Are you falling behind AI generated bids?
If you're only using AI as a typing assistant, you are level with most of your competitors. But the game is evolving, with AI-workflows for bid preparation setting the winning standard.
There is an AI arms race in tendering
Right now, bidders are in a state of quiet but fierce competition. Everyone is using AI, but most are stuck in the past, using it for simple tasks and wrongly concluding it's not a game-changer. This is a dangerous misconception. While you're experimenting, your most aggressive competitors are deploying a new, sophisticated approach that you need to understand and counter.
The five levels of AI workflows in bidding
Typing assistant
Draft generation
Evaluation agent
R&D & strategy
AI experts
| Level and focus | Description |
|---|---|
| Level 1: The typing assistant | Basic use of tools like ChatGPT to generate small, specific sections of a bid. Everyone is doing this. |
| Level 2: Draft generation | Uploading tender docs to an AI to generate entire sections. Many try this, are disappointed in the results, and stop, creating a false sense of security in their current approach. |
| Level 3: Evaluation agent | Using AI to evaluate a bid from the client's perspective. A growing number of bidders are experimenting here. |
| Level 4: R&D and strategy | The new best practice. A human-AI workflow for deep research, competitive analysis, and creating a bidding strategy, to be executed by the bid preparation team, also using Levels 1 to 3. |
| Level 5: AI experts | The distinguisher. Using AI in conjunction with experts to generate unique and grounded artefacts (accurate designs and plans) and identifying novel financing opportunities. Creating a clearly distinguished bid from those only using levels 1 to 4. |
The trap of "good enough" vs. the power of an expert AI workflow
The critical mistake is stopping at Level 2 or 3. The real advantage comes from a dynamic, iterative process where AI acts as a strategic co-pilot in conjunction with your experts, not just a content generator.
This "expert-human-in-the-loop" workflow allows bid planners to be more aggressive, strategic, and innovative, turning research into a winning strategy.
The human-AI workflow
Human defines query
Strategist sets the objective and provides initial context.
AI researches & generates
AI conducts deep research and produces initial insights and drafts.
Human analyzes & refines
Strategist reviews, critiques, and provides targeted feedback.
AI develops winning strategy
AI incorporates feedback to create a distinguished, data-driven plan with insights, to be incorporated into the tender.
Specialized AI agents
Highly specialized AI agents generate accurate plans and designs according to the tender requirements.
Your new reality: benchmark or be beaten
"Even if you choose not to prepare a bid at Level 4 or 5, you must ask yourself: How will our tender compare to one that is?"
A competitor is almost certainly applying this advanced approach. Use a Level 4 or 5 simulation to create an internal benchmark. If your proposal doesn't measure up, it's time to reconsider your strategy.
A crucial warning for incumbents
If you are the incumbent, you are the primary target. Your competitors will use Level 4 and 5 AI to analyze your past performance, identify weaknesses, and innovate beyond your current offerings, all while potentially underbidding you on cost. Your incumbency is no longer a guaranteed advantage. It is a data set for your competitors' AI to exploit.
Will you lead or will you follow?
The question is no longer if AI will be used, but at what level of sophistication. While your competitors build bids with AI co-pilots, are you still using a mere typewriter? The time to act is now.
Would you like to find out more? Contact us, or check out some of our case studies.