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Qvidian RFP & Proposal Automation

Score7 out of 10

40 Reviews and Ratings

What is Qvidian RFP & Proposal Automation?

Proposal management and RFP response software

Categories & Use Cases

Media

automatic content suggestions from AutoFill, used to accelerate responses to RFPs, DDQs, and other docs.
the dashboard that enables SMEs to view all pending review jobs with a click.
the Help Center, featuring an FAQ and step-by-step tutorials.
the tailorable home screen that streamlines access to needed tools and information.
RFP packages that are brand compliant, built with Qvidian.
an example of an automated workflow, used to simplify content reviews and approvals, and build audit trails.
the library used to store approved proposal content.
custom analytics used to identify top projects, workflow bottlenecks, and expiring content.

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Top Performing Features

  • Proposal templates

    Allows users to utilize proposal templates for standard proposal layouts, with variable fields.

    Category average: 7.8

  • Proposal content library updates

    Users can update saved proposal language and standard proposal content.

    Category average: 8.5

  • Proposal collaboration & approval

    Users can review and revise proposals in a collaborative fashion; may include versioning and/or automated approval workflows.

    Category average: 8

Areas for Improvement

  • Searchable proposal database

    Proposals are organized in a central repository; users can easily locate proposals within the database.

    Category average: 7.8

  • User permissions/proposal editing controls

    Users can set appropriate, granular controls over who can view vs. edit elements of proposals.

    Category average: 7.5

  • Proposal automation user interface

    User interface for setting up proposal automation is user friendly and easy to navigate.

    Category average: 7.2

Professionnel Service

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Putting together statements of work and proposals, managing the content.

Pros

  • Content management
  • Proposal automation
  • RFP management

Cons

  • RFP automation
  • Interface
  • Content governance

Most Important Features

  • Content management system
  • RFP automation
  • Content governance

Return on Investment

  • N/A.
  • N/A.
  • N/A.

Qvidian - it's not just for document management

Pros

  • Organizes reusable content well.
  • Allows for search, autosearch and autofill abilities when responding to RFPS.
  • Document automation is very valuable to get a shell document together that will require some edits before being delivered.
  • Keeps your documents consistent.

Cons

  • The functionality with Excel needs some improvement when using some of the advanced search and fill tools.
  • Ability to search within an RFP you are working on.
  • Word count of your responses.

Return on Investment

  • Creating an automated reactive proposal can be done in minutes vs a day or more; at least a baseline to work from.
  • I lost a document the other day that i was working on externally from Qvidian; I learned a lesson and put it into Qvidian and was able to recapture my lost responses in 4 hours vs 8.

Other Software Used

Microsoft Office 365, Prezi, Camtasia

Usability

Say goodbye to troublesome RFPs

Pros

  • Ease of use
  • Increased productivity in creating RFPs
  • Centralized system to find and utilize stored data

Cons

  • Slow integration between Microsoft Word and Qvidian RFP & Proposal Automation
  • System sometimes lags
  • Overall layout could have better flow

Most Important Features

  • Ease of use
  • Centralized system
  • Data and response storage

Return on Investment

  • Incredible time savings
  • Quicker selling process
  • More official RFPs

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365)

Other Software Used

Avaya Cloud Office, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop), MoneyGuidePro

Qvidian Enables Sales Success!

Pros

  • Search Capabilities: Qvidian's search interface is one of its biggest sellers with our Proposal Writers. If you've ever done a web search, you know how to search for content in Qvidian's Library. You can Browse, Search, or be as specific as you need with an Advanced Search. Boolean logic is built right in so there is no need to understand coding. New functionality also allows you to save your favorite searches so you don't have to reapply the same filters in the future.
  • Content Maintenance: Qvidian has incorporated content maintenance into every aspect of the interface. Edits can be made directly to a folder's content or while searching for an answer when you are working on a project. Content is editable wherever it may be encountered. Also, best new CM feature: Jobs. You are now able to create bundles of content from various folder locations within the Library and generate a Job; a link that is sent to Subject Matter Experts, regardless of whether or not they have a license. You can control what they are able to edit and you can monitor the Job status. Finally, you can review the SME edits and tailor them before accepting them back into the Library.
  • 100% Hosted Customer Environment: This gives our team the ability to be results-oriented in our structure. No one is tied to an office in order to execute a project. The team can work wherever there is a secure internet connection. This not only facilitates better uptime, upkeep, and the most efficient upgrade release rollouts, it also facilitates a better work-life balance.

Cons

  • Tablet-friendly interface: While most significant projects are executed on either a desktop or laptop computer due to the multiple applications that may be in use and the processing power needed, I can foresee an option for a tablet-friendly interface to be utilized in simpler browsing and/or retrieval of minor standard information. I have already seen this need met within Qvidian's Sales Playbooks offering.
  • Real-time collaboration. While one can build and draft projects within Qvidian, the writer/project manager is still adding and tracking all contributions. Further, the strongest collaboration functionality is met by procuring licenses for every contributor.

Return on Investment

  • Our ability to generate a draft went from days to hours. Hence, our ability to enable a growing Sales Team was supported.
  • Upon implementation, our RFP win rate more than doubled from 15% to over 30%, peaking at times above 50%.
  • We are now able to effectively scale according to the company's growth and go-to-market vision.

We love Qvidian at Tyler

Pros

  • Using Qvidian as an RFP tool has made a difference in our RFP process, turn-around time, and content development. It's helped us streamline our RFP process so that we are able to produce the majority of the document before the kick-off meeting, which means we have more time to customize and refine the document before it goes to print.
  • Additionally, it took several hours before to gather all of the basic data we needed for an RFP, but now we can have the majority of the response ready in under 15 minutes in most cases. We are also able to start projects from our phones (iPhone thru Safari) or on an iPad. This has been extremely helpful while traveling.
  • Finally, our content is centrally located on a searchable database. Previously we had used several free tools to aid in content storage that would allow us access easily via search. It never seemed to do what we wanted, and when we did find something, we weren't sure if it was the most current or usable. The library functions in Qvidian have been a huge help, and has changes the way we collect data, and retrieve it.

Cons

  • The library works great, but the process of moving files from one folder to another is extremely tedious. From what I've heard, there used to be a drag and drop feature in the library. I would like to see thy come back.
  • It would be nice to see the final word doc displayed in the project, without having to drill down into it to retrieve it.
  • The reports are great to have, but I would like to see a customer driven reporting tool.

Return on Investment

  • Our experience has been largely positive. It's allowed our RFP team to quickly and efficiently produce very professional documents. This has lead to more time being able to speak to the clients needs specifically. We've received lots of positive feedback from clients saying that the RFP looked tailored to them, and not just some content dumped in a binder. That was our goal.