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Proposal software
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<h2 id="main-features">Main features</h2> <p>The core features of proposal management software vary widely between systems. Many simpler programs have only basic features, while others, especially enterprise systems, are more complex and powerful. Proposal management software is a set of automated processes that may support the following features.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>Allow for a large number of people to share and contribute to both stored proposal templates and data;</li> <li>Control access to proposals based on defined user roles (i.e., define information that users or user groups can view, edit, publish, etc.);</li> <li>Provides multi-tier approval;</li> <li>Facilitates storage and retrieval of proposals;</li> <li>Control over <a href="/facts/Data_validation/tFCchJTM">data validity</a>;</li> <li>Simplify proposal writing;</li> <li>Improve communication and collaboration among users;</li> <li>Management of specific sections of a document;</li> <li>Increased content and brand compliance;</li> <li>Decrease in time to final assembly;</li> <li>Track the time spent by various contributors, enabling management to calculate ROI of each document.</li></ul> <h2 id="data-types-and-usage">Data types and usage</h2> <p>Proposal software is frequently used for storing, controlling, revising, <a href="/facts/Semantic_publishing/cML1yAN0">semantically enriching</a>, and publishing documentation. Serving as a central repository, the proposal software increases the version level of new updates to an already existing file. </p><p>A standard requirement for salespeople is to have a standard proposal that you can modify to meet the specific requirements of your customer or prospect. Simple cutting and pasting of boilerplate materials can make it easy to create good proposals.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p><p>The software enables users to assemble individual components into a document structure. Some solutions offer users a 'shopping cart' experience, where salespeople are able to select which content components to include in the final document. These components are then reused (rather than copied and pasted) within a document or across multiple documents. Data tags and smart content sections allow for automatic tailoring by client name, region, or product selection. This ensures that content is consistent across the entire document set. </p> <h2 id="web-based">Web-based</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Software_as_a_service/LPyPQ5b7">Software as a service</a> (SaaS) or web-based proposal management software require content to be imported into the system. However, once content is imported, the software acts like a search engine so users can find what they are looking for faster. The HTML format allows for better application of search capabilities such as full-text searching and <a href="/facts/Stemming/lqtKp4X7">stemming</a>. </p> <h3>Enterprise system</h3> <p><a href="/facts/Enterprise_software/RGa1b0bC">Enterprise software</a> tend to offer more customized solutions intended to improve the enterprise's productivity and sales efficiency by providing advanced functionality, robust business logic, and support functionality. </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Jonathan London; Martin Lucas (15 March 2013). Using Technology to Sell: Tactics to Ratchet Up Results. Apress. ISBN 978-1-4302-3934-5. <a href="978-1-4302-3934-5" target="_blank">978-1-4302-3934-5</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Canton, Michael. "Testing Out Proposal Automation Suites." EWEEK, 24 April 2006. Web. 16 August 2012. . <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Brusaw, Charles (1976). The business writer's handbook. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9780312109905. <a href="9780312109905" target="_blank">9780312109905</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Sant, Tom (1992). Persuasive business proposals : writing to win customers, clients, and contracts. New York: AMACOM. p. 132-173. ISBN 978-0-8144-5100-7. <a href="978-0-8144-5100-7" target="_blank">978-0-8144-5100-7</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Jean Wilson Murray (2008). The Complete Guide to Writing Effective and Award Winning Business Proposals: Step-by-step Instructions. Atlantic Publishing Company. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-60138-234-4. <a href="978-1-60138-234-4" target="_blank">978-1-60138-234-4</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Andersen, Kurt. "Why Sales Enablement Matters – CRM Magazine." CRM Magazine. N.p., 30 April 2012. Web. 4 March 2013. <a href="http://www.destinationcrm.com/Articles/Web-Exclusives/Viewpoints/Why-Sales-Enablement-Matters-82142.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.destinationcrm.com/Articles/Web-Exclusives/Viewpoints/Why-Sales-Enablement-Matters-82142.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Santucci, Scott. "What Is "Sales Enablement" And How Did Forrester Go About Defining It?" Forrester.com, 14 August 2010. Web. 1 March 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170705014454/http://blogs.forrester.com/scott_santucci/10-08-14-what_%E2%80%9Csales_enablement%E2%80%9D_and_how_did_forrester_go_about_defining_it" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20170705014454/http://blogs.forrester.com/scott_santucci/10-08-14-what_%E2%80%9Csales_enablement%E2%80%9D_and_how_did_forrester_go_about_defining_it</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Sant, Tom (1992). Persuasive business proposals : writing to win customers, clients, and contracts. New York: AMACOM. p. 132-173. ISBN 978-0-8144-5100-7. <a href="978-0-8144-5100-7" target="_blank">978-0-8144-5100-7</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Jonathan London; Martin Lucas (15 March 2013). Using Technology to Sell: Tactics to Ratchet Up Results. Apress. ISBN 978-1-4302-3934-5. <a href="978-1-4302-3934-5" target="_blank">978-1-4302-3934-5</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>