Traditional quotations follow a "customer asks, you reply" model—it's passive cost calculation. A proposal-based quotation, by contrast, proactively tells the buyer: why this item deserves consideration, what MOQ and terms you recommend, and where this specification sits in the market. In other words, your quotation itself should trigger dialogue, not just list prices waiting for approval. In practice, you can attach recent inquiry trends, suggested configuration or packaging alternatives to your quotation, helping major customers feel you're closer to the market frontline than they are. The goal is to shift yourself from a "quotation machine" to a "market observation partner," increasing your visibility when the buyer evaluates suppliers.