Predictika · Grocery and retail checkout

An AI shopping agent's checkout basket, checked before it goes out

An AI shopping agent assembles a checkout basket for a drugstore or grocery shopper: items, manufacturer and store coupons, an order coupon and ExtraBucks rewards. Before the basket goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks every coupon against a declarative model of a typical coupon policy, compares the net total the agent states with the one it computes, and returns a verdict and every reason.

Scope: drugstore and grocery checkout baskets of up to three lines: items, manufacturer and store coupons, an order coupon and ExtraBucks. See everything this validator covers

This validator models one thing: whether the coupons in a checkout basket stack legally under a typical drugstore coupon policy, and whether the net total the agent states is right. It is not limited to the scenarios shown below.

  • Per item — one manufacturer and one store coupon per item, the right kind of coupon in the right slot, brand, category and size match, expiration, buy-two quantities, and the coupon value capped at the item price.
  • Across the basket — no more than four identical manufacturer coupons in a transaction, and order coupons ($5 off $25, $10 off $50) counted after item coupons, without alcohol, gift cards or prescriptions.
  • Rewards and totals — ExtraBucks limited to the qualifying items left after coupons, and the net total the agent states against the total computed.

Any basket built from these items and coupons is in scope, not only the scenarios pictured here. This is an illustrative model: items, prices, coupons, limits and thresholds are fictional and are modeled on typical published US drugstore coupon policies, not on any retailer's actual policy text. Expiry is checked against a fixed shopping date of October 5, 2026 in the model. Not covered: loyalty programs, tax, and baskets of more than three lines.

The AI shopping agentBuilds the checkout basket from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

10 scenarios in 5 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
One manufacturer and one store coupon per item, each in its own slotOnly with care
Each slot needs its own rule against the coupon type, and a coupon scanned into the wrong slot has to be caught by a rule written for that case.		The coupon record carries its kind, and every slot is checked against it on every call, together with every other rule.
An order coupon threshold counted after item couponsOnly with workarounds
The threshold sees a cart total, so alcohol, gift cards and the item coupons have to be subtracted by hand in a chain of calculated fields, and a fix on one line moves the result.		The qualifying total is derived on each call from the lines and the item coupons, then compared with the threshold, so one change is seen against all the others.
Rewards capped by what is left, and a coupon capped at the item priceOnly with care
The cap and the sign-off for a coupon worth more than the item need their own fields on every line, and ExtraBucks depends on the order coupon that depends on the lines.		Each line derives its coupon value and overage, and the qualifying total, the order coupon and the rewards are derived together.
Identical coupon limits across lines, and buy-two coupons that need two itemsOnly with care
The limit spans lines, so a rule per line misses the total, and every buy-N coupon needs its own quantity rule.		Coupon counts are summed across the whole basket and compared with the item quantities in one pass.
A stated net total that must match the computed totalOnly with workarounds
A validation rule can compare a stated total with a calculated field only if the stated total is a field of the basket, which it rarely is.		The stated net total travels with the basket and is compared with the computed one on every call.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the order; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1Line 1 - two manufacturer coupons on one item ($3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) in the store-coupon slot). Policy allows one manufacturer and one store coupon per item.
2Line 1, manufacturer slot - $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer - Sep 30) expired on Sep 30, 2026.
3Line 1, manufacturer slot - $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) does not apply to Advil tablets 24 ct (brand, category or size does not match).
4Line 1 - 1 copies of $2 off TWO Crest toothpastes (manufacturer) need 2 item(s) each but only 1 are in the cart.
5More than 4 identical manufacturer coupons in one transaction (line totals 5, 5, 0).
6$5 off $25 (store) needs $25.0 of qualifying items after item coupons; this cart has $20.98 (alcohol, gift cards and prescriptions do not count).
7$10 off $50 (store) needs $50.0 of qualifying items after item coupons; this cart has $13.99 (alcohol, gift cards and prescriptions do not count).
8$15.0 of ExtraBucks exceeds the $7.99 of qualifying items left after coupons (rewards cannot pay for alcohol, gift cards or prescriptions).
9Line 1 - coupons worth $7.0 on an item costing $5.99; the discount is cut to the item price (no cash back).
10Line 1 - 2 copies of $5 off one Olay Regenerist (manufacturer) need 1 item(s) each but only 1 are in the cart.
11Line 1, store slot - $2 off Advil (store coupon) does not apply to Tide liquid detergent 92 oz (brand, category or size does not match).
12Order coupon - $5 off $25 (store - Sep 30) expired on Sep 30, 2026.
13$5 off $25 (store - Sep 30) needs $25.0 of qualifying items after item coupons; this cart has $24.99 (alcohol, gift cards and prescriptions do not count).
14Stated total does not match: the agent stated $22.96; the validator computes $24.96.
15Stated total does not match: the agent stated $30.48; the validator computes $28.98.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Coupons, order coupon, rewards and total: A basket with an expired coupon, a coupon in the wrong slot, a coupon for the wrong brand, two coupon copies for one item, an expired order coupon, rewards on a wine basket and a wrong total

    
The agent's request. Please check this checkout basket of three items. It holds Advil tablets 100 ct with the $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer - Sep 30) and the $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) in the store slot, Tide liquid detergent 92 oz with the $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer) (2 copies) and the $2 off Advil (store coupon) in the store slot, and Cabernet Sauvignon 750 ml at full price. It also uses the $5 off $25 (store - Sep 30) order coupon and $15 in ExtraBucks. The basket net total is $22.96. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Two manufacturer coupons on one item. Line 1 - two manufacturer coupons on one item ($3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) in the store-coupon slot). Policy allows one manufacturer and one store coupon per item.
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  • Manufacturer coupon expired. Line 1, manufacturer slot - $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer - Sep 30) expired on Sep 30, 2026.
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  • Store coupon does not match the item. Line 2, store slot - $2 off Advil (store coupon) does not apply to Tide liquid detergent 92 oz (brand, category or size does not match).
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  • Not enough items for the coupon. Line 2 - 2 copies of $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer) need 1 item(s) each but only 1 are in the cart.
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  • Order coupon expired. Order coupon - $5 off $25 (store - Sep 30) expired on Sep 30, 2026.
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  • Order coupon threshold not met. $5 off $25 (store - Sep 30) needs $25.0 of qualifying items after item coupons; this cart has $15.98 (alcohol, gift cards and prescriptions do not count).
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  • Rewards above the eligible items. $15.0 of ExtraBucks exceeds the $15.98 of qualifying items left after coupons (rewards cannot pay for alcohol, gift cards or prescriptions).
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  • Stated net total does not match. Stated total does not match: the agent stated $22.96; the validator computes $7.97.
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2. Coupons, order coupon, rewards and total: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please check this checkout basket of three items. It holds Advil tablets 100 ct with the $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) and the $2 off Advil (store coupon) in the store slot, 2 x Tide liquid detergent 92 oz with the $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer) (2 copies), and Cabernet Sauvignon 750 ml at full price. It also uses the $5 off $25 (store) order coupon and $15 in ExtraBucks. The basket net total is $24.96. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Basket summary. Total $24.96; subtotal $53.96; discounts $29.0; qualifying total $32.97.
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3. Two manufacturer coupons on one item: Pharmacy basket with the same manufacturer coupon in both slots

    
The agent's request. Please check this checkout basket of three items. It holds Advil tablets 100 ct with the $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) and the $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) in the store slot, Olay Regenerist cream 1.7 oz with the $5 off one Olay Regenerist (manufacturer), and Tide liquid detergent 92 oz with the $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer). It also uses the $5 off $25 (store) order coupon. The basket net total is $39.97. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Two manufacturer coupons on one item. Line 1 - two manufacturer coupons on one item ($3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) in the store-coupon slot). Policy allows one manufacturer and one store coupon per item.
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4. Two manufacturer coupons on one item: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please check this checkout basket of three items. It holds Advil tablets 100 ct with the $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) and the $2 off Advil (store coupon) in the store slot, Olay Regenerist cream 1.7 oz with the $5 off one Olay Regenerist (manufacturer), and Tide liquid detergent 92 oz with the $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer). It also uses the $5 off $25 (store) order coupon. The basket net total is $40.97. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Basket summary. Total $40.97; subtotal $57.97; discounts $17.0; qualifying total $45.97.
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5. Order coupon threshold: Basket where the order coupon needs more than the items leave after coupons

    
The agent's request. Please check this checkout basket of two items. It holds Advil tablets 100 ct with the $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) and the $2 off Advil (store coupon) in the store slot, and Tide liquid detergent 92 oz with the $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer). It also uses the $5 off $25 (store) order coupon. The basket net total is $15.98. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Order coupon threshold not met. $5 off $25 (store) needs $25.0 of qualifying items after item coupons; this cart has $20.98 (alcohol, gift cards and prescriptions do not count).
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6. Order coupon threshold: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please check this checkout basket of three items. It holds Advil tablets 100 ct with the $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) and the $2 off Advil (store coupon) in the store slot, Tide liquid detergent 92 oz with the $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer), and Olay Regenerist cream 1.7 oz at full price. It also uses the $5 off $25 (store) order coupon. The basket net total is $45.97. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Basket summary. Total $45.97; subtotal $57.97; discounts $12.0; qualifying total $50.97.
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7. Coupons worth more than the item: Crest with a manufacturer and a store coupon worth more than the tube

    
The agent's request. Please check this checkout basket of three items. It holds Crest 3D White toothpaste 3.8 oz with the $4 off one Crest 3D White (manufacturer) and the $3 off Crest (store coupon) in the store slot, Coca-Cola 12-pack with the $1 off Coca-Cola 12-pack (store coupon) in the store slot, and Tide liquid detergent 92 oz with the $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer). The basket net total is $19.98. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Coupons worth more than the item. Line 1 - coupons worth $7.0 on an item costing $5.99; the discount is cut to the item price (no cash back).
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  • Basket summary. Total $19.98; subtotal $28.97; discounts $8.99; qualifying total $19.98.
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8. Coupons worth more than the item: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please check this checkout basket of three items. It holds Crest 3D White toothpaste 3.8 oz with the $4 off one Crest 3D White (manufacturer), Coca-Cola 12-pack with the $1 off Coca-Cola 12-pack (store coupon) in the store slot, and Tide liquid detergent 92 oz with the $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer). The basket net total is $21.97. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Basket summary. Total $21.97; subtotal $28.97; discounts $7.0; qualifying total $21.97.
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9. Stated total: Buy-two Crest basket with ExtraBucks and a stated net total

    
The agent's request. Please check this checkout basket of three items. It holds 2 x Crest 3D White toothpaste 3.8 oz with the $2 off TWO Crest toothpastes (manufacturer), Coca-Cola 12-pack with the $1 off Coca-Cola 12-pack (store coupon) in the store slot, and Tide liquid detergent 92 oz with the $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer). It also uses $5 in ExtraBucks. The basket net total is $22.96. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Stated net total does not match. Stated total does not match: the agent stated $22.96; the validator computes $24.96.
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10. Stated total: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please check this checkout basket of three items. It holds 2 x Crest 3D White toothpaste 3.8 oz with the $2 off TWO Crest toothpastes (manufacturer), Coca-Cola 12-pack with the $1 off Coca-Cola 12-pack (store coupon) in the store slot, and Tide liquid detergent 92 oz with the $2 off Tide 92 oz or larger (manufacturer). It also uses $5 in ExtraBucks. The basket net total is $24.96. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Basket summary. Total $24.96; subtotal $34.96; discounts $10.0; qualifying total $29.96.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI shopping agent assembles a checkout basket for a drugstore or grocery shopper: items, manufacturer and store coupons, an order coupon and ExtraBucks rewards. Before the basket goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks every coupon against a declarative model of a typical coupon policy, compares the net total the agent states with the one it computes, and returns a verdict and every reason.
    2. 
      
  2. Each tab is a different request. We will start with the first one.
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  3. The agent says. Please check this checkout basket of three items. It holds Advil tablets 100 ct. The rest of the request is on screen. The basket net total is $22.96.
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  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with eight findings, all in one answer. Line 1 - two manufacturer coupons on one item ($3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer) in the store-coupon slot). Policy allows one manufacturer and one store coupon per item. Line 1, manufacturer slot - $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer - Sep 30) expired on Sep 30, 2026. Line 2, store slot - $2 off Advil (store coupon) does not apply to Tide liquid detergent 92 oz (brand, category or size does not match). The other five are on screen.
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  6. The validator returned eight blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the order are checked against each other and against the stated total.
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  7. What this shows: for one manufacturer and one store coupon per item, each in its own slot, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the item 1 manufacturer coupon to $3 off one Advil 40 ct or larger (manufacturer), the item 1 store coupon to $2 off Advil (store coupon), the item 2 to Tide liquid detergent 92 oz, quantity 2, the order coupon to $5 off $25 (store) and the stated net total to $24.96. It removes the item 2 store coupon.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. This time the validator clears it.
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  12. All eight earlier findings are cleared.
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  13. Eight problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean $24.96 order. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer.
    14.