Categories   >   RFP Software
Last Reviewed: November 14th, 2024

Best RFP Software Of 2024

What is RFP Software?

Request for Proposal (RFP) Software is designed to unify and streamline the process of soliciting proposals from suppliers and vendors. Its primary role in business is to alleviate the complex, often disorganized method of managing RFPs while conserving resources. Key functionalities of RFP software include customizable proposal templates, automated workflows, collaboration tools and the ability to organize vendors' responses for easier analysis. With emerging features such analytics and AI-enhancements, more efficient project planning and decision making is possible. Industries that frequently use procurement services, such as manufacturing, tech, or construction, benefit most from these tools. Some limitations, however, include learning curves for first time users and potential integration challenges with existing systems. Nevertheless, RFP software streamlines the procurement process, improving efficiency and collaboration. Its overall value proposition lies in saving time and costs, while increasing the likelihood of selecting the best vendor for the job. It's a necessity for any company with complex procurement needs.

What Are The Key Benefits of RFP Software?

  • Streamlines RFP process
  • Improves vendor evaluation
  • Saves time and costs
  • Enhances collaboration
  • Automates repetitive tasks
  • Offers customizable templates
  • Aids decision-making
  • Consolidates vendor responses
  • Offers integrations with existing systems
  • Provides valuable insights with analytics
Read more

Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 28 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best RFP Software overall:

Jobber
Jobber
Start Price
$19
Monthly, Single user
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Jobber

Jobber, a popular field service management software, caters to businesses operating on the go. It’s suitable for small or medium sized teams and larger companies with dispersed technicians, though the pricing structure may be less ideal for smaller start-ups. Its standout features include online booking, automated reminders and follow-ups, scheduling, dispatching and route optimization.

The software also facilitates email marketing through Mailchimp, enabling users to reach their client base effectively and even assisting in customer prospecting via Facebook and Instagram ads. Additionally, Jobber offers booking assistance through Google's Local Services Ads, allowing customers to schedule appointments directly through a Google search.

The mobile app enhances flexibility by allowing users to schedule jobs, create invoices and stay updated on schedule changes, client messages and booking requests with push notifications.

Users commend Jobber for its user-friendly interface, effective payment reminders and scheduling flexibility. However, some users report drawbacks, including limitations in the scheduling function, a learning curve, duplicate invoices and delays in customer support responsiveness. Additionally, Jobber is more expensive than some of its competitors.

Overall, Jobber is a comprehensive FSM solution providing a range of features for efficiency and better customer communication.

Pros & Cons

  • Getting Started: Generally, users found Jobber easy to set up and user-friendly.
  • Reduces Unpaid Invoices: Users found payment reminders helpful.
  • Customer Communication: Users enjoyed automated follow-ups for clients, reducing late responses and incomplete jobs.
  • Scheduling Flexibility: Users could easily add jobs and move schedules as needed, also enjoying the notes function for added transparency.
  • Scheduling Limitations: The scheduling function left some users wanting more types to choose from, like bi-weekly or monthly.
  • Navigating the App: Some users experienced a learning curve when setting up payments.
  • Mobile App Issues: Some users experienced duplicate invoices when using the mobile app.
  • Customer Support Responsiveness: Some customers reported waiting days to weeks for resolution from customer support.

Key Features

  • Scheduling: Jobber automatically schedules jobs based on your preferences, including service descriptions, estimated prices and time durations. Save time by empowering customers to book appointments online. Facilitate better employee schedule management by specifying the earliest availability and buffer times.  
  • Dispatching and Route Planning:  Assign last-minute jobs to the nearest team member, reducing wait times and increasing fuel efficiency. After selecting your starting point, Jobber maps out the most efficient routes with GPS tracking. Stay in the loop with instant notifications and turn-by-turn directions for new jobs or cancellations.  
  • Centralized Information: View on-site instructions, required job forms and checklists to avoid missed steps and ensure effective job completions. Add notes, photos and files to client profiles for future reference and to help build better customer support. Access salary guides to stay on top of current data by state, experience level and job title. 
  • Calendar: Reschedule or reassign jobs with the handy drag-and-drop feature. Choose from five views and use color coding to organize and personalize your tasks. 
  • Invoicing: Compile multiple jobs, then generate and send invoices with a few simple clicks via batch invoicing. Digital invoices are available to send via text or email. Personalize invoices with your branding, contact info and disclaimer. Reduce late or missed invoices with prompts for when it's time to send invoices, either after a visit, completed job or monthly. Send customers email or text follow-ups automatically to remind them of any outstanding invoices. 
  • Payments: Enable online invoice payments that deposit into bank accounts within minutes, including on weekends and holidays, to help your employees get paid faster than with traditional checks. Manage customer relationships with access to previous quotes, job details and billing history. 
  • QuickBooks Integration: Reduce double-entrees and streamline accounting with QuickBooks. Keep all data related to customers, timesheets, invoices and payments up to date.  
  • Time Tracking: Track your time with the flexibility to clock in and out from anywhere. Ensure accurate invoicing and timesheets with automatic time tracking via location timers. Enable time-tracking reminders when workers approach job sites or client homes by setting location timers to reminder mode and start or stop timers with a simple tap. 
  • Expense Tracking: Record expense dates, amounts and employee info. Use pre-built expense reports to simplify filtering, view payroll expenses and categorize them to identify spending patterns for planning future jobs. Capture and add receipt photos to your expense log on the mobile app. Reduce errors by automating reimbursable expenses and marking them as paid. 
  • Team Permissions: Add, deactivate and edit users. Set up permission levels based on roles, including limited worker, worker, dispatcher, manager and admin to control data access. Customize user permissions settings to fit your needs.  
  • Client Manager: Ensure your customer's info is always up-to-date with customizable client profiles. Access key details from the office or on the road, including job histories and communication histories like previous texts and emails. 
  • Online Booking: Empower customers to book appointments online, including through social media. They can fill out a form for services they need, preferred time and date, and from there, jobs show up on your schedule. Set limits on service areas near you, your availability and the maximum distance you'll cover between appointments. Managers can also assign jobs to specific team members. 
  • Job Forms: Streamline your work by completing job forms and uploading on-site photos for record-keeping. The app also guides you through every step of your workflow, including job instructions, checklists and customer follow-ups. 
  • Client Hub: Provide clients with a self-serve portal for sending online work requests and checking, changing and approving quotes. Clients can track appointment details, pay invoices, add tips and share feedback via surveys.  
  • Automated Communication: Reduce no-shows and frustration from miscommunication with customizable on-my-way texts and automated reminders and follow-ups. Templates are available to ensure your customer emails and texts are always prompt and professional.  
  • Quote Management: Create professional, branded, customizable quotes right from your mobile device. Send quotes by email and text message. Clients can remotely view and approve quotes. Get notified when customers view quotes and automate follow-up emails or texts for unanswered quotes.  
  • Credit Card Processing: Facilitate payments in-person or online for one-off jobs and automatically charge customers' saved cards for recurring jobs. For U.S. clients, there's also a Jobber card reader for in-person credit and debit card payments. The processing fee starts at 2.9% (and 30¢ per transaction).  
  • Task Automation: Integrate with Zapier to automate routine tasks and foster a more seamless workflow with 1500+ web apps, including welcome emails via Gmail and getting feedback with SurveyMonkey.  
  • Email and Postcard Marketing: Connect your client list with your Mailchimp account and streamline sending everyone emails and postcards (also helping reduce duplicate or missed messages from manually reaching out). Get assistance with marketing your services and reach new customer prospects via Facebook and Instagram ads.  
  • Booking Assistance: With Google's Local Services Ads, new and potential customers can schedule appointments in your calendar through a Google search. 
  • Reporting: ­­­Get over 20 built-in reports, including financial reports with projected incomes, transaction histories, invoice details, payroll and expenses. Export reports and automatically get them sent to your employees' inboxes. 
  • Mobile App: Schedule jobs, create invoices and stay in the loop on schedule changes, client messages and booking requests with push notifications. Use the quick create menu to add new items and build client profiles, track expenses, and generate work requests, tasks and quotes, accessible from nearly every screen in the app to save time.  
  • Chemical Tracking: Select your service address, specific job and the date and time to track chemicals. Add current weather conditions and additional relevant info as needed. Access a chemicals list to view all tracked chemicals and sort through your list by client, date or employee. Download reports via CSV. There's additionally a section for quick facts about chemicals. (Note: This feature is currently not available in the mobile app and is only available on select plans). 
  • Business and Consumer Financing: Provide customers with financing options like monthly installment payments through Wisetack. Additionally, leverage Stripe to streamline secure quick payments at job sites or online.  
Pros
Pros
Start Price
$60
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Pros

PROS is an AI-powered solution that assists businesses with quote management, price optimization and complex product configurations. Reviewers have praised its price guidance and application versioning modules. They also liked the flexibility of the click-and-configure feature. Its analytical tool gives a detailed overview of business and price performance. Other well-liked capabilities include third-party integrations, prompt support and process automation.
On the other hand, reviewers felt the platform’s speed is quite slow, particularly for workers accessing it off-premises. Some users also noted that the onboarding process is complex and requires a dedicated support team. Overall, PROS is a strong CPQ solution, with automation and analytical capabilities further adding to its functionality. It’s well-suited for SMBs looking to automate their CPQ processes.

Pros & Cons

  • Integration: 72% of reviewers who mentioned this feature said that the platform easily integrates with CRMs, ERPs and other PROS modules.
  • Support: The vendor provides speedy and accurate tech support, as stated by 60% of users mentioning this element.
  • Ease of Use: Over 80% of the users who mentioned this aspect appreciated the ease of setting up user administration and managing pricing components.
  • Functionality: According to 69% of users who reviewed this feature, the solution offers robust CPQ modules like price guidance, complex configurations and workflow approvals.
  • User Interface: 70% of users who reviewed this element mentioned that the UI is user-friendly and loads quickly.
  • Configuration: The tool is highly flexible and configurable, according to 83% of reviewers talking about this aspect.
  • Automation: All the users who referenced this element said that the platform’s automation capabilities are a standout feature.
  • Implementation: The implementation process can be challenging and requires training for admins, as mentioned by 75% of users reviewing this element.
  • Speed and Performance: All the users who reviewed this feature mentioned that the platform has stability issues and could improve its performance.
  • Cost: 86% of reviews speaking of cost reported that software maintenance and subscriptions are expensive.

Key Features

  • Price Optimization: Increase revenue and margin growth through AI-based pricing and segmentation strategies. 
    •  Maintain strategies by building and modifying guided formulas. 
    •  Deliver optimized and personalized pricing based on dynamic demands and market segments. 
    •  Coordinate prices across contracts and clients with a master price list. 
    •  Receive alerts for extreme pricing changes. 
    •  Gain a comprehensive view of pricing data to identify revenue and margin leakages. 
    •  Create, analyze and modify multiple rebate variations and add accrual rules. 
    •  Equip sales reps with customized negotiation price guidance. 
    •  Maintain competitive pricing based on industry standards with real-time data inputs. 
    •  Include dynamic variables in pricing strategies. 
    •  Create scalable and updated pricing lists with a real-time pricing engine add-on. 
    •  Receive price recommendations according to price-volume relationships. 
    •  Expand to e-commerce platforms and incorporate cross-sell recommendations. 
  • Guided Selling: Streamline quote-to-cash processes with sales acceleration modules. Shorten sales cycles and reduce dependency on manual labor through automated sales tasks like lead generation and quoting. 
  • Opportunity Detection: Identify new opportunities, uncover behavior patterns and analyze transactions. Automatically add opportunities to existing CRM systems with supportive insights for every suggestion. Use the forecasting algorithm to detect diminishing buying patterns, taking into account seasonal dips. 
  • Integrations: Connect existing tech infrastructures to CRMs, ERPs, PLMs and ecommerce platforms. Integrates with Salesforce, Adobe, Magento and more. 
  • CPQ: Create accurate, customized and feature-based product configurations. Sales teams can find the right product, manage approvals, calculate prices and generate proposals within the organization’s CRM. 
    • Real-Time Collaboration: Coordinate simultaneously with sales reps and internal pricing crew members. 
    • Self-Service: Clients can configure products on ecommerce platforms based on their requirements. 
    • Performance Analysis: Gain insights into deals and profits with integrated performance tools and waterfall charts. 
    • Visualizations: Incorporate 2D and 3D drawings and augmented reality technologies into quotes. 
    • Documentations: Create tailored sales agreements, proposals, bids, RFPs and terms and conditions. 
  • Security: Ensure data protection with GPR, SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001 and Cloud Security Alliance’s Cloud Control Matrix compliance. Provides product, platform and physical security through Final Security Review, stack monitoring, threat protection programs and disaster recovery. 
Conga
Conga
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Key Features

  • Commerce:
    • Hybrid Delivery: Sell products and services on multiple platforms online, in person or a mixture of the two.
    • Update Operations: Update product catalogs, marketing strategies, prices and more. Ensure orders, revenue and invoices are in sync using a single data model.
    • Process Management: Use multichannel support, guided selling, asset-based ordering and more to streamline the selling process.
  • Documents:
    • Design: Build on-brand document templates to create error-free forms to send to customers based on Salesforce data.
    • Customize: Personalize documents by adding charts, videos, fonts and more.
    • Notifications: Receive alerts when a document is opened, read and signed by a customer and then review analytics to track sales pipelines.
    • Share: Send documents in any format or share them as a secure link accessible on any device.
  • Contract Management:  
    • Store: House contracts in a central repository, set up a clause library and design contract templates to ensure no crucial documents are lost. Keep contracts up to date by giving ownership of contracts to specific members. 
    • Process Flows: Keep up to date on contract processes with a built-in process flow chart, dashboard and configurable notifications. 
    • Search: Browse through documents and metadata for specific words and topics with optical character recognition. 
    • E-Signature: Allow customers to sign documents from any device. 
    • Approvals: View and manage approvals from one central location. Access and approve documents on mobile devices. 
  • Revenue:  
    • Automated Billing:  
      •  Create blended billing for one-time plans, subscriptions and more. 
      •  Customize billing based on invoice preferences by dividing them up into multiple bills. 
      •  Provide a billing forecast to allow customers to view invoices. 
    • Order Management: View the entire customer order history, including shipping dates, costs, taxes and more. Update subscriptions and quickly change orders in-flight.  
    • Promotions: Create omnichannel promotions with codes and rules to track distribution and define eligibility. Sync with approval workflows and utilize analytical tools to track promotion performance. 
Zuora Billing
Zuora Billing
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Zuora Billing

User reviews from the past year paint a mixed picture of this comprehensive billing platform. While Zuora Billing garners praise for its robust features and seamless Salesforce integration, users also point out notable drawbacks.

A standout strength is Zuora Billing's flexibility in handling pricing and customization. Users highlight the ease with which they can tailor pricing models and discounts to align with specific business needs, such as offering tiered pricing for different user segments. The platform's API-centric approach is another key differentiator, empowering businesses to build custom integrations and automate workflows. For instance, companies have leveraged the API to connect Zuora Billing with their CRM systems, automating invoice generation and payment processing. However, this strength is counterbalanced by a significant weakness: complexity. Users report a steep learning curve and a cumbersome interface that necessitates extensive training and numerous steps to complete even basic tasks.

While Zuora Billing excels in some areas, it stumbles in others, particularly reporting and revenue recognition. Users express frustration with the platform's limited reporting capabilities, especially when it comes to tracking crucial metrics like churn. Moreover, Zuora Billing's revenue recognition model falls short of GAAP ASC606 compliance, compelling businesses to rely on third-party software like RevPro for accurate financial reporting. This limitation poses a significant challenge for companies operating in regulated industries or those requiring strict financial compliance.

In essence, Zuora Billing is best suited for large enterprises with complex billing needs and dedicated IT resources to navigate its intricacies. Smaller businesses or those seeking a more user-friendly solution might find Zuora Billing overwhelming and may be better served by alternative platforms.

Pros & Cons

  • Flexible Pricing and Customization: Zuora Billing empowers businesses to tailor pricing and discounts to align with their specific requirements.
  • Seamless Salesforce Integration: The integration with Salesforce streamlines sales operations, enabling sales representatives to generate product quotes with adaptable rate plans and gain visibility into subscriptions and financial data within Salesforce.
  • Responsive Customer Support: Users benefit from prompt response times and valuable assistance, contributing to a positive customer experience.
  • Automation: Zuora Billing offers automation capabilities for numerous features and functions, saving time by eliminating manual and repetitive tasks.
  • Subscription Management: The platform provides diverse options for managing subscriptions, including evergreen and termed subscriptions, with straightforward amendment processes.
  • Usability Issues: Zuora can be difficult to use, requiring extensive training and many steps for simple tasks.
  • Revenue Recognition Challenges: It doesn't comply with GAAP ASC606, necessitating additional software like RevPro.
  • Reporting Deficiencies: Reporting, particularly for churn analysis, needs improvement and often requires manual manipulation in Excel.
  • Inflexibility in Complex Situations: Zuora struggles with unusual or complex scenarios, slowing down sales teams who need to create quotes.
  • Cost and Support Concerns: Some users find Zuora expensive and experience inconsistent support quality, with issues sometimes requiring escalation.

Key Features

  • Subscription Management: Efficiently handle complex subscription models, including upgrades, downgrades, and renewals.
  • Usage-Based Billing: Accurately bill customers based on their actual usage, supporting various metrics and thresholds.
  • Automated Invoicing: Generate and send invoices automatically, reducing manual effort and minimizing errors.
  • Revenue Recognition: Comply with accounting standards by automating revenue recognition processes, ensuring accurate financial reporting.
  • Multi-Currency Support: Manage billing in multiple currencies, facilitating global business operations and customer satisfaction.
  • Taxation Management: Automatically calculate and apply taxes based on regional regulations, simplifying compliance.
  • Customizable Pricing Models: Create tailored pricing plans, including tiered, volume, and flat-rate pricing, to meet diverse customer needs.
  • Payment Gateway Integration: Seamlessly integrate with various payment gateways, offering customers multiple payment options.
  • Real-Time Analytics: Access detailed billing and subscription analytics to make informed business decisions.
  • Customer Self-Service Portal: Provide customers with a portal to manage their subscriptions, view invoices, and make payments.
  • Flexible Billing Cycles: Support various billing cycles, such as monthly, quarterly, or annually, to align with customer preferences.
  • Discount and Promotion Management: Easily create and apply discounts and promotions to attract and retain customers.
  • Integration with CRM Systems: Integrate with popular CRM systems like Salesforce to streamline customer data management.
  • Audit Trail: Maintain a comprehensive audit trail of all billing activities for transparency and compliance purposes.
  • API Access: Utilize robust APIs to integrate Zuora Billing with other business systems, enhancing overall functionality.
FastSpring
FastSpring
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked FastSpring

Is FastSpring the "springboard" your business needs to reach new heights in the e-commerce world? User reviews from the last year paint a somewhat mixed picture of this popular platform. While FastSpring is widely praised for its robust features, global reach, and top-notch customer support, some users have raised concerns about its pricing and complexity. FastSpring's strength lies in its ability to handle complex billing and subscription needs with a high degree of customization. For instance, users rave about the platform's flexibility in tailoring order pages and shopping carts, a feature often lacking in competitors like Shopify. This level of customization, coupled with its multilingual and multicurrency support, makes FastSpring a favorite among businesses with a global customer base.

However, this robust functionality comes at a price. Users often point to FastSpring's high fees and lack of transparent pricing as major drawbacks, particularly for smaller businesses. Additionally, while the platform's customization options are a boon for experienced users, some find the initial setup process daunting and time-consuming.

In conclusion, FastSpring emerges as a powerful e-commerce solution best suited for medium to large businesses with complex needs who prioritize flexibility and comprehensive support over cost-effectiveness. Smaller businesses or those seeking a simpler solution might find better value in alternatives like Shopify or Chargify.

Pros & Cons

  • Global Payment Processing: FastSpring excels in handling transactions worldwide, accommodating various currencies and payment methods, simplifying international sales.
  • Subscription Management: The platform offers robust tools for managing recurring billing, including flexible subscription plans, automated renewals, and dunning management, streamlining recurring revenue streams.
  • Branded Checkout Experience: FastSpring allows businesses to maintain brand consistency by customizing the checkout process with their logo, colors, and messaging, enhancing brand recognition and customer trust.
  • Sales Process Automation: FastSpring automates key sales tasks, such as order fulfillment, invoice generation, and tax calculation, freeing up businesses to focus on growth and other critical operations.
  • Reliable Platform Performance: Users consistently praise FastSpring for its uptime and stability, ensuring a smooth and dependable experience for both businesses and their customers.
  • Price: FastSpring's robust feature set comes at a premium, which might be prohibitive for businesses with tight budgets or those seeking more affordable alternatives.
  • Occasional Stability Issues: While generally reliable, some users have reported occasional system stability issues, which could potentially disrupt sales processes.
  • Support Concerns: A small number of users have expressed concerns about potential support responsiveness decreasing after an extended period of using the platform.

Key Features

  • Custom Checkout: Optimize buying experiences and reduce cart abandonment through customizable, intuitive checkout models. 
    • Store Builder Library: Create, implement and personalize checkout flows. 
    • Dynamic Marketing: Provide seamless experiences through device-optimized content. Customers can browse online stores via mobiles, laptops or desktops. 
    • Product Display: Monitor and edit stores, product information and checkout processes in real time. 
    • Promotions: Drive sales through dynamic product recommendations with cross-sells and up-sells. 
    • Custom Fields: Ensure easy purchases by setting up custom fields such as language, tax and currency, based on customer location. 
  • Global Payment Support: Facilitate worldwide selling with support for international payments, currencies and languages. 
    • Failover Processing: Reroute transactions to a different acquiring bank if a transaction fails. 
    • Gift Purchases: Customers can order and pay for products on behalf of loved ones. 
    • Local Transaction Processing: Ensure transactions are routed in the same location as the issuing bank through automated routing modules. 
    • Payment Options: Provides global payment solutions like debit and credit cards, Amazon Pay, PayPal, wire transfers, GiroPay and more. 
  • Subscription Management: Reduce churn rate by managing client life cycles across every touchpoint. 
    • Plan Management: Increase client outreach through flexible plans, including free trials, discounts and monthly and annual schemes. Customize coupons, costs and subscription lengths. 
    • Automated Reminders: Automatically send receipts, invoices, renewal forms and payment and cancellation alerts. 
    • Recurring Billing: Ensure steady revenue by setting up regular payment and billing models. 
    • Dunning Management: Decrease churn rate by automatically retrying failed payments. 
    • Self-Service: Customers can manage subscriptions and payments, and view previous orders. 
  • Sales Management: Simplify buying experiences with digital invoicing and interactive quotes. 
  • Tax Management: Facilitate global tax calculation, collection and remittance with VAT compliance and region-specific tax rates. 
  • Risk Management: Mitigate risks, prevent chargebacks and protect against any vulnerabilities. Detect fraudulent payments and separate them from credible ones via its15-factor fraud monitoring algorithm. Complies with significant guidelines and regulations like EU GDPR and PCI DSS. 
  • Third-Party Integrations: Integrates with several third-party solutions such as Google Tag Manager, Google Ads, WordPress, MailChimp, Nalpeiron, Impact, LicenceSpring and more. 

    Suite Support

    A dedicated consumer support portal on the vendor website offers help with checkout, taxes, billing, licenses, refunds and more. Sellers can access welcome guides and release notes, and log in for customized content and support.

    mail_outlineEmail: [email protected].
    phonePhone: Not specified.
    schoolTraining: The vendor provides documentation on onboarding, advanced features, interactive quotes and app capabilities. Offers a launch checklist, store builder library and API toolkit.
    local_offerTickets: Log in to submit a ticket.
Salesforce CPQ
Salesforce CPQ
Start Price
$150
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Salesforce CPQ

Salesforce CPQ has garnered significant praise for its user-friendly interface, enabling sales teams to swiftly generate accurate quotes and streamline the sales process. Users highlight the software's intuitive design and guided selling capabilities, which empower representatives to configure products, determine pricing, and create professional quotes with ease. This efficiency translates into faster sales cycles and improved customer satisfaction. Salesforce CPQ's integration with Salesforce CRM further enhances its value proposition by providing a unified platform for managing customer interactions, sales processes, and order fulfillment.

However, some users note that Salesforce CPQ's robust features come at a cost, as the software can be relatively expensive compared to some competitors. Additionally, the platform's extensive customization options, while offering flexibility, can also introduce complexity for new users. Despite these drawbacks, many users consider Salesforce CPQ a worthwhile investment due to its ability to drive revenue growth and enhance sales productivity. The software's strengths in automation, accuracy, and integration make it particularly well-suited for businesses with complex sales processes, diverse product offerings, and a need for scalability. Salesforce CPQ empowers these organizations to optimize their sales operations and achieve sustainable growth.

Pros & Cons

  • Guided Selling: Salesforce CPQ provides a guided selling experience that helps sales reps to configure products and generate quotes quickly and accurately, even for complex products with many options and dependencies. This can help to reduce errors and improve sales efficiency.
  • Streamlined Quote-to-Cash: Salesforce CPQ helps to streamline the quote-to-cash process by automating many of the manual tasks involved in generating quotes, contracts, and invoices. This can help to reduce cycle times and improve cash flow.
  • Improved Accuracy: Salesforce CPQ helps to improve the accuracy of quotes by ensuring that all products and services are priced correctly and that all discounts and promotions are applied consistently. This can help to reduce billing errors and improve customer satisfaction.
  • Increased Sales: Salesforce CPQ can help to increase sales by making it easier for sales reps to sell complex products and services. It can also help to improve customer satisfaction by providing a more streamlined and efficient sales experience.
  • Steep Learning Curve: Salesforce CPQ has a reputation for being complex and challenging to learn, especially for users without prior experience with Salesforce products or CPQ software. The abundance of features and customization options can be overwhelming for new users, often requiring extensive training and support to get up to speed.
  • Implementation Challenges: Implementing Salesforce CPQ can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, often requiring the involvement of experienced consultants or developers. Integrating CPQ with existing Salesforce instances or other business systems can pose additional challenges, potentially leading to delays and budget overruns.
  • Cost: Salesforce CPQ is a premium product with a price tag to match. The subscription fees, implementation costs, and ongoing maintenance expenses can be significant, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. The pricing structure can also be complex, with different tiers and add-on features that can quickly increase the overall cost.

Key Features

  • Pricing Engine: Use a sophisticated pricing engine to model different types of payments, including one-time payments, recurring payments and payments determined by usage. 
  • Automated Renewal Quotes: Save time by automating renewed quotes and sending summaries to current customers. 
  • Centralized Data: Ensure complete visibility by keeping client data in one place, including purchases, assets and subscriptions. 
  • AI Insights: Manipulate AI data gathering and findings to better understand client data. Increase sales intelligence and create deeper insight reports. 
  • Automated Invoices: Split quotes into multiple orders to simplify and automate configurations. Eliminate pricing discrepancies by using a singular pricing engine. 
  • Price Analytics: Task AI to detect trends among products, sales teams and regions. Mine data from AI analysis to better suit pricing standards. 
  • Accessibility: Access functions from any desktop or mobile device with internet connection. Use cloud-capabilities to track quotes on the go. 
  • Integration: Utilize flexible integration capabilities to bundle with other leading products like Docusign. 
Qwilr
Qwilr
Start Price
$39
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Key Features

  • Document Management: Create interactive, mobile-optimized proposals, pages and documents with modular building blocks through its editing and design tools. Embed content such as videos, Google Maps, calendars, Typeform pages and more. Share via secure links that are accessible from any device. 
  • Quoting: Reduce sales cycles and back-and-forth communications with interactive quoting. Clients can opt for pricing packages based on their requirements and proceed to accept, e-sign and pay via any device. 
  • Analytics: Receive notifications when customers open or accept documents. Ensure quick follow-ups and deliver tailored content by gaining insights into client interactions and analyzing proposal effectiveness. 
  • Integrations: Automate workflows, facilitate payments and create invoices by connecting with CRMs, payment systems and sales and accounting modules. Leverage integrations with Google Analytics, Salesforce, HubSpot, Xero, PipeDrive, Slack, Stripe and more. 
  • Personalizations: Draft customized quotes, proposals and invoices at multiple scales. Showcase experience to prospective clients by uploading previous successful works and adding brand-centric details.
QuoteWerks
QuoteWerks
Start Price
$13.75
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked QuoteWerks

QuoteWerks has been around for a while, and it shows in its large user base. The software has a reputation for being easy to use, which is a big plus for businesses that need to get up and running quickly. Users appreciate the ability to create quotes quickly and efficiently, saving them time and hassle. However, some users find QuoteWerks to be a bit lacking in features compared to other CPQ software options on the market. It's important to note that QuoteWerks is not the cheapest option out there, so businesses need to weigh the cost against the benefits before making a decision.

One of the things that sets QuoteWerks apart is its integration with Salesforce. This is a major advantage for businesses that already use Salesforce, as it allows them to streamline their sales process. QuoteWerks also offers a basic configurator, which can be helpful for businesses that need to create complex quotes. However, the configurator is not as powerful as some of the other options on the market. Overall, QuoteWerks is a good choice for businesses that need a simple and easy-to-use CPQ solution. It's also a good option for businesses that are already using Salesforce. However, businesses that need a more feature-rich CPQ solution may want to consider other options.

Want a CPQ solution that really "werks"? Look no further than QuoteWerks.

Pros & Cons

  • Streamlined Quoting Process: QuoteWerks helps businesses create accurate and professional sales quotes quickly, saving time and effort. The software offers a range of features that automate tasks such as product selection, pricing calculations, and quote generation, allowing sales teams to focus on closing deals.
  • Improved Accuracy and Consistency: QuoteWerks helps eliminate errors and inconsistencies in quotes by providing a centralized platform for managing product information, pricing, and discounts. This ensures that all quotes are accurate and consistent, regardless of who creates them.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: QuoteWerks facilitates collaboration between sales, finance, and other departments involved in the quoting process. The software allows users to share quotes, track approvals, and communicate effectively, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
  • Integration with Other Systems: QuoteWerks integrates with popular CRM, accounting, and ERP systems, allowing businesses to streamline their workflows and avoid data duplication. This integration also provides valuable insights into sales performance and customer behavior.
  • Limited Customization: Users have expressed frustration with the limitations of customizing QuoteWerks to fit their specific workflows and branding requirements. For instance, tailoring documents and integrating with external systems can be challenging.
  • Usability Challenges: The user interface and overall user experience of QuoteWerks have been criticized for being outdated and cumbersome. Navigating through the software and finding specific features can be time-consuming and require a steep learning curve.
  • Reporting Limitations: Generating comprehensive and insightful reports can be difficult due to the limitations of QuoteWerks' reporting capabilities. Users often find it challenging to extract the specific data they need to analyze sales performance and make informed business decisions.

Key Features

  • CPQ: Improve customer experience and sell more. Streamline quoting processes, extend functionalities and close sales cycles faster by accepting online payments, knowing when to follow up and providing e-signature capabilities. 
  • Quote-to-Cash: Helps improve communication with CRM and email integration tools. Customize quotes according to customer needs and streamline accounting, quoting and CRM processes. 
  • Procurement: Electronically submit purchase orders in Amazon Business, Dell QuickBooks, Autotask, Sage 50 US Edition, ConnectWise and other manual purchase orders. Track line item shipping status, estimated ship date, warehouse locations, shipping numbers and product serial numbers in real time for orders placed through D&H, SYNNEX, Ingram Micro and Tech Data. Also, import purchase orders, receive individual items at different times and track purchase order status. 
  • QuoteWerks Web: Access existing documents, layouts, products, services and more through the desktop version. Create and edit documents, search for and retrieve contact information, search, display and use products, and customize labels and columns. It offers full support with QuoteValet and Etilize 
  • Distributor and Vendors Association: Quote items from distributors with real-time pricing from more than 15 supported vendors. These include Amazon Business, Cisco, Dell, HP, D&H, iQuote, Ingram Micro and more. Capabilities range from quote search, creation and import to order requisitions shipment and serial number tracking. 
  • Integrations: 
    • CRM and PSA: Integrates with Microsoft Outlook, Salesforce, Zoho CRM, SugarCRM, Infor CRM, ConnectWise and GoldMine. Transfer important sales data for forecasting and reporting, share estimates and proposals with prospects, and create orders. Combine sales quotes with business development opportunities and gain visibility into revenue streams. 
    • Accounting: Eliminate or minimize re-typing errors, duplicate entries and costly mistakes through integration with QuickBooks, Reckon, Sage 50 and other third-party add-ons. It helps create invoices when quotes become orders. 
    • Shipping: Obtain real-time shipping quotes through integration with FedEx and UPS. Calculate, mark up and pass through shipping costs, choose from a grid of available services and pricing, and provide customers with shipping choices. 
    • Leasing: Integrates with Ingram Micro Lease-IT and GreatAmerica Financial Services, offering built-in lease payment calculation support, multiple lease choices, and an option to purchase or lease quotes. It also automates credit application submission, shows available lease options and helps create, edit and maintain lease rate cards. 
  • QuoteValet: Streamlines the quote delivery and acceptance process by tracking received, viewed, reviewed and accepted quotes. Accept payment through credit cards, activate electronic signing, set auto-reminders, share files, collaborate with customers and attach single or multiple videos to documents. It provides branded and specialized quote delivery web pages. 
  • Shopping Cart: Create online order forms to automate customer re-orders, receive paid orders from promotional email blasts and offer discounts on specific items for a limited time. 
  • QuoteValet Mobile: Create, share, accept and make payments for quotes through mobile devices, most suitable for quick and small orders. 
  • Dashboard: 
    • Summary: Managers gain insights into the top-selling products, quote stages, quarterly progress and the total number of current and historical quotes and orders. It highlights milestones, notifications for quote requests, expiring quotes and monthly sales quotas. 
    • Opportunities: Check forecasts, analyze performance and gain quarterly and YTD summaries. The dashboard shows the top five won, open and lost quotes, along with the top five products by quantity and value. 
    • Reporting: Filter pending quotes, keep track of details and see new opportunities. The color-coded document activity history helps distinguish between customer and sales rep activities. 
    • Payment: Easily view all sorts of payment levels, including partial and complete as well as payment methods such as credit card and PayPal. Track document change histories, seeing who changed it and when through the Audit Trail. 

Better Proposals
Better Proposals
Start Price
$19
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Key Features

  • Editor: Create compelling, professional proposals using the editor and automatic designer. 
  • Templates: Customize templates and cover pages or opt to utilize pre-existing, industry-specific ones. Compatible with mobile phones, desktops and tablets. Offers more than 160 designs, accessible via the marketplace. 
  • Library: Recycle templates by saving proposals or particularly effective elements in the content library. 
  • Personalizations: Construct consistent client experiences by incorporating brand-specific details like colors, logos, fonts, content, images and introductory videos. Include every proposal on the organization’s website by assigning custom domains. 
  • Follow-Ups: Receive instant notifications when a proposal is opened, forwarded or signed, facilitating timely follow-ups. 
  • Pricing Tables: Accurately price offers, add recurring amounts for subscriptions and installments. Bill multiple products together with intelligent pricing tables. Use the bolt-on tool to add line items to proposals. 
  • E-Signatures: Close deals faster with secure, legally binding digital signatures that only require clients to type their names. 
  • Reporting: Review and track conversion rates, team statistics, sales overviews, template effectiveness and more through in-depth reports. 
  • Security: Ensure secure deals with encrypted web links and GDPR compliance. 
  • Integrations: Streamline workflows by accessing integrations with CRMs, payment modules, live chat systems and project management tools. Connect with Zapier, Salesforce, Zoho, HubSpot, Stripe, PayPal, ClickDesk, Intercom, Trello, Wrike and more. 
Quoter
Quoter
Start Price
$99
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Key Features

  • Templates: Create standardized, brand-centric sales quotes, proposals and documents using reusable templates. Customize these to add cover pages, proposal content, instructions and product descriptions. Attach brochures, contracts and other documents. 
  • Product Cloud: Include products and services in quotes, access costs and availability in real time, and automatically pull details and images by leveraging integrations with Etilize, Ingram Micro and Tech Data. 
  • Product Configuration: Automate complex product pricing according to client requirements. Create selectable options like model, plan, material and size. 
  • Digital Signatures: Streamline quote-to-order processes with legally binding e-signatures. 
  • Payment Processing: Offer real-time payment processing with multiple gateways and multi-currency support. Clients can click on a secure link to access online checkout pages and complete payments. Receive email notifications post-payment completion. Include recurring fees and deposit options in quotes. 
  • Approval Management: Eliminate bottlenecks by allowing team members to create quotes. Automatically receive notifications in case of policy violations. 
  • Dashboard and Analytics: Track quotes, sales team performance, costs and margins through intuitive dashboards and reporting modules. Analyze generated quotes, sales and closing ratios with graphs. Search for quotes and customer leads by combining search criteria. 
  • Tax Calculations: Accurately calculate quotes based on client location. Create multiple shipping and tax zones with specific countries, states and provinces assigned to them. 
  • Discount Codes: Create flexible, reusable discount codes. Offer concessions on products per line item or as a percentage or dollar amount. 
  • Security and Backup: Secure organization data with automated backups across multiple data centers. Protect sensitive information like passwords and transactions with bank-level 256-bit SSL encryption and PCI-DSS compliance. Follows keycard and biometric access protocols, with interior and exterior surveillance to protect data centers. 
  • Integrations: Connect with third-party solutions like Paypal, Salesforce, Hubspot, Zoho CRM, MailChimp, Highrise, Zapier, QuickBooks Online, Xero, Stripe, Datto Autotask, ConnectWise and more. 

COMPARE THE BEST RFP Software

Select up to 2 Products from the list below to compare

 
Product
Score
i
SelectHub’s Analyst Rating is based on data from our 400+ point analysis of RFP Software, user reviews, and our own crowd-sourced data from our free software selection platform. Scores are periodically updated via ongoing selection projects and user activity within our platform.
Start Price
Free Trial
Company Size
Deployment
Platform
Logo
Jobber
$19
Monthly, Single user
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Jobber
Pros
$60
Per User, Monthly
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Pros
Conga
Still gathering data
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Conga
Zuora Billing
Undisclosed
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Zuora Billing
FastSpring
Undisclosed
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
FastSpring
Salesforce CPQ
$150
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Salesforce CPQ
Qwilr
$39
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Qwilr
QuoteWerks
$13.75
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
QuoteWerks
Better Proposals
$19
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Better Proposals
Quoter
$99
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Quoter

All RFP Software (28 found)

Narrow down your solution options easily






X  Clear Filter

Tacton

by Tacton Systems AB
Tacton
Tacton is an automated solution that boosts and accelerates sales with quick quote generation, extensive brand-centric proposals and streamlined operational tasks. It configures offerings for sales reps and customers according to specific requirements, reducing sales cycles and ensuring high win rates. Design automation minimizes errors and reduces time spent on repetitive modeling when generating documents, drawings and 3D CAD models. Users can leverage integrations with CRMs and ERPs for smoother workflows.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Oracle CPQ

by Oracle America
Oracle CPQ
Oracle CPQ is a cloud-based software solution aimed at streamlining the quote-to-cash process for businesses selling complex products or services with various configurations and pricing options. It assists salespeople in quickly and accurately generating professional quotes by guiding them through product selection, configuration, pricing, and approval workflows. This can lead to faster sales cycles, reduced errors, and improved customer satisfaction. Oracle CPQ is most suitable for companies with complex sales processes, intricate product offerings, and a need for accurate and consistent pricing. Key benefits include increased efficiency, improved accuracy, enhanced customer experience, and better sales performance. Popular features include guided selling, product configuration rules, dynamic pricing, and integration with leading CRM and ERP systems. User reviews highlight the ease of use, intuitive interface, and robust functionality. However, some users report occasional performance issues and limited customization options compared to competitors. Pricing varies depending on the specific configuration and number of users. It typically follows a subscription model with annual or monthly fees based on the chosen plan. Pros Fast and responsive UI Easy to learn and use Handles complex products Streamlines sales process Improves accuracy and efficiency Cons Limited customization options Can be expensive Occasional performance issues Steep learning curve for complex configurations Limited analytics capabilities
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Pricefx

by Pricefx
Pricefx
Pricefx is a cloud-optimized solution that provides necessary inclusions for creating an optimal pricing strategy. It offers a 360-degree view of pricing plans, segmented price lists, quick calculations, simulation checks and more. AI-powered sales insights deliver actionable intelligence as per industry and company standards, reducing sales cycles and increasing quote win rates.Integrations with legacy connectors and the ability to pull data in any format ensure consolidated, comprehensive data visibility and processes. Users can access advanced analytics via classified dashboards and an easy-to-use interface.
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Infor CPQ

by Infor, Inc.
Infor CPQ
Infor CPQ is a rules-based cloud configuration software that optimizes complex sales cycles with visualization, collaboration and integration. An intuitive configuration engine and knowledge base of predefined rules help users generate a single-integrated quote and view configuration-specific price lists. Pricing views enable sales reps to view profits, meet margins and upsell. 2D drawings, 3D models and automated manufacturing information show products configured to customer specifications and validate visualizations. Users can also access pre-built APIs to integrate with cloud and on-site applications. To explore other popular solutions that Infor offers, visit our Infor company page. Pros Easy to use interface Strong product configurator Visually appealing quotes Streamlined approval process Good integration options Cons Limited reporting capabilities Steep learning curve for advanced features Can be slow on complex configurations Customization options require coding High cost compared to some competitors
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$1,000 or more
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Conga CPQ

by Conga
Conga CPQ
Conga CPQ is a cloud-based software designed to help businesses streamline their sales process, particularly for those dealing with complex products or services. It provides a centralized platform for creating, managing, and tracking quotes, enabling sales teams to configure products, generate proposals, and manage pricing with greater efficiency and accuracy. Conga CPQ offers a range of features such as guided selling, product configuration, pricing optimization, and subscription management, all aimed at improving sales effectiveness and customer satisfaction. Users have reported benefits like increased sales, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction. The software's ability to handle complex quotes and automate tasks has been particularly well-received. Some users have noted that the initial setup and learning curve can be challenging, but the overall experience is positive. Pricing for Conga CPQ is typically subscription-based and varies depending on the specific features and number of users required.
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

FPX

by FPX
FPX
FPX is a cloud-based solution to configure quotations for manufacturing equipment. It offers a purpose-built selling engine, domain expertise, collaborative selling and quoting, rapid deployment, and fast ROI. Users can minimize sales cycles, create accurate orders and quotations, and increase operational efficiency. It extends a selling cloud, product selector, configuration and pricing, project management, and business intelligence. It caters to both fluid handling equipment and mechanical equipment.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

IBM Sterling CPQ

by IBM
IBM Sterling CPQ
IBM Sterling CPQ is a software designed to help businesses streamline the process of creating and managing quotes and proposals, especially for those with complex products or services. It aims to improve sales efficiency and accuracy, leading to increased customer satisfaction. Key benefits include faster quote generation, reduced errors, and a more positive buying experience for customers. Popular features include a user-friendly interface, extensive functionality, integration with other business systems, and flexible pricing options. User experiences suggest that IBM Sterling CPQ is highly effective in its primary purpose of simplifying the CPQ process. Its comprehensive features and ease of use make it a valuable tool for businesses seeking to improve sales operations. Pricing for IBM Sterling CPQ varies based on factors such as the number of users and desired features. Potential users should contact IBM directly for detailed pricing information as it can change over time.
Cost Breakdown
$500 - $1,000
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Powertrak

by Axonom
Powertrak
Powertrak, a cloud-based product configuration solution from Axonom, streamlines the process of configuring, pricing, and quoting products, especially for businesses with complex offerings and diverse pricing structures. Powertrak's automation tools and robust rules engine enhance efficiency and accuracy in the quoting and ordering process, leading to improved customer satisfaction. Key features include guided selling, quote generation, and product visualization tools, all accessible from any browser-enabled device. User reviews highlight Powertrak's ability to simplify complex configurations and ensure accurate quoting, reducing rework and boosting sales. The platform's flexibility and integration capabilities allow it to adapt to various business needs and grow alongside the company. While specific pricing details may vary, Powertrak typically follows a subscription-based model, with costs potentially influenced by factors such as the number of users and desired features. Exploring the Axonom website or contacting their sales team directly would provide the most current pricing information.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Buyer's Guide

RFP Software Is All About Creating and Managing Proposals

By Christina George, Technical Content Writer at SelectHub

RFP Software BG Intro Header

Manually drafting and responding to RFPs can be a cumbersome, time-consuming process. Modern problems require modern solutions. RFP software helps expedite processes, making it easier to issue and respond to RFPs. You can respond more, enhance answer quality, meet deadlines and fulfill specific requirements.

As complicated as the entire request for proposal process seems, zeroing in on software that matches your company’s needs can be tougher than escaping the labyrinth. This buyer’s guide will give you the blueprint. We’ll cover features, benefits, pricing, and software selection to help you reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

Executive Summary

  • RFP software helps companies streamline the proposal process by creating and managing RFP documents.
  • The solution provides pre-existing templates and a centralized content library to create, manage and organize proposals along with capabilities like a content repository, reminders and project collaboration.
  • Zeroing in on the most suitable RFP software might be difficult; requirement checklists go a long way in deciding the best fit.
What This Guide Covers:

What Is RFP Software?

RFP software is a digital tool that assists businesses in creating and managing all RFP documents and processes. It helps firms draft, distribute and evaluate proposals. You can store relevant and commonly used information in responses to autofill in answers later and automate RFP processes along with requests for information (RFI) and security and due diligence questionnaires.

The software helps both sides of the coin — procurers and bidders — significantly reduce the response time for assessing, editing and accepting proposals. It doubles as a collaborative tool to track submissions and optimize communication between departments contributing to RFPs. Sales and proposal teams can submit contracts to internal and external stakeholders and share organizational needs with suppliers.

Primary Benefits

RFP Software Categories

According to Loopio’s 2023 report, RFP-influenced revenue sits at 39% of sales. There are a lot more benefits where that came from. Here are our top reasons to implement RFP software.

RFP Software Benefits

Improved Proposal Quality

The quality of proposals can make or break a contract — a pristine, professional proposal is more likely to get higher responses. Custom templates make it fast and easy to develop high-quality proposals. Create documents in line with project needs and requirements by adding existing variables and spruce up proposals by adding images and videos.

Centralized Information

With an influx of information from different sources, tracking and organizing data is challenging. Adding terms and conditions and specification sheets manually is tedious, and essential papers tend to get buried, making it difficult to retrieve particulars at the right time. RFP software digitally consolidates information in a centralized location, ensuring relevant team members and stakeholders can access it whenever they want.

Increased Efficiency

Get from A to B when searching for past proposals and prices with content libraries. Avoid repetition with pre-approved content, reusable templates and repeatable workflows.

Automation speeds up mundane tasks, decreases response time and improves RFP output. Procurement managers can also leverage automation while issuing RFQs, RFIs and DDQs.

Easier Collaboration

Communication is key. Just like the pilot and cabin crew need to be in sync, proper workflows and secure messaging keep RFP stakeholders on the same page. Set processes to move RFPs from one step to the next. Add edits and feedback in the document remotely for swifter collaboration.

Key Features & Functionality

Centralized Data Storage

The crux of every RFP solution, centralized content library stores relevant information like PDFs, images, videos and other media — easily accessible to teams for customizing and repurposing. Smart search options, custom tags and filters based on product lines and language help companies find old content and get quick and accurate results.

Some solutions offer automated review cycles, role-based permissions and duplicate answer detection to organize your knowledge base.
Automation

Time spent on rudimentary tasks like copying and pasting answers could be better spent with clients. AI and NLP capabilities autofill and auto-suggest responses using previously stored information.

Automatic formatting, bulleting and numbering reduce manual dependency and streamline operational tasks. You can also trigger follow-up reminders and submit proposals post-approval.
Workflow Management

Collaborate with team members on real-time projects from any location. Send requests for approvals and reviews to different teams like legal, finance and compliance. View project statuses, tasks and teammates’ work and milestones to pinpoint bottlenecks and meet deadlines.

Leverage inter-departmental communication, approval workflows and at-risk project identification to reduce version control issues.
Templates

Use customizable templates to create contracts and proposals based on branding. Create your library by storing past templates and questions for future use.
Notifications and Reminders

Receive notifications when clients read, accept and respond to your proposals. Set and receive real-time alerts via emails, texts or push notifications for specific events and send automated follow-ups and thank-you notes to prospects.
Integrations

Most RFP solutions integrate with existing systems like CRMs, ERPs, project management and contract management software to import data securely. They also connect with Slack and Google Chat to facilitate collaboration.
Data Import and Export

Team members can get data from the knowledge base and share information with collaborators and stakeholders, making it quicker to fill out responses. Develop projects in multiple formats like Excel, Word and PDF. Give deliverables a uniform look with font and color alignment.
Progress Tracking

Keeping an eye on a proposal’s progress makes it easier to step in with reminders and interventions. Monitor responses on all bids, contracts and proposals, and track all active and in-progress projects. Managers can view team efforts and milestones via dashboards.
Reporting and Analysis

Want to know what RFPs close, proposals that didn’t quite work or where team members seem to be spending the most time? Perform A to B testing on proposal templates and create reports based on analytics.

Software Comparison Strategy

Now that you know the features and benefits of implementing RFP software, it's time to decide on the best option for your company.

To select an appropriate solution, you need to check some boxes:

Level of automation and AI assistance: Autofill, formatting and triggered workflows are nothing new. But, additional AI and automation capabilities will help assign team members to the right projects, recommend answers using the content library and create and score proposals faster.

Integrations: RFP works hand-in-hand with CRM, communication apps, cloud storage and CPQ software. Third-party and native integrations enable quick data exchanges and eliminate pesky double entries and context-switching.

Industry-specific templates: All RFP templates weren’t created equally. You’ll need to check if templates include specific sections necessary to your industry.

Free trials and demos: Evaluate whether features align with your company’s needs and understand how the platform works. You can also peruse ebooks, webinars and other informational tools vendors offer.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

Many factors come into play in the pricing of RFP software:

  • Agency Size
  • Deployment Modes
  • Number of user licenses
  • Organization-specific requirements

The pricing will vary for a tailor-made solution with add-on packages. You should also consider any direct and indirect costs that may arise in the form of licensing, installation and payment processing fees. Finally, ask your vendor if there are any extra charges for services like onboarding and support.

The Most Popular RFP Software

When it comes down to selecting an appropriate solution, it's practically impossible to designate the status of “the best'' to any software in the market. What works for one organization might not work for the other. While we may not be privy to your organization’s specific requirements, we’ve curated a list of the most popular RFP software that serves industries across the spectrum and deliver multiple functionalities.

Jobber

Jobber is a cloud-based solution that helps professionals manage sales cycles. Its main features are scheduling, dispatching, billing, quoting, expense tracking and invoice creation. The automation quotation module assists businesses in delivering professional, error-free quotes. Customizable document templates provide users with user-specific branding.

Jobber

Proposals on Jobber. Source

PandaDoc

PandaDoc offers automated solutions for quick and easy documentation, enabling companies to churn out deliverables swiftly. Users can access a free template library to make personalized proposals. Other capabilities include eSignatures and document tracking. It integrates with external systems such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, Copper, monday.com and more.

PandaDoc

Workflows and Approvals on PandaDoc. Source

FPX

FPX is a cloud-based solution that helps manufacturing companies configure complex quotations. It’s purpose-built for mechanical equipment and fluid handling equipment industries like pumps, compressors, blowers, HVAC, fans, valves and other engineering models. It includes a selling engine and allows collaborative selling and quoting.

FPX

Project and Quote Management on FPX. Source

 

 

Questions To Ask

If you feel burnt out by the influx of information on finding the right RFP software, asking a few questions can ease some of that burden. The list below is an excellent place to start:

Internally:

  • Is our team struggling to keep up with RFP responses?
  • Where can we speed up our RFP process?
  • What features are crucial, and which can we skip?
  • What is our budget?
  • Will this software meet our future needs?
  • Have our competitors incorporated RFPs in their businesses?
  • Does the software integrate with our CRM, ERP, and payment and accounting systems?
  • Does the solution cover all the functionalities we require?
  • Does the vendor offer industry-specific templates for proposals?

RFP Software Key Questions To Ask

The vendor:

  • Do you release frequent updates and enhancements?
  • Is the software scalable?
  • Does the solution come with industry-specific templates?
  • How extensive are the automation capabilities?
  • What integrations are available?
  • Do you offer flexible pricing?
  • Do you provide technical support and training?
  • How robust are the security and compliance regulations?
  • Are there any hidden costs?

Next Steps

Selecting the right RFP software for your company can be an uphill task. Create a checklist of what you need with our free requirements template. It will help you ask vendors the right questions and give your software selection journey direction. Happy shopping!

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Christina
By Christina George
Technical Content Writer
An Associate Editor at SelectHub, Christina George creates and edits articles spanning project management, CPQ, CRM, marketing automation and home health software. As a Bachelor of Arts graduate with a triple major in Economics, Political Science and Sociology, her aim is to bring an integrated and simplified approach to long-form technical content. Formerly a food writer, copywriter, and social media sleuth, she has a soft spot for a quality pun. When not crafting articles and editing buyer's guides, you can find her attempting to score goals on the football field, binge-watching Curb Your Enthusiasm, or re-reading Pride and Prejudice for the nth time.
See Full Bio
Joan
Technical Research By Joan Akash
Senior Analyst
Joan Akash, a Senior Research Analyst at SelectHub, holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management with a specialization in Marketing. Her expertise as a researcher and reviewer spans diverse software categories, including Project Management, Customer Relationship Management, Live Chat, and Help Desk. Beyond her professional pursuits, Joan is spiritually driven, with a passion for teaching children and a penchant for reading biblical blogs and crafting poetry.
See Full Bio
Manan
Technical Review By Manan Roy
Principal Analyst
Manan is a native of Tezpur, Assam (India), who currently lives in Kolkata, West Bengal (India). At SelectHub, he works on categories like CRM, HR, PPM, BI, and EHR. He has a Bachelor of Technology in CSE from The Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology, a Master of Technology from The Institute of Engineering and Management IT, and an MBA in Finance from St. Xavier's College. He's published two research papers, one in a conference and the other in a journal, during his Master of Technology.
See Full Bio
Joe
Edited By Joe Evans
Content Editor
Joe Evans is an Editor and Senior Market Analyst at SelectHub. A seasoned professional wordsmith, he has a bachelor's degree in journalism and electronic media and a decade of professional expertise in crafting top-tier digital content for niche online brands. He leads his small yet formidable team in producing helpful, compelling content in vital categories like HR, payroll, talent management, performance management, marketing automation home health, MES. When not editing and writing, he enjoys sports, quality time with family and dogs, and remains constantly in pursuit of something new and interesting to read or listen to.
See Full Bio