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Sample RFP Template:eCommerce PlatformBridgeline Whitepaper Series Copyright 2014 Bridgeline Digital Inc. Bridgeline.com 1-800-603-9936

the digital engagement companyIntroduction: How to Use theeCommerce Platform RFP TemplateOrganizations often issue a Request For Proposal (RFP) to begin a search for a newweb eCommerce platform to power their new enterprise-grade web store. But beforewe dive into what good looks like in terms of RFPs, let’s quickly provide an overview tothe selection process – what an eCommerce platform is, what questions to ask potentialvendors, whether a RFP is even necessary in your search, and how to structure thedocument to meet your needs.What is an Enterprise-Grade Web Enterprise-Grade eCommerce Platform?In its most simplistic purpose, a top-tier, enterprise-grade eCommerce platform isn’t just a shopping cart plug-in,it’s an integrated, end-to-end solution paired with a Content Management System (CMS), which empowersnon-technical users to manage every aspect of a robust web store – from the product catalog and design tothe checkout experience and fulfillment process. The primary goal is to arm non-technical business users with asolution to manage how content appears on a company’s website.RFP vs. RFIDepending on who you talk to, the debateof how an organization should soliciteCommerce vendors vendors to engage in aproject is varied. There is a growing contingentwho believe a Request For Information (RFI)will save both your organization and thesoftware vendors you are reaching out to aconsiderable amount of time.While you can certainly limit your search from15-20 vendors to just 3-4 through an RFI,eventually a scope will have to occur, onboth sides; consequently, developing an RFPis far from a fool’s errand. Again, so long as it’s understood that your team is strictly establishing a baseline. (Inother words, we can all agree specifics about a vendor’s ability to deliver under budget for your vague, yet-to-bediscussed web project seems rather unreasonable.)The optimal outcome here is productive follow-up conversations aided by a mutual understanding forged by theRFP. And that starts here. This RFP template will help you gather information you need from vendors to determinewhether or not they can meet your project’s requirements.Bridgeline Digital Whitepaper 2014 - Sample RFP Template: eCommerce PlatformConnect with Us:1

the digital engagement companyHow to Structure Your RFPCreating an effective RFP is an introspective process. Your team has a 2015 plan forgrowth. Start there. Look inward, across every level of your organization, in order tofigure out how your new web store will help achieve the goals linked to your plan. Themore granular the better. Initially, the task may seem arduous, but the exercise will helpestablish critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and results you ultimately need thisproject to produce.Developing DealbreakersTo reiterate, the whole point of a RFP is to eliminatevendors from the courtship process. Everyone has bellsand whistles that they’d like to see a vendor show off,but more pressing is the shortlist of requirements that thisproject needs to be a success. This is where you shoulddig through internal pain to showcase the primary – andessential – needs your new website should address.Establishing Business GoalsYour selection committee must determine an optimalReturn On Digital Investment (RODI) that yoursoftware purchase should yield to justify cost. This can bepredicated a number of factors – some may be intangible– but your business goals should be predicated on blackand white results.Understanding Operational GoalsRemember how we stated that RODI can be measuredthrough intangible terms? Well, more often than not,companies find themselves in a market for a neweCommerce software because their outdated legacysystem has created a great deal of headaches.Talk to themarketing and IT departments to figure out what they needout of a new platform to make their lives easier (and driveresults).Put Marketing Back In Control Increase revenue by 25%Contemporary marketers understand that technology andsoftware plays a critical role in making their ideas come tolife. And while every member of your marketing departmentshouldn’t have to be experts in HTML or API development,the software that powers their website should empowerthem to control the message – without having to call IT.To that point, learning curves can exist, but eCommerceplatform software should be intuitive, not a hindrance. Increase up-sell conversions by 15%Custom Development Increase new customer acquisition by 10%Marketing shouldn’t have all the fun, though – right? Ofcourse not. Your organization is unique, and thus, yourwebsite requires special considerations and functionalityto optimize RODI. This is where your RFP should ask forsimilar case studies or references of previous customdevelopment done for customers that is similar to yourneedsExamples of Business Goals may include:These projections are not all directly related to your project,but your team should reconcile corresponding metricsthat your website must produce to support these goals.What type of traffic can a vendor assure their eCommercesoftware will produce? Are there case-studies of postlaunch success? How does their software cater to existingcustomers by personalizing the web experience?Bridgeline Digital Whitepaper 2014 - Sample RFP Template: eCommerce PlatformConnect with Us:2

the digital engagement companyCreating a TimelineThis is the beginning of a relationship. You’re not just buying software, you’re forging apartnership, and building a quick timeline will provide all parties involved with transparency.Moreover, it will help weed out the pretenders from the contenders.MilestoneDate(s)Distribute RFPRFPs must be returnedSelect Short List of VendorsMeet with Short List of VendorsConduct Evaluation of Short List VendorsSelect and Purchase eCommerce PlatformBridgeline Digital Whitepaper 2014 - Sample RFP Template: eCommerce PlatformConnect with Us:3

the digital engagement companyThe RFP TemplateNow that you’ve established the requirements, goals & timeline for the eCommercedevelopement project, you can develop your RFP. Below is the order in which youshould insert these essentials in the beginning of your RFP. Following the introduction, amore granular and intensive questionnaire begins, which features questions about webexperience management capabilities all the way to eCommerce-centric capabilities.Critical RequirementsBusiness GoalsOperational GoalsRFP TimelineRoadmap to Success: Open-Ended SurveyDescribe how your software and services solvereal-world business issues for clients.What is your overall value proposition?In terms of competitive vendor analysis, detail keydifferentiators that your software and services provide.Please provide your technology roadmap overthe course of the next few years.Client RefrencesPlease list clients in our industry. Where appropriate, includeat least one case study of a client within our industry.Bridgeline Digital Whitepaper 2014 - Sample RFP Template: eCommerce PlatformConnect with Us:4

the digital engagement companyCommon Questions AboutSoftware CapabilitiesVendor ResponseCapabilities and Requirements1- Out of the Box2-Customer ImplementationAdditional VendorDetailsContent Creation and EditingDoes the CMS support content editing, including support for richtext with HTML and style (CSS) enforcement?Does the CMS support “in-line editing” via a WYSIWYG editorwhich displays how potential edits will appear in the resulting Webpage(s)?Does the CMS allow editing from Microsoft Word, includingstripping of special characters and other formatting issues thattypically occur with content originating in Microsoft Word?Does the CMS provide the ability to create and maintain sharedassets that are used throughout one or multiple websites?Does the CMS provide a means to browse reusable contentavailable in the content repository?Does the CMS provide common “library services” includingrevisions and versions?Which of the following content types are supported out-of-the-box?Rich TextPlain textHTMLImageFile (PDF/Word/etc)Calendar EventsFlashVideoMeta Data ManagementDoes the WCM support editing of metadata by contentcontributors, including structured information such as publicationand expiration dates, titles, and call-outs?Does the WCM provide tagging functionality to group pages, aswell as site map of categories for site visitors to select from?Can these tags and categories lists be used across all site content,from blog posts, to landing pages and other pages to best promoteclick through from one page to the next?Does the CMS allow for meta-data tagging using the schema.orgtaxonomy?Bridgeline Digital Whitepaper 2014 - Sample RFP Template: eCommerce PlatformConnect with Us:5

the digital engagement companyCommon Questions AboutSoftware Capabilities (continued)Vendor ResponseCapabilities and Requirements1- Out of the Box2-Customer ImplementationAdditional VendorDetailsProduct ConfigurationsSingle productProduct with optionsCollection productsBundlesGift cards (as a product)eGift cards (as a product)KitsPre-orderTax Category ManagementSKU-level tax exemptCurrenciesDoes the software support multi-currency transactions?Inventory ManagementDoes the software support various SKU-level inventory? If so,please explain pricing and organizational structure?Wish List and Gift RegistryPermanent Shopping ListGift RegistryGift Messaging by SKUGift WrappingDeliver On Specified DateShare List Via Email or SocialSearch by ListGift CertificatesPromotions ManagementUnique Promo CodeOne-time Use PromoOne-per-customer PromoTesting and Dynamic ContentDoes the platform support A/B Testing with content & template capabilities?Bridgeline Digital Whitepaper 2014 - Sample RFP Template: eCommerce PlatformConnect with Us:6

the digital engagement companyCommon Questions AboutSoftware Capabilities (continued)Vendor ResponseCapabilities and Requirements1- Out of the Box2-Customer ImplementationAdditional VendorDetailsPromotions ManagementUnique Promo CodeOne-time Use PromoOne-per-customer PromoMerchandisingCross sellUpsellBundled ProductsRecommended ProductsPeople Who Bought This Bought ThatCollectionsBloggingDoes the CMS provide a built-in, integrated blog?Does the CMS allow multiple blogs within one website?Does the CMS allow RSS feed generation for blogs?Does the CMS allow for comments and comment moderation onany page?Does the CMS allow blog content to be intermixed with other sitecontent, pages and related link lists?Social MediaCan the CMS display external social site content?Does the CMS allow for external RSS feeds to be displayed inline?Does the CMS have social sharing widgets?Does the CMS allow for comments to be used on any site page?Does the CMS provide the ability to generate polls?Bridgeline Digital Whitepaper 2014 - Sample RFP Template: eCommerce PlatformConnect with Us:7