Seven Tools for RFP Teams

Crafting a request for proposal is no easy task; luckily, these seven tools can help.

Responding to a request for proposal, better known as a RFP, is no easy task. RFP teams can consist of up to 30 members with varying roles and responsibilities. Luckily, we live in the digital age, and while RFPs do require some legwork and fine attention to detail, there are a handful of tools that can simplify the process. From sites dedicated to speeding up RFP creation to internal resource consolidation, there is help out there if you know where to look. Here are seven impressive tools for RFP teams to keep an eye on.

1. NM Quote: Looking for a quote and a proposal at the same time? Look no further than NM Quote. The company boasts an easily accessible and Web-based product. The site allows collaborative efforts by your team, providing simple access for edits. The proposal templates are easily customised to fit your brand, with colour scheme and tagline options. The best feature, however, is the site’s ability to save your RFP team time. The software allows them to quickly generate quotes regardless of complex factors. For teams on a time crunch that are looking for a custom-designed product, NM Quote is a great tool.

2. RFP 365: Unlike NM Quote, RFP365 supports an online library of pre-approved templates. This can help expedite the RFP creation process. The company website notes that these templates can help avoid conflicting versions. Perhaps the biggest advantage of this site is the ability to reuse past proposals. RFP365 allows your team to search through past documents and reuse them at your discretion. The tool also provides users with 24/7 access to their content from anywhere. This can allow for last-minute changes and larger group collaborations.

3. Plus23: Time efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to Plus23. The website provides the ability to help teams create proposals in a matter of minutes. The site allows the use of images and a range of formatting styles. While it appears that the customisation process is limited compared to other options, the turnaround time is hard to beat. The site also lets users store all of their relevant proposal information in one convenient place for maximum organisation.

4. GLOBAL KAP: This site is a useful tool due to its ability to incorporate key products into your team’s proposal. GLOBAL KAP boasts Salesforce automation and has a bid proposal generation feature. The software is easy to use and can help integrate key materials, contracts and pricing quotes into your document. The site claims to provide companies with a 25-50 percent increase in productivity due to their proposal tools.

5. Loopio: Loopio features three main advantages: accessibility, accuracy and acceleration. This site can help team members centralise their data to optimise accessibility, as well as connect sales reps with subject matter experts regarding proposal topics. Loopio also aids companies in keeping their messages consistent across content platforms. The acceleration aspect covers the speed of RFP creation with Loopio. The saved time can increase the volume of RFPs a team can produce.

6. Qvidian: Qvidian can help RFP teams personalise proposals and align internal resources to help increase profits and cut costs. These are two very helpful tools for any team. Personalised content can give your proposals a special touch – potentially increasing your chances of closing the sale. Additionally, Qvidian can aid in the organisation of resources to help your team efficiently communicate the full value of your services.

7. Mimeo: It’s 6pm and you’ve only just finished your content. You still need to submit a hard copy RFP. Mimeo’s technology allows you to upload your content as late as 6pm for delivery to any destination as early as the next morning. In minutes, you can upload, build, and proof your proposals. Mimeo partners with proposal teams as the final leg for logistics around printing and distributing critical proposal and RFP documents in hard copy. RFP teams can use Mimeo to buy more time, hit deadlines, and increase win rates. What more could you ask for?