TL;DR

• Settle is built as an AI-native workspace, moving beyond the traditional library-management model of legacy Request for Proposal (RFP) software.

• While legacy tools like Loopio focus on manual content tagging, Settle uses semantic search to find and draft answers with 80% higher speed.

• The platform includes integrated RFP Hunter discovery, whereas legacy competitors typically require a separate subscription for lead generation.

• Settle prioritizes zero-hallucination drafting by sourcing all content from your internal Knowledge Base.

Beyond the Legacy Library Model

For years, the standard approach to Request for Proposal (RFP) management was the content library. You uploaded answers, tagged them with keywords, and hoped they were still relevant six months later. Loopio helped pioneer this space, moving many teams out of messy spreadsheets. However, the technology landscape has shifted. Today, teams are looking for more than a well-organized filing cabinet; they need an execution engine.

Settle was built for a reality where speed and discovery are the primary drivers of revenue. It is not just about storing data. It is about automating the path from finding a bid to submitting a finished draft. While legacy systems focus on the storage of past wins, Settle focuses on the creation of future ones.

1. From Manual Categorization to AI Library Ingestion

Legacy systems often require heavy manual labor to set up. You must categorize every entry and maintain strict hygiene to find answers later. Settle flips this workflow. The Library supports direct document ingestion of Portable Document Format (PDF), Word, and Excel files. Our AI processes these documents into a searchable source of truth without requiring you to spend weeks tagging content.

Tools like Settle automate this categorization process, ensuring your technical experts spend less time organizing and more time reviewing. This is especially critical for growth-stage teams that do not have a dedicated Proposal Manager to maintain a database 24/7.

2. Faster Proposal Response Time with Smart Answers

In traditional tools, you search for a keyword and copy-paste the result. Settle introduces 'Smart Answers.' This feature uses semantic lookup across your Library to generate grounded responses. Instead of you finding the pieces, the AI drafts the answer for you. This change typically results in an 80% reduction in initial drafting time.

Crucially, Settle prevents the 'hallucinations' common in generic AI. If the information is not in your Library, the system returns an 'answer not found' message. Every generated draft includes source attribution, so you can see exactly which past project or document informed the answer. This maintains the high accuracy required for Technical Proposals or Security Questionnaires (SQ).

3. Integrated Discovery with RFP Hunter

Most Request for Information (RFI) or RFP tools start only after you have an opportunity in hand. They solve the 'response' problem but ignore the 'pipeline' problem. Settle includes RFP Hunter, a discovery workspace that delivers a refreshed feed of active bids from various sectors, including government and enterprise procurement.

Instead of paying for a separate discovery tool and an RFP response tool, Settle connects them. You can find an opportunity in RFP Hunter, use the 'Proposal Assistant' to summarize the requirements, and then immediately launch a Project to respond. This integration helps small teams achieve an enterprise-level Return on Investment (ROI) by tightening the sales cycle.

4. Collaboration Without the Complexity

Enterprise tools often feel cluttered. Settle uses a centralized 'Inbox' to manage tasks. When a subject matter expert is assigned a question, they receive a notification and can jump directly to that specific line item. There is no need for them to navigate a complex portal. This streamlined workflow ensures that review cycles happen in hours, not days, helping teams meet tight 48-hour submission windows.

Why Modern Teams Are Making the Switch

• Resource Constraints: Small teams use Settle to punch above their weight class by automating repetitive writing.

• Accuracy: Detailed source references in 'Projects' ensure that every claim made in a proposal is backed by existing data.

• Growth Focus: Finding new bids via RFP Hunter prevents the mid-year pipeline dips common in B2B (Business to Business) sales.

Ultimately, legacy tools were built for a world of manual search. Settle is built for a world of automated answers. If your team needs to move faster, find more opportunities, and reduce the manual grind of copy-pasting, Settle provides the modern alternative you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Settle prevent AI hallucinations in proposal drafting?

Settle prevents AI hallucinations by using a 'grounded' generation model, which means the AI only has access to your approved Library content when drafting. If the system cannot find a relevant answer within your uploaded PDF, Word, or spreadsheet files, it will explicitly state that an answer was not found rather than inventing information. This ensures that every response in a Request for Proposal (RFP) is 100% accurate and based on your company’s historical data. Additionally, every Smart Answer includes a source reference so you can verify which document the information originated from.

Does Settle offer better RFP discovery than legacy tools?

Yes, unlike many legacy tools that focus solely on response management, Settle includes a native discovery engine called RFP Hunter. This tool provides a continuously updated feed of active RFP and bid opportunities with AI-generated summaries to help you qualify leads quickly. By integrating discovery and response into a single workflow, teams can find more high-fit opportunities and move them into a response project with a single click. This dual-purpose functionality replaces the need for multiple expensive software subscriptions for lead generation and bid management.

Can Settle handle complex Security Questionnaires and Technical RFPs?

Settle is specifically designed to handle complex technical documents, including Security Questionnaires (SQ) and Request for Information (RFI) documents in Excel or Word formats. The platform allows you to bulk auto-draft answers using your centralized Knowledge Base, significantly reducing the manual burden on IT and security teams. You can track progress through a completion percentage bar and use the Inbox feature to manage reviewer assignments and approvals in a centralized queue. This ensures that even the most rigorous technical requirements are met with high-quality, pre-approved content.

What is the typical time savings when switching to an AI-native RFP tool?

Teams switching to Settle typically see an 80% reduction in the time required to complete an initial RFP draft. By using the 'Smart Answers' feature to automate the first pass of a proposal, users can move from a blank page to a populated document in minutes rather than hours or days. This efficiency allows a 5-person sales team to handle the volume of a 15-person team, providing a significant competitive advantage. This speed is achieved through semantic search, which understands the intent behind questions rather than relying on simple keyword matches like older software.

How does Settle's Library differ from a traditional content repository?

A traditional content repository often acts as a static database where users must manually tag and organize content to make it findable. Settle’s Library is a dynamic 'source of truth' that supports automatic document ingestion from various formats like CSV, Word, and PDF. It uses AI to enrich entries with metadata, such as the originating project and edit history, making it easier to track the lifecycle of your content. Most importantly, it powers the Proposal Assistant and Project drafting tools, serving as the trusted data layer for all AI-generated content.