Tendering can be a time-consuming process, adding overhead to your business. However, it’s a key to increase competition and add governance to your process. Moving tendering online can unlock process, time and cost benefits for construction firms.

Increasingly, companies involved in the construction industry – architects, consultants, prime contractors – are using electronic tendering and procurement systems. Traditionally, it has been the larger companies who can afford to invest the software platforms required.

etendering makes the tools more accessible

With the availability of on-demand etendering solutions, the benefits are available without the capital outlay. This means that small and medium-sized construction firms can access the tools for a monthly fee. The benefits for smaller contractors are potentially bigger – in relative terms – than for prime contractors as they are likely to be dealing many more components and dealing with specialists trades.

Reducing tender distribution costs

eTendering dramatically reduces the administrative costs associated with tendering. Printing, copying, postage and envelope stuffing can be eliminated. The tender can be created once and published to many at the push of a button. If there are any revisions or answers to questions during the process, they can be published to the portal with minimal cost and effort.

Reducing tender cycle times

Data from our customer base shows that the average tender cycle time is reduced by 66% by eTendering. Reducing the time taken for documents to be sent to and returned from bidders, for example, can save 2 or more days. Copying documents and creating bid packs and then managing the submissions is timely too.

Streamlining evaluation

By using a data-centric eTendering solution, one of the most time-consuming aspects of the process can be dramatically streamlined. There should be no need for any manual entry of data and information into comparison spreadsheets. A good etendering system should be able to rank bids at the push of a button, displaying the answers in tabular format so the bid panel can review and compare responses easily.

Automated bid admin

The etendering workflow will help ensure the right information is requested. It will also help with the progress of the bid, issuing reminders and automating the repetitive tasks communicating changes or chasing deadlines.