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FAST ACCURATE

SOFTWARE RFI/RFP REQUIREMENT SPECIFICATION

Save weeks of time and effort

Reduce the risk of missing out vital requirements

Accounting Software Checklist

CRM Software Checklist

Payroll Software Checklist

HR Software Checklist

Click the links above for details

Software Selection Guide

An Insider’s Guide, with Practical Advice, Hints and Tips for selecting new Accounting, CRM, HR, Payroll software.

Click here or the link above for more details

RFP / RFI evaluation - using points scoring and evaluation matrix

RFP / RFI responses may be evaluated using points scoring criteria and scorecards. Results can then be compared within a software evaluation matrix. From which, the optimum Accounting, CRM, Payroll, HR software or vendors can be selected or shortlisted.

Note: In many cases, RFI’s are created from outline requirements and issued prior to preparing all the detailed system software requirements. If you have yet to complete your software system requirements, take a look at the RFI/RFP Requirements Checklists for Accounting, CRM, or Payroll / HR systems. They contain extensive functionality, operations and technology criteria that can save time preparing requirements / RFI’s / RFP’s.

Software is best evaluated as a team effort, following an agreed process and framework such as below. Undertake the following actions to review, analyse and score the responses and then compare in a matrix.

On receiving the RFP / RFI responses

  • Date and time stamp the receipt of responses.
  • Acknowledge each receipt.
  • Have the responses been received on time? If not will you accept late responses?
  • Have you received all the responses you expected? Will you chase up the outstanding responses or will you ignore those vendors who have not responded?
  • How complete is each response? Have you received everything you requested from each vendor?

Reviewing and analysing the RFP / RFI responses

  • Analyse each RFP / RFI response using a ‘score card’.
  • Review each requirement listed in your RFP / RFI and check the answer(s) provided by the vendor. Use a simple ‘Yes or No’ marking, or a combined weighting and scoring method to indicate to what degree your outline requirements are met by the vendor  / software eg as the sample below.
  • NB: Vendors will tell you what their software can do and will present their product in the best light. They will not tell you what it cannot do. You have to find this out yourself - so work carefully and record the evidence as you find it.
  • Repeat the process, using a new scorecard for each software / vendor.

RFP / RFI SCORECARD

Reviewer: RJ

Date: 6/3/08

Vendor: A

Software: AA

Evaluation Criteria

Weighting

Evaluation Score

Points

Notes

General ledger

3 x

3

9

good GL

Accounts Payable

3 x

3

9

strong AP

Purchase order

3 x

3

9

excellent POP

Accounts Receivable

3 x

3

9

strong AR

Sales order

3 x

2

6

 

Invoicing

3 x

2

6

 

Job costing

3 x

0

0

no job costing

Fixed assets

2 x

1

2

limited FA

Payroll

3 x

3

9

good payroll

Employee Expenses

3 x

2

6

 

HR

3 x

2

6

 

Recruitment

3 x

2

6

 

Time and attendance

3 x

2

6

 

Absence management

3 x

2

6

 

Talent management

3 x

2

6

 

Training

3 x

2

6

 

Health and safety

2 x

0

0

no h&s

ESS / MSS

3 x

3

9

good

Workflow

3 x

3

9

good

Reporting and analytics

3 x

2

6

 

Operates on existing network

3 x

2

6

 

Uses existing database

3 x

2

6

 

Uses existing operating system

3 x

2

6

 

TOTAL SCORE

 

48

143

 

MAX SCORE

 

69

207

 

Key

  • Evaluation criteria = your outline requirements
  • Requirement weighting = Essential (3 x), Desirable (2 x), Nice to have (1 x)
  • Evaluation score = based upon reviewing and analysing the RFP / RFI response
  • 0 = does not meet requirements
  • 1 = partially meets requirements
  • 2 = meets requirements
  • 3 = exceeds requirements
  • Points = weighting x evaluation score

Other factors to consider (in addition to the software meeting your outline functional requirements):

  • Keenness and enthusiasm of the vendor to be involved with your organisation.
  • The professionalism exhibited in all aspects by the vendor.
  • Quality standards that the vendor has achieved.
  • The vendor being able to meet your time scales and deadlines, including both the shortlist / selection phase and also the full implementation phase.
  • Whether the vendor has the resources to handle your system implementation, or whether the vendor normally outsources the implementation to another firm.
  • Costs and payment terms offered. Whether these are negotiable.
  • Vendor’s references and current clients, particularly if they are in a similar industry or business sector to your organisation.

Comparison matrix

It may be obvious from the individual scorecard results and additional factors, which software vendors / packages should be short listed. However, if it is not quite so clear, consider preparing a comparison matrix of the results of each of the scorecards above. For example:

   

Vendor A

Vendor A

Vendor B

Vendor B

Vendor C

Vendor C

Criteria

Weight

Score

Points

Score

Points

Score

Points

GL

3 x

3

9

3

9

3

9

AP

3 x

3

9

2

6

3

9

POP

3 x

3

9

2

6

2

6

AR

3 x

3

9

2

6

2

6

SOP

3 x

2

6

2

6

2

6

Invoicing

3 x

2

6

2

6

2

6

Job costing

3 x

0

0

2

6

1

3

FA

2 x

1

2

2

4

2

4

Payroll

3 x

3

9

2

6

2

6

Expenses

3 x

2

6

2

6

0

0

HR

3 x

2

6

2

6

2

6

Recruit

3 x

2

6

2

6

2

6

T & A

3 x

2

6

2

6

2

6

Absence

3 x

2

6

2

6

2

6

Talent

3 x

2

6

2

6

2

6

Training

3 x

2

6

3

9

1

3

H&S

2 x

0

0

3

6

1

2

ESS/MSS

3 x

3

9

2

6

1

3

Workflow

3 x

3

9

2

6

1

3

Reporting

3 x

2

6

2

6

1

3

Existing network

3 x

2

6

2

6

2

6

Existing database

3 x

2

6

2

6

2

6

Existing op. system

3 x

2

6

2

6

2

6

TOTAL

 

48

143

49

142

40

117

Max Score

 

69

207

69

207

69

207

In this example, vendors A and B should be shortlisted and vendor C excluded from further investigation.

The comparison matrix (produced on a spreadsheet or as a word document) forms key evidence as to which software and vendors should be short-listed and investigated further. Don’t just choose based on the lowest price! Consider all the factors before making a decision.

Keep the scorecards and comparison matrix and use them as the basis for more detailed evaluation criteria eg when attending the software demonstrations.

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