In Search of the Best Proposal Management Software? Here’s What You Need to Know

Without the right tools and software at your disposal, creating proposals and RFP responses can be a complex and time-consuming task. But imagine if you could simplify the process and generate proposals quickly, easily, and without all the collaboration headaches and hassle. This is where proposal management software is truly a gamechanger.

But which proposal management platform is right for your organization? How do you know what to look for in a potential software? Where do you even start?

To help you with your buying decision, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most important factors to consider when evaluating proposal management software.

1. EFFICIENCY = PRODUCTIVITY

   
   A proposal management platform should break down manual steps and enable you to create winning documents quickly and efficiently.
   
   Look for:

• • Content management, including the ability to easily access and search consistent, compliant, and approved content
  • Data-driven content recommendations
  • Easy, repeatable build steps for each project or content piece
  • Auto-answer feature
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Customizable, formatting-enabled, smart template options
    
    

2. COLLABORATION

   
   Seamless collaboration is key to an effective proposal or RFP response. The most effective proposal management solutions know how to work with commons apps (e.g., Microsoft 365) and plug right into familiar environments.
   
   Look for:

• • Labeling to help track active pursuits and assign tasks
  • Integrations with your most used applications
  • Tailored dashboards, fields, data points, and analytics
  • Easy-to-pull, meaningful metrics and KPIs
    
    

3. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

   
   A critical piece of the modern proposal management platform, AI helps automate the proposal and RFP response process to save your organization countless manual hours.
   
   Look for:

• • AI-powered system that gets smarter with each use
  • Recommendations engine that suggests optimized content with ease
  • Answer and content insertion capability
    
    

4. SECURITY

   
   Security should be top of mind when adopting a new solution. You want your documents and branded content housed in a secure environment, such as a cloud backed by a reputable solution provider. Your new software should also empower you to securely share and sign documents from anywhere.
   
   Look for:

• • Remote-enabled software with e-sign
  • Robust security and privacy controls to ensure data is protected
  • Housed by a confident provider, e.g., Microsoft Azure’s hybrid cloud
    
    

5. ANALYTICS

   
   Being able to track proposal and RFP delivery with strategic insights to help form future content is incredibly valuable.
   
   Look for:

• • Built-in measurement tools
  • Detailed insights or metrics that show how your document has been received and engaged with
  • Smart content library features that store your latest and greatest materials
    
    

An effective proposal management software can be a major asset for your organization, helping you to create high-quality, winning proposals faster—which translates to more sales revenue each month. For more tips on deciding which platform is right for your organization, watch our CEO, Ray Meiring, discuss what you should look for in a proposal management software in this recent video.