AI playbook · Operations

Compare supplier quotes fairly

Lay out several supplier quotes side by side, spot the differences in what is included, and draft questions to ask.

Setup: 30 minutesBeginner Get the prompt

The problem

Supplier quotes never line up neatly. One includes delivery, one has a minimum order, one hides a setup fee. The cheapest quote is often not the cheapest.

Step by step

  1. Collect the quotes as PDFs or text.
  2. Remove anything confidential you do not need, like account numbers.
  3. Ask the AI for a comparison table with the same rows for each supplier.
  4. Check the table against the quotes.
  5. Send the gap questions to each supplier.

The prompt

Compare these supplier quotes for {what you are buying}.
Make a table with the same rows for each: total price, unit price, what is included, delivery, minimum order, payment terms, contract length, extra fees, warranty.
Write "not stated" where a quote does not say. Then list questions I should ask each supplier.

Quotes:
{paste quotes}

Replace the {highlighted} parts with your details, or fill them in with the prompt builder.

Check before you use it

  • Every number in the table matches the quote.
  • "Not stated" items are followed up.

Privacy

  • Quotes may be confidential. Use a business AI plan and check the supplier did not forbid sharing.

Do’s and don’ts

Do

  • Compare total cost over the contract, not just unit price.
  • Ask every supplier the same questions.
  • Keep the table for next time.

Don’t

  • Pick on price alone.
  • Share one supplier’s quote with another.
  • Trust AI maths without checking.

When not to use AI for this

For big contracts, have your accountant or a lawyer review the terms.

Tools that can help

ChatGPTOpenAI’s general assistant for drafting, summarising, analysing files and brainstorming.
ClaudeAnthropic’s general assistant, good with long documents, writing and analysis.
Microsoft CopilotMicrosoft’s assistant, also built into Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams on Microsoft 365 plans.

We are not paid by any of these companies, and we list well-known options, not a ranking. Features and plans change; check the provider’s site and its data terms before you sign up. See all AI tools by category.

Useful for

Event planners and venuesSmall manufacturers and workshops

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