Services and software

Proposals for a service compared on what they actually include.

Goods can be weighed and counted; services and software are priced on models that differ in nature. One vendor charges per seat, another per project, a third on a retainer. The question for a buyer is whether proposals for the same need can be restated so the real differences in scope, term and exit are visible.

Scope mappingPricing modelsTerm and exitAssumptions
The decision question

Are these proposals offering the same thing, and what does leaving cost?

You send the proposals and a statement of what you need. We list the deliverables each vendor commits to, what is optional, what depends on you, and which pricing model each uses. The result is a comparison of scope and commercial terms: what is included, what is billed separately, what ties you in, and what each proposal is silent on. Where a vendor states a figure, it is shown as the vendor wrote it, with the unit and period beside it.

This is a comparison of proposals as written. We do not assess whether software works, test it or review a contract, and we do not build or implement anything; that is a separate LATYNEX service.

How the comparison treats common proposal elements

How the comparison treats common proposal elements

Scope of work or licence

What we pull out: Named deliverables, user or usage limits, environments covered. What may go unstated: What counts as a change request, and who decides.

Pricing model

What we pull out: Fixed, time-based, per unit of use or subscription, shown as stated. What may go unstated: How the price moves when your use grows or shrinks.

Term and renewal

What we pull out: Initial term, renewal mechanism, notice stated. What may go unstated: Whether prices can change at renewal.

Your obligations

What we pull out: Access, data, people and decisions the vendor expects from you. What may go unstated: The effect on the vendor's commitments if these arrive late.

Exit and data

What we pull out: What the proposal says about returning or removing your material. What may go unstated: Format and cost of getting data out.

Support and service levels

What we pull out: Stated channels, hours and targets, where given. What may go unstated: The remedy if a stated target is missed.

Wording on liability, data protection and indemnity is listed as present or absent only. Reading it for legal effect is for a lawyer.

Three buyers, three different comparisons

Three buyers, three different comparisons

A small business choosing a subscription tool

The vendors price per user in different tiers. We rebuild each at your actual team size and feature list and show what each tier leaves out.

A company hiring an agency for a defined project

Proposals vary in how finely the work is broken down. We map each to a common list of deliverables and mark the ones an agency has folded into a general line.

A buyer renewing an existing service and testing the market

The incumbent's terms are the baseline. We show where new proposals differ from what you already have, including items you receive today that are not in a new quote.

The service

RFQ and Supplier Comparison

Who it is for
Buyers collecting quotes who need a clean request and a like-for-like comparison of the answers
The problem it solves
Quotes arrive in different formats, units and terms and cannot be compared; the request itself leaves gaps
What we need from you
  • specification and quantities
  • suppliers or shortlist
  • quotes received, if any
  • comparison criteria and weighting
How it works
  • requirements agreed
  • RFQ drafted
  • quotes normalised and compared
  • comparison and summary delivered
What you receive
An RFQ document and a comparison matrix: quotes normalised to a stated basis, gaps and missing terms flagged, a weighted comparison and a recommendation summary with its assumptions
Included
  • RFQ drafted from your specification
  • quote collection framework
  • normalisation and like-for-like comparison
  • gaps and missing terms flagged
  • recommendation summary with assumptions
Not included
  • negotiating or placing orders
  • regulated public tendering or bid submission
  • freight quotes or landed-cost calculation
  • legal contract review
  • guaranteeing a supplier's performance
Timing
Confirmed when your request is accepted.
What LATYNEX does
  • agree requirements
  • draft the RFQ
  • normalise and compare quotes
  • write up the summary
Price
Confirmed when your request is accepted.
Good to know

What this is, and isn't

Research reports what can be established from public and provided sources. It is not a guarantee about a counterparty's future conduct and not legal advice.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do you recommend a vendor?+

Where you ask for it, the summary sets out which proposal ranks highest on the criteria you gave, stated with its assumptions. The choice and any negotiation remain yours.

Is this the same as comparing physical products?+

The method is similar; the dimensions differ. There is no sample to handle, so the weight falls on scope, term and what happens at exit.

Request

Tell us what you need.

No obligation. We read your request and reply with a straight answer.

Research

Know the counterparty before you commit.

Tell us what you need to find out and by when. We confirm scope before any work starts.

Request research