Frequently Asked Questions

Imagine crafting winning proposals in half the time, with half the effort, and ten times the impact. That's proposal automation!

Here are some of the tangible benefits you can expect:

• Ditch the repetitive tasks and manual data entry. Proposal automation automates the heavy lifting, freeing you up to focus on the all-important strategic and creative activities that win deals.
• With ever shortening deadlines, time is becoming a scarcer resource. With automation, you can get to a good first draft faster, leaving you more time to work on getting to a great final proposal.
• Automation helps you tailor personalised and persuasive proposals to each client's unique needs and preferences, making them more compelling and likely to win the bid.
• Automation means you can personalise relevant content, data, and visuals so they resonate with each client's unique context, making them feel valued and understood.

Think of proposal automation as a journey, not a destination. Here are the key stages you'll navigate:

• Stand: Start by automating simple tasks, like building a library of basic content or filling in simple forms. 
• Walk: Start incorporating more complex automation features, like building templates and automating proposal workflows. .
• Run: Using automation to create dynamic proposals that adapt to different client needs. Use granular, blended content to tell a range of fully contextulaised stories.
• Fly: Advanced features like analytics and reporting use data to refine your approach, improve content, identify the right opportunities, and close deals faster.

It's often the small, repetitive, and low-value tasks that waste your valuable time. Proposal automation offers efficiency gains such as:

• Pre-built templates with pre-populated structure and content to get you off to a fast start.
• Automating repetitive tasks like formatting, data entry, and document assembly, freeing you up for more strategic thinking. 
• Content at your fingertips: including product descriptions, pricing tables, case studies, policies, FAQs and more.

No system is perfect, and even the best, most capable RFP software comes with potential pitfalls to watch out for:

• The tech trap: If software is overly complex, user adoption can be a major challenge. Choose software that's intuitive, or you risk wasted time and resistance among your bid team.
• Over-dependency: Relying too heavily on automation can lead to complacency. Don't forget the human touch – your unique insights and strategic thinking are what truly differentiate your proposals. 
• False sense of security: RFP software can streamline processes, but it's not a magic wand. Bad content or weak win strategies will still result in a losing bid.
• Data security: If you're handling sensitive client information on an RFP platform, security will be a top priority. Make sure you conduct due diligence on data protection before you invest in any tool.

Overall, the benefits of RFP software tend to outweigh the risks. The key is to choose carefully, implement thoughtfully, and remember that it's a tool to enhance your bid efforts, not replace them completely.

Short answer: it depends what you want it to do.

Longer answer: it ranges from simple and affordable point solutions to highly advanced full automation suites. It's important to have a clear idea your pain points and the features you need to maximise impact. Watch out for cheap solutions with hidden costs (like limited features or a lack of user training and support.

To help you identify the features you need and start a better conversation with RFP software suppliers, read my article covering the top 10 most common use cases to consider.

Firstly, you need to consider what you want the software to do, what problems you need it to solve, and which benefits are most important to you. Exactly as you would do for your customer in your proposals. Here are my top 10 most common use cases to consider.

Generative AI has enormous potential for helping us bid better, win more, and enjoy even more exciting careers in proposals. It's an exceptionally powerful tool but it needs to be directed by creative, inventive and adaptable humans. 

My Free Advice page and BidGeek blog features many articles on AI in Proposals, including:

• Why AI needs us more than we need AI
• Why AI is like Sat Nav for Proposals
• How AI can improve our wellbeing
• Five Insights about AI you need to know