Outsourcing RFP Process

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What do you do when you want to use Rentacoder, but you’re stuck with a strict outsourcing RFP process? Employees who want to outsource a few work processes here and there might find themselves stuck in this red-taped predicament. On the one hand, you’ve found this great resource that nearly automates everything there is about IT outsourcing (that resource would be RentACoder, of course).

On the other hand, you’ve got a boss screaming about procedures, protocol, and regulations as though s/he’s were the boss from… well, you know where. What do you do? What can you do?

The Outsourcing RFP Process Defined

First, understand what the outsourcing RFP process really is. Offline, the outsourcing RFP process starts with you sending RFPs to a number of qualified contractors. Then it proceeds with you interviewing, analyzing, narrowing, and sometimes, vetting all over again until you’re at last, finalizing a decision.

Second, understand that the online outsourcing RFP process isn’t that much different from the offline outsourcing RFP process. In some aspects, the only difference between the two is pile of paper. Poor you, your boss likes forms – and lots of them. You’ve got to convince this paper pusher that not only is the online outsourcing RFP process similar to the offline process, it’s better. (Way better.)

The Outsourcing RFP Process… Online

Whatever you do, don’t approach the terminator with a sermon about saving the forests with “green technology.” Your boss has heard it all before and if s/he were that concerned about it, you and your co-workers would be working from home by now.

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Instead, start with a budget comparison sheet that demonstrates savings gained from moving your outsourcing RFP process online. Then introduce the boss to RentACoder (vWorker) as described in our book. That section points to some handouts you can print and put in your business case.

Point out how RentACoder (vWorker) enforces strict guidelines, requires deadlines, provides both mediation and arbitration, plus escrows funds – just like with offline RFP outsourcing. “The Boss” will like that.

The Outsourcing RFP Process: Online vs Offline

Both you and your boss will like the fact that RentACoder (vWorker) makes the online outsourcing RFP process easier and faster (and less costly to say the least). So don’t forget to drop these tempting nuggets into your proposal as well.

• Contractors vetted through RentACoder (vWorker) can respond to your request in minutes – not days through snail mail like with offline vetting.
• Depending on how strict your job’s outsourcing RFP process really is, you might have to spend time ensuring each respondent is aware of what you’re doing with the others. That can be both costly and time consuming if a bunch of people respond to your request. (And it’s a total waste of time and money for some contractors you know you’ll never work with.)

  None of this of course, occurs through RentACoder.

  None of it.

  At all.

• Online, you don’t have to spend time crafting appropriate notices to contractors you didn’t select. RentACoder (vWorker) does that for you — automatically.

If those strategies don’t help move things into the present century, just keep plugging at it. They say it takes seven times for an ad to motivate a paying customer. Maybe it will take as long to convince your boss that the online outsourcing RFP process is better for the company. Let us know how it works out.