Alternatives to traditional tender alert services
What you get from tender alert services (tender databases), what you get from review software, and when each approach pays off. With our own interest disclosed.
Three types of tools
Tender alert services such as DTAD or the Deutsches Ausschreibungsblatt are research providers with a long history. Their strength is breadth: a great many sources, fine-grained filters, daily notifications, often complemented by personal support. What they do not do is the work after the match. Whether a tender they find suits you is something you check yourself.
E-procurement platforms such as the Deutsches Vergabeportal or subreport are the systems through which contracting authorities actually publish their tenders and through which you submit your bid. You cannot do without them, but they are not a research tool.
Review and decision software is the newest category. It starts after the match: identifying requirements in the documents, matching them against your own company and giving a reasoned recommendation. This is where validait fits in.
When each approach pays off
| Your situation | What fits |
|---|---|
| You want to see more tenders and above all need reach across many portals | An established tender alert service with the broadest possible source coverage. Check specifically whether your region and your trade are included. |
| You see enough tenders and want to decide faster whether bidding is worthwhile | Review software such as validait. Here the leverage lies in the assessment, as finding tenders is already solved. |
| You are new to public procurement and want to master the formal requirements with confidence | Review software, because it shows you which evidence is required and whether you meet it. A service that only delivers matches does not cover this step. |
| You need support writing the bid | Neither. There are specialised tools and consultancy for that. validait ends at the decision on whether you bid. |
| You want to start on a small budget | Start for free and measure where your time actually goes before you book anything. |
What to look for when comparing
- Check source coverage specifically. Do not ask about the total number of portals, ask whether your region and your trade are included. A large number is of no use if your state portal is missing.
- Ask for evidence. If a tool gives a match score as a percentage, can you trace how that figure is arrived at? In the bid meeting, a score only convinces when it comes with reasoning.
- Handling of missing information. What happens if a piece of information is not in the documents? Does it become an exclusion or an open point? Only the open point keeps suitable tenders in play.
- Data protection in writing. Where is the data stored, is it used for training, is there a data processing agreement? Ask to see it rather than just being promised it.
- Contract term. Traditional tender alert services often work with annual contracts. Check whether you can cancel monthly while you do not yet know whether the channel works for you.
What validait does differently
Our source coverage is currently narrower than that of the established services. We say so openly, and we are working on it. Our approach is a different one: for every assessment, you see the source reference and the quote from the tender. Missing information remains an open point for you to clarify. And you can start for free and cancel monthly instead of committing for a year.
Try it yourself instead of reading comparisons
Take a tender where you were unsure whether bidding was worthwhile and let validait review it. Three analyses per week cost nothing.
Try for free