While in 2012, the Aberdeen Group, a private research company, estimated that 26% (approx.

Christa M. Degnan, a research director for the Aberdeen Group, sees other pitfalls.

About a fifth of all corporations have these systems in place, and many more are considering them, according to the Aberdeen Group, a research firm in Boston.

A recent survey by Aberdeen Group showed that 78 percent of companies used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets as their primary trade promotion technology tool.

However, other vendors evaluated in the same report are also sponsors of Aberdeen Group.

Peter Kastner, an analyst with the Aberdeen Group in Boston, agreed.

According to Chris Martins, an analyst with the Aberdeen Group, this realization in itself is a big step forward for Internet retailers.

The 2008 survey of 300 companies by the Aberdeen Group show that the recent economic downturn has lengthened traditional sales cycles.

Aberdeen Group was acquired by direct marketing company Harte-Hanks in September 2006.

"It's very surprising," said Tom Willmott, a consultant with the Aberdeen Group in Boston.