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The domestic B2B platform ALSAT has launched a Request for Quotation feature with automatic product matching. Developed by a Turkmen team, this digital service offers companies a new procurement format: a single product list, automatic comparison with the catalog, and notification of the selection's readiness within hours.
ALSAT (available at ALSAT.com.tm) announced the launch of an automated RFQ (Request for Quotation) service for businesses. Developed by a Turkmen team based on a local B2B platform, the solution aims to expedite procurement and increase the transparency of transactions between companies. At launch, the project received support from the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan (UIET), and today, ALSAT continues to expand its digital tools for the domestic market.
According to ALSAT, the new service is the first automated RFQ service on a local B2B marketplace in Turkmenistan, matching buyer requests with products available in the catalog, and displaying the results in the user's personal account. The ALSAT team estimates that this combination of "local catalog + automatic matching + account results + notifications" remains rare in the broader regional context, including the CIS markets.
What is an RFQ and why is it important now?
An RFQ is a common "purchase by list" format for corporate procurement, where a company submits a single request for several items: name, parameters, quantity, delivery terms, and conditions. In the traditional RFQ process, it often devolves into a chain of calls, emails, and disjointed responses. At ALSAT, this stage has been digitalized: one request, one status, one decision-making result.
How does RFQ work at ALSAT?
The service is available in two formats:
• Email: Users can send a request to rfq@alsat.biz, specifying a list of products, quantity, requirements (brand, parameters, or acceptable alternatives), city, and deadline. The platform compares the request with a catalog of over 24,000 items and returns a selection of matching products with prices within two hours (during business hours).
• Through your personal account on ALSAT.com.tm: register and add an RFQ file to your account. Requests can be submitted as a single file, and the list is accepted in any language. The system then uses list processing and intelligent matching algorithms (with elements of artificial intelligence) to compare items with products in the catalog. Results and processing statuses are saved in the account, and the user receives an email notification when a response is ready.
ALSAT recommends using a personal account for those who shop regularly: this way, requests don't get lost in correspondence, they can be easily returned to in the selection, compare options, and continue shopping according to a clear process.
Platform Features Available to Buyers
The RFQ service is built on a real database of offers: ALSAT already hosts over 24 000 product listings (the list is constantly expanding), making it possible to quickly find the right products, especially when deadlines are more important than a "perfect search."
The platform also features price and terms negotiation mechanisms, and product cards allow for faster initial verification of specifications and availability.
Purchasing Practice: A Simple Technique That Often Yields Surprising Results
Most RFQs are ineffective due to one mistake: they phrase the request in such a way that suppliers respond, "as it happens." To get truly profitable and quick results, use the "two-bucket RFQ" technique:
• Bucket A (strict): items that must be exactly as specified (critical parameter, standard, class).
• Bucket B (flexible): items where alternatives are allowed, and this is clearly stated.
Why this works: The supplier stops guessing what's important to you and starts competing with their offer. As a result, you get more relevant responses and fewer clarifications.
An additional feature that many don't use: ask for three digits for each item in the RFQ – price, shipping date, and price/availability lock-in period (e.g., 24 hours). This increases response discipline and allows you to compare offers without repeating requests.
Salespeople's Best Practices: How to Win RFQs Even Before Negotiating Salespeople have a "hidden lever" that's often underestimated: automatic matching depends on how well the product card "speaks the buyer's language." To be included in RFQ selections more often, use the "3-layer description" rule:
• Official name/model (as in the documents).
• Terms used by buyers (common synonyms in the industry).
• Key parameters in one line (size, class, standard, packaging).
Effect: You improve your RFQ match without lowering the price. The second lever for winning RFQs: respond not with a single option, but with a "ladder of choices":
• Option 1 - in stock now.
• Option 2 - equivalent/similar.
• Option 3 - to order with lead time.
Buyers almost always choose those who offer a choice and a clear deadline, even if the price is not the lowest.
Let's return to the development of ALSAT
ALSAT announces that its RFQ service for businesses is available free of charge (during the launch period). Companies are invited to test the tool and evaluate how the speed of procurement, transparency of approvals, and control over the entire process change when using online procurement through ALSAT.
Opportunities for domestic sellers and manufacturers
RFQ generates a flow of inquiries from companies already in the purchasing phase. For sellers, this means the opportunity to sell inventory more quickly, expand domestic sales channels, and attract corporate clients without additional advertising costs. ALSAT recommends that suppliers list their product range in advance, maintain current inventory, and respond quickly to inquiries to increase their chances of being included in the selection.
"We see growing business demand for modern and transparent procurement in Turkmenistan. RFQ transforms 'purchasing by list' into a digital process: the request is compared against the catalog, the result is saved in the buyer's account, and the buyer receives a response within a clear timeframe. This saves time, and time in business is often more valuable than a discount," notes ALSAT.
How to use the RFQ service
For buyers:
or
To make their products available to buyers across Turkmenistan, sellers simply need to list them on ALSAT.com.tm.
The launch of RFQ on the national platform ALSAT expands digital procurement tools in Turkmenistan: companies can quickly request lists, and suppliers have a new demand channel.
Contacts for media and partners: info@alsat.biz | rfq@alsat.biz
Website: alsat.com.tm
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