Turning RFPs into a Competitive Edge

How AI-Powered RFP Automation Transforms a Chore into a Competitive Advantage

If you’ve ever responded to a Request for Proposal (RFP), you know how daunting and time-consuming the process can be. The traditional method requires carefully reading every single question, manually crafting responses, and chasing down subject matter experts (SMEs) for input. Information often comes from multiple disconnected sources, making the process even more tedious.

This is exactly why so many LinkedIn sales “influencers” will tell you to avoid answering RFPs altogether. But here’s the truth: strategic sales leaders know that if they could respond to every RFP, they would. Why? Because an RFP submission forces the buyer to at least evaluate your solution — and gives you the chance to influence their buying cycle, even if you don’t win that specific deal.

Why I Joined Iris: Turning RFPs Into Opportunity

That’s why I was so excited to join Iris, an AI-powered RFP automation platform. It allowed me, as an Account Executive, to easily field RFPs that I would have ignored in the past.

My background spans industries like healthcare, CCaaS, and tech startups, and across all of them there’s been one constant: RFPs. When I received my first RFP after joining Iris, the difference was night and day.

I was meeting with a prospect who told me that their search for an RFP automation solution would — ironically — involve issuing their own RFP. They said: “Attached you will find our RFP. Please complete it and return it at your earliest convenience.”

Here’s the kicker: they wanted it back within a month. Using Iris, I delivered it in an hour. They closed the RFP process the next week.

This was my first real experience with dogfooding Iris, and it showed me how powerful AI proposal automation really is.

Step One: Drag, Drop, Automate

The process started simply. I dragged and dropped the RFP into Iris.

It didn’t matter that we had never seen these specific questions before. Because Iris had our knowledge map set up with the right material, it generated high-quality, highly specific responses instantly.

What sets Iris apart is that it doesn’t just churn out generic boilerplate answers. It tailors responses based on the audience and who will be reading them.

AI That Understands Context and Audience

I provided Iris with context: “This is an RFP from one of the largest property management companies in North America. They are looking for a software solution that helps them respond to RFPs they receive from communities.”

Then, I gave Iris custom instructions:
“You are an expert writer with deep knowledge of the property management industry. Keep responses concise — just a few sentences — but ensure they highlight how Iris can expertly achieve the client’s goals.”

Within minutes, Iris drafted responses for each question. I quickly assigned approvers for final review, and before the end of the day the completed RFP was back in the prospect’s inbox.

What If I Didn’t Have Iris?

Without Iris, I likely wouldn’t have responded to the RFP at all. If I did, my answers would have looked like the same recycled text I had used in 20 previous RFPs — stale, repetitive, and uninspired.

That’s the danger of relying on outdated Q&A banks: your proposals never improve, and they rarely stand out.

Iris flips that script. By automating the repetitive legwork — extracting questions, generating tailored responses, surfacing source material, and assigning tasks — it frees sales teams and SMEs to focus on what really matters: delivering client-focused, persuasive proposals.

From Chore to Competitive Advantage

For many companies, RFPs have long been seen as a chore. But with the right technology, they become a competitive edge.

Iris transforms the RFP process by:

• Automating time-consuming manual tasks
• Delivering context-aware, tailored responses
• Empowering SMEs and sales teams to be more autonomous
• Ensuring accuracy, compliance, and personalization
• Accelerating turnaround times — without sacrificing quality

In today’s competitive sales environment, where buyers expect speed, accuracy, and personalization, relying on AI-driven RFP automation is no longer optional. It’s the difference between keeping pace with your competitors — or falling behind.

Final Thoughts

What once felt like an impossible, frustrating process is now an opportunity to impress buyers and win business. Iris turns RFPs into a competitive advantage by combining AI automation, knowledge management, and collaboration.

So the next time you’re staring at a long, complex RFP, remember: with Iris, you don’t just respond faster — you respond smarter.

🚀 Learn how Iris can transform your RFP process at heyiris.ai.

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