How using AI Can Support the RFP Process
The RFP (Request for Proposal) process has long been a cornerstone of agency selection, but it’s also one of the most time-consuming, detail-heavy phases in finding the right partner. With the rise of AI tools, many companies are asking: Can AI help us think through our needs and streamline the RFP process?
The short answer is: yes, to a point. But technology alone isn’t enough. Especially when you're searching for a partner who’s not only technically equipped but also culturally aligned with your team. That’s where Fetch & Forge brings real value, merging the efficiency of AI with the critical thinking and context that only human experience can provide.
Where AI Can Help
AI tools can be powerful allies in the early stages of RFP planning. They can:
Organize and synthesize inputs from across departments
Analyze historical performance data to identify capability gaps
Generate first-draft language for scopes, criteria, and timelines
Benchmark against industry standards to ensure nothing critical is missed
These capabilities are especially useful when teams are moving fast and juggling competing priorities. AI can quickly turn a wall of sticky notes or a Slack thread of “what we need” into a structured outline of requirements and questions.
But AI Can’t do it all
Where AI falls short is in evaluating which needs matter most, and what kind of partner is best suited to deliver on them. Most businesses don’t just need a checklist of services. They need a strategic advisor who understands where the brand is headed, what level of partnership they’re truly ready for, and how different agency models deliver value.
For example:
Is your top priority speed, or long-term brand development?
Are you better off with one integrated agency, or several specialists?
Does the agency’s personality mesh with how your team works?
These are human questions—based on judgment, experience, and an understanding of company culture—that AI can’t answer on its own.
The Fetch & Forge Advantage
At Fetch & Forge, we use AI tools to help speed up and organize the front-end of the RFP process, but our true value is in what happens next.
We:
Help teams prioritize their needs (not just list them)
Translate business goals into agency capabilities
Identify partners who align on both skillset and culture
Facilitate honest conversations that uncover what will make a partnership thrive (or fail)
AI may help with efficiency. But when the stakes are high, like choosing a long-term strategic partner, you need a process that blends smart tech with smarter judgment.
Because at the end of the day, the best agency partnerships aren’t just technically sound. They feel right. And that’s where we come in.
