Bobsguide.com, the web-based directory for financial software and services founded back in 1995 , says it has added an online matching service free to members for request for proposals (RFP) or requests for information (RFI).
The new RFP/RFI technology feature had been in Beta for one month and went live today, says Bobsguide. It claims that, during the month in Beta testing, over 15 RFIs and RFPs were submitted. The new service aims to allow banks and other financial institutions to submit their requests securely online with total ownership over which consultants or software vendors have permission to receive the request. Once a bank or financial institution’s request is submitted, it is reviewed by Bobsguide.com before the request is distributed to all applicable software vendors or IT consultants.
“I found the RFI/RFP system easy to use and was pleased with the basic details one has for inputting information,” says Bobsguide.com beta user Alfredo Martins, Project Manager NNBD Dubai, UAE .
“Bobsguide’s new RFI feature is a simple and convenient way for banks to submit a general, basic request for information and reach a large audience of vendors they might not otherwise have known about,” adds Geoff Kates, Managing Director of Lepus. “The new RFI feature complements the services offered by consulting firms who specialize in assisting financial institutions with the creation of their RFIs and RFPs”.
“We’ve already been short listed by one company as a result of our enhanced listing on Bobsguide.com,” claims Sue Farmer , CEO of Verdandi. “The new RFI feature provides us an additional means by which we can make our services known to banks and financial institutions.”
Currently Bobsguide.com members consist mainly of banks , IT consultants and software vendors. Around 30% of the members are North American-based and approximately 29% are United Kingdom based and over 33% of the members have direct purchasing role with in their firms.
Members can now choose to make their requests public and submit it to all applicable vendors on Bobsguide.com. Alternatively, they can use Bobsguide.com directory listings of over 3,300 products/services to create a more narrowed and customized list and have the request go only to the vendors they specify. There is no fee for submitting RFPs or RFIs.
“The impetus for the creation of the RFI/RFP functionality stems from the number of phone calls and emails we receive from consultants and banks seeking systems which meet certain requirements,” says Jennifer Goetz, Global Marketing Director of Bobsguide.com. “However we are an independent and unbiased directory, and we cannot recommend specific vendors. The RFI functionality lets financial institutions go directly to the vendors with their unique requirements. We merely provide an efficient and secure means whereby they can do so.”
Established in 1995 by Bob Browning, Bobsguide.com is an online directory for financial software and services. It presently features over 2,100 companies and 3 ,300 products . It was originally set up by Browning to demonstrate software he had developed for his company, Textor Webmasters, and he populated the site with data gleaned from the product information he had accumulated while working for various banks and other financial institutions. As search engines began to find the site , traffic took off. In 1999 Bobsguide.com was established as an independent business.