The preliminary inquiry used by a client to explore the market.
The RFI marks the beginning of a procurement process. The client does not yet know exactly what solutions the market has to offer and therefore begins by gathering information: which providers exist, which approaches are possible, and what scale is realistic. Unlike the RFP, the focus is not yet on a binding proposal or a concrete price, but on gaining orientation. On the basis of the RFI responses, the client narrows down the pool of providers and subsequently invites selected candidates to participate in the RFP.
The RFI is often underestimated because no contract is yet on the table. That is precisely the mistake. This is where it is decided who gets invited to the RFP at all. Those who respond to the RFI precisely, professionally, and promptly make the shortlist. Those who respond briefly or generically are out before things have even properly begun. The effort involved is similar to that of an RFP: many questions, dispersed knowledge, and little time. And since RFI questions overlap significantly with later RFP questions, there is a double incentive not to gather the answers from scratch each time.
With Tendry, you answer even the RFI from verified knowledge that you can then use directly for the RFP. This gives you a better chance of making the shortlist and means you never have to answer the same questions twice.
Win Deals. Deliver Trust.