Consultant vs tender software: the honest comparison for SMEs
Two options for tender support: specialist consultant or tender software. Both have strengths and limits. Here is a factual comparison.
What a consultant does
Analyzes documents, writes proposals, assembles files. Strengths: human expertise, field knowledge, complex cases. Weaknesses: €500–2,000/file, 5–15 days, limited availability.
What tender software does
Automates analysis, generation, pre-filling. Strengths: 24/7, fixed cost, minutes, consistency, scalability. Weaknesses: doesn't replace strategic judgment, requires review.
The real math: cost per contract won
5 tenders/month: Consultant: €4,000/month, 25–75 business days. Maître AO Pro: €199/month, 15 minutes total.
Combined: Maître AO for base + consultant for review. Consultant time ÷3.
In 3 out of 4 scenarios, the answer includes software
Beginner → Start with software (free Discovery). Occasional (1–2/month) → Software more economical from 2 files/month. Regular (3+/month) → Software essential. Combined approach optimal. Complex (>€500K) → Always combine both.
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