The newly launched Certified RFI Express Service offers prospective enterprise software buyers access to pre-filled request for information documents (RFI), significantly reducing the time, costs and risks associated with software selection.
It is estimated that it can cost both buyer and sellers thousands of rands to get a detailed list of their solutions` functional capabilities by current means, with no guarantee of an ROI.
In response, EOH Technology Consulting, a certified professional services provider of Technology Evaluation Centres (TEC) - the first Web-native technology research enterprise software evaluation firm - has announced the local availability of an industry-standard RFP set for specific software vendors` solutions.
Launched as a means to speed the process by which buyers review and decide on enterprise software solutions, TEC`s Certified RFI Express Service provides an opportunity for software vendors to offer prospective buyers a detailed list of their solutions` functional capabilities.
These are certified by a TEC analyst and are delivered in an industry standard, RFI format. Users now have access to immediate functionality information in industry standard terminology, at no charge (http://rfi-demo.technologyevaluation.com), or for a nominal charge (http://rfp-templates.technologyevaluation.com).
Keith Fairhurst, Director, EOH Technology Consulting, says this service will significantly reduce the time, costs and risks while providing certified detailed information to the prospective buyer organisation.
"Software providers are better able to manage the amount of information available to prospective buyers and can provide additional documents to configure an RFI based on specific high-end buyer responses to survey questions. The advantage to end-user decision-makers is that they receive more information, immediately," explains Fairhurst.
"When a prospective buyer visits the Web site of most software vendors the majority of information dispensed is akin to a brochure-on-screen. The RFI Express Service offers substantive functionality information instantly. As such, the benefit to the vendor is the ability to qualify prospects in an efficient, easy to use fashion."
Overall, the objectives of the RFI Express Service are:
1. To reduce the cost of completing buyer RFPs.
2. To speed the sales process by providing the information required to evaluate your solution.
3. To qualify serious buyers from casual browsers.
4. To build trust by providing reliable industry standard information.
5. To influence the evaluation by providing an evaluation framework in a usable format.
At a fraction of the cost of traditional telemarketing campaigns, where messages are often lost to voicemail systems, and more reliable than soliciting replies to blind RFIs, the RFI Express Service creates value and buyer preference/good will by sponsoring immediate access to a configurable product RFI certified.
"Buyers receive a document that communicates a provider`s unique value proposition, along with an easy-to-use RFI spreadsheet that describes thousands of product capabilities using clear, industry-standard terminology. Vendors receive immediate notification that a buyer wants to learn more about their solution," says Fairhurst.
EOH Technology Consulting, through TEC, is truly a one-stop source for trusted technology evaluation services designed to help IT decision-makers reduce the risks, costs and time associated with enterprise software acquisitions.
EOH will be a platinum sponsor at this year`s Gartner Symposium/ITxpo. Taking place at Cape Town Convention Centre from 31 July - 2 August, EOH will showcase seven of its 28 business units and says it will be using the symposium as a platform to create continued awareness of its goal to become the number one business and technology solutions provider in Africa.
For more information, contact EOH Technology Consulting on (011) 607 8100 or visit www.eoh.co.za.
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EOH is a business and technology solutions provider creating lifelong partnerships by developing business and IT strategies, supplying and implementing solutions and managing enterprise-wide business systems and processes for medium to large clients.
EOH operates in the following three clusters of business units as a fully integrated business:
Consulting - Concentrated under the EOH KPMG Consulting brand are business units offering services ranging from strategic and business process consulting, project services, change management, supply chain optimisation and education.
Technology - Through a number of subsidiary companies, EOH is able to sell, implement and support a range of world-class business applications including ERP, CRM, business intelligence, advanced planning and scheduling, e-commerce and manufacturing execution systems (MES).
Outsourcing - EOH offers comprehensive maintenance and support of client`s IT infrastructure and applications through the rendering of full IT outsourcing, application hosting and managed services. In addition, EOH offers full business process outsourcing (BPO) services.
EOH has a presence in all major centres in South Africa and Botswana, and operates in the rest of Africa.
Technology Evaluation Centres
Technology Evaluation Centres (TEC) (http://www.TechnologyEvaluation.Com/press) is a leading online source for impartial technology and consulting evaluations. TEC has been aiding software selection since 1993 to reduce the cost, risk and time associated with software selection. It has 24 online technology evaluation centres, ranging from ERP, CRM and SCM, to business intelligence, that contain thousands of detailed criteria on over 500 technology solutions. TEC receives over 1.7 million visitors per month to its sites, and millions of page views per month are generated by a global audience of senior c-level and VP executives, technology and functional managers, consultants and IT professionals.
For more information, see the company`s Web site at http://www.TechnologyEvaluation.com/press.
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