How EPSA Group sets itself apart from the competition with Altura

In the fast-evolving world of procurement, the ability to work efficiently, strategically, and data-driven has become crucial. For Lise Stelloo, Senior Bid Manager at EPSA Netherlands with over 15 years of experience in bid management, this evolution has brought both challenges and opportunities. "In the past, writing a well-crafted text was enough. Now, you need to enhance qualifications, provide evidence, and really get to the point,” Lise explains. “The competition forces us to think more strategically and work more efficiently." 

So what steps should you take? And how do you set yourself apart from the rest?

The challenge: Time loss and lack of insight

With an increasing number of tenders, EPSA faced multiple challenges:

• Time loss: "Constantly following up with colleagues about deadlines and progress took up an enormous amount of time. To give you an idea: it took around four hours per bid, and that doesn’t even include phone calls," Lise says. 
• Document management: Creating summaries and reviewing content was time-consuming and inefficient.
• Lack of Strategic Insight: Without accurate market data and analysis, evaluating bids and gaining a competitive edge remained challenging.

"As a Senior Bid Manager, I was constantly dealing with time loss. Each bid required an average of four hours to follow up with stakeholders and compile summaries. Thanks to Altura, that is a thing of the past. With automated notifications and digital planning, I no longer have to chase colleagues. It provides clarity and peace of mind." - Lise Stelloo, Sr. Bid Manager, EPSA

Lise knew there had to be a better way to tackle these challenges while simultaneously improving the quality of work.

The solution: Efficient bid management

EPSA Netherlands found in Altura a comprehensive solution perfectly suited to the dynamic nature of bid management.

"Altura provides a combination of signaling, digitalisation, and insights that are truly tailored to our needs." - Lise Stelloo, Sr. Bid Manager, EPSA

The Altura features used most by EPSA:

1. Signaling tool
   "Altura has an excellent signaling tool, so I no longer miss any tenders." Lise and her team now receive automatic notifications of new tenders via platforms like Tenderned, ensuring no opportunity is missed.
2. Bid project planning
   Tasks are digitally assigned, and progress is monitored. Automatic reminders help ensure deadlines are met.
3. Proposal Search
   With the content library, the team can quickly create high-quality, consistent texts.
4. Qualification module
   Lise shares: "The qualification module helps us make well-founded bid/no-bid decisions and answer key questions such as: How do we score on this potential tender? Are we well-prepared? Should we invest our resources here?" 

More peace of mind, time saving and strategic impact

The implementation of Altura has had a direct impact on how EPSA approaches bid management. "Previously, I created a schedule in Excel, shared it, and then it would just fall flat because there was no follow-up. Now, Altura ensures reminders are sent and keeps the project top of mind for stakeholders."

• Time saving: Thanks to automated notifications and digital planning, less time is needed for follow-ups and summaries. "Ideal," Lise adds.
• Peace of mind:"Altura gives me more peace of mind. Everything is available in a digital overview. I no longer have to chase colleagues,"  Lise says.
• Strategic advantage: With better insights into data and qualifications, EPSA can strengthen its position against competitors.
• AI Tools: Generic AI tools like ChatGPT currently pose too great a compliance risk for EPSA’s proposal texts. Altura provides a solution by integrating AI for efficiency while maintaining compliance.

"I found myself constantly calling colleagues to check on planning and progress, and often they had forgotten. Thanks to Altura, they now receive automatic notifications via the system. That complete package was the deciding factor for me." - Lise Stelloo, Sr. Bid Manager, EPSA

The future of bid management with Altura

"The sector is developing rapidly,” Lise noticed. “Bid management is now about data-driven solutions, evidence, and efficiency. It has become a mature discipline in which strategic tools like Altura are indispensable." 

Why Altura is essential to EPSA

Altura offers EPSA a complete package that supports all aspects of bid management: detection, task management, content optimisation, and data insights. This integrated approach enables the team to work with greater clarity, efficiency, and quality, making strategic decisions that keep them ahead of the competition. And that makes Altura indispensable.

"Altura understands the world of bid management and evolves alongside developments in our field. That makes it the ideal tool for us." - Lise Stelloo, Sr. Bid Manager, EPSA