Electronic RFI / RFP
Building a RFI or RFP from scratch takes valuable time. A Request
For Information (RFI) is a list of questions to ask a software provider
about their company & software. The results of a good RFI is
to get the answers to specific questions that one has about potential
software products. A Request For Proposal (RFP) includes a detailed
list of questions as well. One may utilize our detailed questions
in RFP's, RFQ's, or RFI's that are being sent out to software vendors.
These RFI products can save you significant time!
Our TMS RFI has questions in an easy to manage format - a spreadsheet
in Microsoft Excel. We have created these questions, which are well
thought out and have a pop-up window explaining what is being asked
for in more detail. This maximizes your effort, since one may e-mail
the RFI to vendors. One column is designated for current version
response and the next column is designated for other notes that
the vendor may optionally enter.
Sample Screens from the Advanced TMS RFI

Column A contains a short description and the popup box has a precise
sentence or paragraph that explains in full, concise detail. No
inference and no guesswork on what is meant.
Column C is where the vendors enter their answers. Answers are validated
by use of pull down boxes with a limited set of possible values.
Column D is for future releases and workaround notes that the vendor
is needing to indicate to you.

Notice the pop-up box above - which
further explains precisely the question in more detail - whether
the software package has an Error Analysis Table or not.
The RFI is color coded and validated on the current version column.
When a vendor responds with a negative answer, the background color
is yellow. For a positive answer, the background color is green.
The response that the vendor enters is also validated - whether
it is a number or a yes/no response. With great validation, color
highlighting, and many detailed questions - one may save significant
time and money by using our RFI.
Advanced TMS RFI / RFP
The Advanced TMS RFI / RFP has approximately 900 detailed questions
and Full Question Text printing ability. It includes 900 questions
with pop-up text, validation, and color high-lighting. It is
highly focussed on shipping, manifesting, documentation, tracking,
tendering & auditing freight, and freight optimization. (Please
note that it does -not- contain questions on trucking software,
such as fuel tax nor fleet management.) The Advanced TMS RFI
has detailed questions on:
- Basics: Security, Languages, Support...
- Interfaces to WMS Systems
- Interfaces to ERP Systems
- Interfaces to Call Center
- EDI - XML API
- Customer Setup Issues
- Consignee / Shipto Setup Issues
- Carrier Setup Issues
- Outbound Shipment Planning - Advanced Planning
- LTL Freight Rates & Options
- TL Freight Rates & Options
- Ocean Freight Rates & Options
- Air Cargo Freight Rates & Options
- Parcel Rates & Options
- Airborne Express, DHL, Fedex, UPS, USPO Detailed Rates
& Options
- Freight Quote Entry
- Freight Order Entry
- Freight Order Management
- Carrier Selection
- Tender to Carrier
- Freight Order History
- Load Sequencing - Routing
- Shipment Detail Capture
- Freight Documentation
- Freight Audit
- Freight Billing
- Customer Reporting
- Freight Payment
- International Shipments - International
Trade Logistics (ITL)
- Import / Export Issues
- Import / Export Documentation
- Import / Export Reports
- Container Tracking System
What One Consulting Firm Said
"I have used your RFP
format on two submissions and have received good reviews from
both the clients and the prospective vendors. Thanks!
In the course of developing a WMS specification and RFP for two
clients, I used your Excel based requirements product extensively.
By starting with the existing form, deleting those areas not required,
and modifying fields, responses and instructions we were able
to provide a tailored RFP for each client. We developed a scoring
methodology based on the response, with weighting developed in
conjunction with the client organizations. We then developed a
scoring summary sheet with conditional formatting that showed
how the scores were above or below average, providing graphic
representations of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the
responses. Your
tools saved us a great deal of time and provided a strong framework
for our RFP process. Thank You!"
If you are serious about your transportation & logistics
operations, then get the Advanced TMS RFI.
Highly recommended for large operations, private companies, public
companies, contract, public, 3PL, small & large shipment processing,
parcel, LTL, TL, domestic, and those that have international freight
shipments. We suggest the Advanced TMS RFI. Order
Now!
Brochures - More Information
TMS RFI marketing brochure (PDF) -
For more detail on the Advance TMS RFI.
What People Are Saying About The RFI's
Craig from McHugh says "Very well
done. Easy to work with. Descriptions made life very simple. ....
Excellent Tool! I like the way you ask the questions.".
Lori of Uniteq says that it is "Excellent
... most professional RFI".
When IDII consults with a company and then adds their company specific
requirements to the RFI, we receive high marks of praise. I.E.,
Marc from Tecsys says "I used to develop
RFP's when I was a consultant at Kom International and I have to
say that the RFP work you have done is by far and away the best
in the business."
Both vendors and customers continue to praise the design. Both appreciate
the precise questions and the color coding scheme that quickly points
out what a solution does (green) and does not do (yellow).
Order a RFI
To order a RFI, click here for the Order
Form. Considering the cost of consulting, the RFI costs less
than a single day of a consultant's time. Permission is given
in our license agreement so that one may expand & modify the
RFI to include your company specific requirements. The RFI is an
unlocked spreadsheet, so that one may tailor the RFI, if one requires
doing so.
- For a TMS search - IDII recommends
that you purchase the Advanced
TMS RFI.
- For a WMS search - IDII recommends
that you purchase the Advanced
WMS RFI Bundle, which inlcudes
a WMS Research Report, the Advanced WMS RFI, and the Warehouse
Software Directory. The report will give you an education on
common deficeiences & differences in WMS software today
and also explains the selection process.
About The Author
Philip Obal, is the president of Industrial Data & Information,
Inc. He has been consulting and designing software for over 23 years.
For more details on IDI and the author,
see About Us.
Other Information
RFI's requires a PC with Microsoft's Excel 97 or higher utilizing
a CD-ROM drive.
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