More than half (57%) report they consider IT infrastructure to be a significant factor in merger and acquisition activities.

Getronics, a global information communication and technology services and solutions company, (AMSTERDAM: GTN) with US headquarters in Billerica, commissioned the survey conducted by CFO Research Services, a unit of CFO Publishing. The survey, conducted in the US and Europe, sought to determine how the role of the CFO or other top financial executive is changing in regard to IT and how IT is impacting their businesses.

The study reveals that in spite of the current negative IT investment climate, CFOs value the possibilities of IT to generate revenue and satisfy customers. Eighty percent of respondents view improved customer service as a "crucial" or "very important" driver for IT investment over the next 12 to 18 months whereas only 69% of respondents say that they are investing in IT to reduce operating costs.

Mary Driscoll, president of CFO Research Services, commented: "While we have been tracking this trend for some time, this is the first time we've been able to indicate that CFOs are the key decision-makers in technology strategy and demonstrate that they are moving away from the traditional project accounting role."

CFOs are deeply involved in IT decision making

The top level results show that 58% of CFOs play an active role in IT project decisions, including final spending, governance, or resource decisions. Significantly, 20% of the financial officers surveyed spend more than a quarter of their time on IT management issues.

Respondents recognize IT as integral to business prosperity with 95% citing IT as a requirement for business process improvement and 58% indicating that IT is an important driver of profit growth. They are viewing resources spent on IT as an investment rather than simply as a way to reduce costs. Eighty percent see IT as a way to both improve operating processes and customer services. As a competitive tool, 67% say that they have improved decision making with real time analytics while six out of ten are using IT to enhance financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting.

"This research shows a fundamental shift in the way that CFOs view IT investment as a result of the changing role of IT within their businesses," said Kevin Roche, president, North America Getronics Infrastructure Services. "The data shows that IT investments are being considered in a new light - how IT can make the organization more efficient and profitable. By creating 'value' IT can generate revenue and improve customer service for a significant impact on the bottom line."

Survey methodology and respondents

The international survey received 288 responses with 63% coming from the US and the balance from companies in Europe. The late summer survey, supplemented by phone interviews, reached executives in financial services, energy, chemical, pharmaceutical, telecom, retail and other industries. Seventy one percent of the respondents were with companies with revenues that exceed US$100 million and 40 percent represent companies with over US$1 billion.

About Getronics

With more than 29,000 employees in over 30 countries, Getronics is one of the world's leading providers of vendor independent solutions and services to professional users of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Through consulting, integrating, implementing and managing Infrastructure Solutions and E-Business Solutions, Getronics helps many of the world's largest global and local organisations to maximise the value of their technology investment and improve interaction with their customers. Getronics' headquarters is in Amsterdam, with regional head offices in Boston, Singapore and Washington, D.C. Getronics' shares are traded on the Euronext Amsterdam ('GTN'). For further information about Getronics, visit www.getronics.com.

About CFO Research Services

CFO Research Services, based in Boston, Mass., is the sponsored publishing unit of CFO Publishing Corporation, which publishes CFO magazine, the leading business magazine written and edited specifically for senior executives with financial responsibility. CFO Publishing Corporation is an Economist Group business. At CFO Research Services, a dedicated team of business research professionals dissects emerging trends in corporate financial management using mailed surveys and personal interviews with respected financial executives.

------------------------

Produced for Getronics

CONTACT:
Howard Sholkin
Getronics
978/625-4518
howard.sholkin@getronics.com

Sandy McLaughlin
Soucy Communications Group
978/266-1700
sandym@scg-pr.com

------------------------

Contact Information:
Getronics
Joseph Nchor
Tel:
Email us


This is a press release. Press release distribution and press release services by EmailWire.Com: http://www.emailwire.com/us-press-release-distribution.php.