What is the request for information?
Request for information or RFI is a common business strategy that is designed to allow potential clients to collect data on services and support offered by different potential providers. The exact format of the document will vary based on the type and depth of the information that the client wants to get. A request for information is often a direct document about the question and answer that requires very simple answers, which allows the client to send more suppliers to the client and easily compare the answers.
While the request for information shares some features for a proposal or RFP, customers tend to use RFI as a means of collecting basic data in preparation for decision -making, which sellers will be selected to receive an invitation to submit a formal proposal. Typical RFI does not provide too much on the background of the client and tends to focus more on general business practices, scope of goods and services Availle from the supplier and sometimes standard publishedprices. On the other hand, RFP usually exceeds this basic information, provides additional information about the client, requires prices based on the use of volume and prompts the supplier to respond to the specific needs of the client.
From this point of view, the request for information can be considered as a means of gathering information that is then evaluated and used to determine the next step in the process. If the idea is to find a seller for the establishment of a long -term contractual agreement, the client can send RFI to more companies offering the required basic products. Once all answers are received, the client then compares the benefits of each answer and eventually evaluates the list of RFP candidates for several selected. At that moment, sellers who have successfully passed this preliminary phase are asked to present the design, usually using a request and a specified format delivered by a potential client.
Request for iNormations can also be used as a basic business process to evaluate potential suppliers, where there is no long -term contractual agreement practical. In this RFI scenario, the purpose of identifying retailers who offer the most competitive standard prices for goods and services that the client may need from time to time. For example, the local company can send RFi to all local office stores as a means to find out which of them has the lowest price for general office supplies that offer volume discounts if the order exceeds a certain amount and brings orders with or free delivery. The data is kept in the file, allowing small businesses to make decisions on where to buy office supplies when needed.