1. Telecom Expense Management
RFI Exchange Portal
By Peter van der Veldt
Founder of the largest TEM group on LinkedIN
TEM LinkedIn RFI exchange platform Copyright 2012 International Business Partners BV 15-3-2012
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2. Introduction
The TEM group on LinkedIn in numbers:
TEM LinkedIn RFI exchange platform Copyright 2012 International Business Partners BV 15-3-2012
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3. The challenge
Both customers and suppliers are in the same group
Buyers that post a question and are looking for a
vendor i.e. who can support TEM in China? get
swamped with responses ;-((
This stops them from using the LinkedIn forum to find a
supplier.
TEM LinkedIn RFI exchange platform Copyright 2012 International Business Partners BV 15-3-2012
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4. The solution – part 1
Link a RFI portal to the TEM Group on LinkedIn.
In the portal the “prospect” registers with their contact and
companies details and underline the code of conduct.
The prospect can leave his requirements in a structured way on
the portal (filling it via a template accessible via the portal).
Via the linkedIn TEM Group a notification is sent with a direct link
to the RFI to all members
The RFI’s are accessible to those vendors in the LinkedIn group
that have registered onto the portal and respond to the notification.
But without getting access to the prospects contact details at this
stage!
TEM LinkedIn RFI exchange platform Copyright 2012 International Business Partners BV 15-3-2012
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5. The solution – part 2
Those vendors that are interested respond in a
structured way) based on the template of the
prospect/portal.
All replies are relayed to the prospect including the
contact details of the vendor (see options) and the
prospect can chose the method to contact them to
follow up.
TEM LinkedIn RFI exchange platform Copyright 2012 International Business Partners BV 15-3-2012
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6. Process
1x 1x
Prospect Vendor
Registration 1 Contact Contact 1 Registration
details details
Vendor
Prospect Contact
Contact details
details 2 Get RFI template Inform Vendors
4 Vendor
about new RFI Contact
Portal details Vendor
File RFI 3 TEM Contact
details
RFI Collect RFI 5
7 Relay all replies Exchange
6 Send in Replies
Select Vendors 8 RFI
Template Selected vendors
get contact details 9a
Sent selected Vendor(s) prospect
9b contact details
Member of
Members of
TEM Group
TEM Group
Step 10: Engage Step 10: Engage
TEM LinkedIn RFI exchange platform Copyright 2012 International Business Partners BV 15-3-2012
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7. The Benefits
The prospects can share their requirements without
getting unwanted acquisition attempts.
No one is being favoured.
The prospect can select those companies he wants to
invited for further discussion.
It will accelerate the TEM market.
Lower the costs of acquisition.
TEM LinkedIn RFI exchange platform Copyright 2012 International Business Partners BV 15-3-2012
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8. Options
Alternatively vendor(s) can reply anonymous
This makes the selection less biased
Prospect is free to ignore anonymous responses
After step 7 we can also chose to let the prospect
contact the vendors (we get out of the loop)
Or selected vendors contact details are sent to
prospect (9b) and (9a) is skipped and we get out of the
loop.
TEM LinkedIn RFI exchange platform Copyright 2012 International Business Partners BV 15-3-2012
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9. Next Step
Ideally a trusted neutral body should fund the portal
and rule its governance.
If an industy organisation would fund the portal their
members would have free access.
None members (vendors) would have to pay an
registration fee plus an annual contribution.
This may stimulate membership.
Prospects are free to register.
TEM LinkedIn RFI exchange platform Copyright 2012 International Business Partners BV 15-3-2012
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