Sourcing is high-value work — but getting from request to RFI is slow and complex. See how Rain, the agentic AI built into the Raindrop platform, changes that.
Starting with a simple request — 1,000 laptops, $1M budget, 80/20 Windows/Mac split — Rain builds the event from scratch: evaluating the need, recommending configurations, identifying suppliers, structuring the RFQ into lots, and even flagging that the budget may be tight for the requested volume.
That’s the difference between automation and agentic AI. Rain doesn’t just fill in fields — it understands the request, surfaces risks, and recommends next steps. And because it’s embedded in Raindrop, you stay in control of every detail.
Video Transcript
Sourcing can be one of the highest-value activities in procurement — but let’s be honest, it can also be cumbersome.
Before you even launch an event, there’s a lot to figure out. What exactly are we buying? What specs make sense? Which suppliers should be invited? Are we aligned to budget? And what’s the fastest way to get from request to RFQ without losing control?
That’s where Rain comes in.
In this example, I need to source 1,000 laptops with a total budget of $1 million. I also need an 80/20 split between Windows and Mac devices.
Instead of starting from a blank slate, I can simply ask Rain to help me build the event from the start.
Rain reviews the request, evaluates the buying need, and begins laying out a sourcing plan. It researches recommended configurations based on the budget, identifies potential suppliers, and structures the RFQ around the actual requirement.
In this case, Rain creates an RFQ with two lots: one for Windows laptops and one for Mac laptops. It also recommends four suppliers to include in the event.
But Rain does more than just build the event. It also flags an important issue: the $1 million budget may be tight based on the requested volume and device mix.
That’s the difference between automation and agentic AI. Rain is not just filling out fields — it understands the request, flags risks, and recommends next steps before the event goes live.
Because Rain is embedded directly into the Raindrop platform, I don’t have to copy this information into another system or rebuild the event manually.
I can go straight into the draft RFQ Rain created and review the details: the suppliers, lots, configuration assumptions, timeline, and next steps.
From there, I stay in control. I can edit the event, adjust suppliers, update the requirements, or ask Rain to keep helping.
Rain brings together the request, the market context, the supplier strategy, the budget reality, and the actions to move sourcing forward.
That’s value.
That’s Rain.
