Predictika · Analytical instrument system quotes

An AI sales agent's LC/MS system quote, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a quote for a liquid chromatography / mass spectrometry system: LC module, mass spectrometer, column, acquisition software, service plan, region and discount. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the compatibility, service and approval rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the system figures it computed.

Scope: LC/MS analytical instrument system quotes: LC module, mass spectrometer, column, acquisition software, service plan, regional discount and approvals. See everything this validator covers

This validator models quotes for LC/MS analytical instrument systems built from an LC module, a mass spectrometer, a column and acquisition software — not just the scenarios shown below.

  • LC and mass spectrometer pairing — two LC systems (600 bar and 1300 bar class) and five mass spectrometers, from a single quadrupole to a Q-TOF, including which ones need a UHPLC-class LC.
  • Column and method — column pressure limit, sub-2 micron particles that need a UHPLC pump, and the mobile phase pH range of each column.
  • Software — whether the selected acquisition software controls the selected mass spectrometer.
  • Service attach — the minimum service plan for each instrument, plan availability by region, and the maximum term.
  • Regional pricing authority — what a sales rep can discount in each region, what needs management approval, and what no one can approve, plus an export-compliance review for flagged systems.
  • Stated figures — the system pressure limit the quote itself states.

Any LC/MS system quote touching these choices is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (Agilent publishes no list prices for these systems, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), GC and other instrument families, consumables, and any vendor CPQ platform. Assumptions: software support per instrument, minimum service levels, regional discount limits, regional plan availability and export-review flags are invented illustrative values.

The AI sales agentBuilds the instrument system quote from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed system figures.

6 scenarios in 3 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

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

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
A column with sub-2 micron particles on an LC that cannot run UHPLC pressuresOnly with care
Doable as a product rule linking column to LC, but the pressure limits and particle sizes must be copied onto every column and LC record and kept in step.		Pressure limits and the UHPLC flag sit on the product records and are compared with the method on every call.
Acquisition software that does not control the chosen mass spectrometerOnly with care
One product rule per software and instrument pair. It works, but every new instrument or software release adds rules to maintain.		Support comes from the instrument record, so a new instrument is a new row, not a new rule.
Minimum service plan by instrument, and plans not offered in a regionOnly with workarounds
Service attach is usually a separate bundle or line. Checking it against the instrument and the region needs custom validation or a manual review step.		The minimum service level and regional availability are checked together with the rest of the system on every call.
A quote that states a system pressure limit different from what the LC and column allowOnly with workarounds
A validation rule can compare a stated figure only if the stated figure is a field on the quote, and the lower of two product limits is computed first.		The stated figure travels with the quote and is compared with the computed limit on every call.
Regional discount authority plus an export-compliance review, all reported togetherOnly with care
Approval rules are easy one at a time. Several reasons at once usually mean several approval rules firing separately, each with its own message.		Every approval reason is listed together with the block reasons, in order of severity.

  

  

    
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 quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1a method pressure of 900 bar is above the 600 bar limit of the InfinityLab 1260 Infinity II LC.
2the 6546 LC/Q-TOF must be paired with a UHPLC-class LC; the InfinityLab 1260 Infinity II LC is not one.
3the ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 1.8 micron uses sub-2 micron particles and needs a UHPLC-class pump; the InfinityLab 1260 Infinity II LC is not one.
4the method mobile phase pH is outside the pH 2.0 to 8.0 operating range of the InfinityLab Poroshell 120 EC-C18 2.7 micron.
5the selected acquisition software does not control the Ultivo LC/TQ (triple quadrupole).
6the 6470C LC/TQ (triple quadrupole) requires at least service level 2 (0 none, 1 warranty, 2 bronze, 3 silver, 4 gold); the quote has Extended Warranty.
7CrossLab Gold is not offered in India.
8a service term of 6 years is above the 5 year maximum.
9a discount of 21 percent is above the 20 percent limit that anyone can approve in Japan.
10the quote states a system pressure limit of 1200 bar, but this LC and column pair is limited to 600 bar.
11a discount of 18 percent is above the 10 percent a sales rep can give in China; it needs sales management approval.
12the 6546 LC/Q-TOF shipping to China needs an export-compliance review before the quote is released.
13the system has no service contract attached; confirm the customer has declined service.
14a method pressure of 540 bar leaves under 10 percent headroom below the 600 bar system limit; confirm the method with the customer.

  

  

    
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. LC and column: A UHPLC column on the 600 bar LC

    
The agent's request. Please quote a system for a customer in United States: the InfinityLab 1260 Infinity II LC, the 6470C LC/TQ (triple quadrupole), the ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 1.8 micron column, controlled by MassHunter software. The method runs at 900 bar and pH 3.0. Service: CrossLab Silver for 3 years. Requested discount: 0 percent. The quote states a system pressure limit of 1200 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Pressure above the LC limit. A method pressure of 900 bar is above the 600 bar limit of the InfinityLab 1260 Infinity II LC.
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  • Column needs a UHPLC pump. The ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 1.8 micron uses sub-2 micron particles and needs a UHPLC-class pump; the InfinityLab 1260 Infinity II LC is not one.
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  • Stated pressure limit does not match. The quote states a system pressure limit of 1200 bar, but this LC and column pair is limited to 600 bar.
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2. LC and column: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a system for a customer in United States: the InfinityLab 1290 Infinity II LC, the 6470C LC/TQ (triple quadrupole), the ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 1.8 micron column, controlled by MassHunter software. The method runs at 900 bar and pH 3.0. Service: CrossLab Silver for 3 years. Requested discount: 0 percent. The quote states a system pressure limit of 1200 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • System summary. The InfinityLab 1290 Infinity II LC with the ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 1.8 micron and the 6470C LC/TQ (triple quadrupole) limits this system to 1200 bar; service CrossLab Silver for 3 year(s); region United States.
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3. Software and service: High-end triple quad with the wrong software and a basic plan

    
The agent's request. Please quote a system for a customer in United States: the InfinityLab 1290 Infinity II LC, the 6495D LC/TQ (triple quadrupole), the ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 1.8 micron column, controlled by OpenLab CDS software. The method runs at 800 bar and pH 3.0. Service: CrossLab Bronze for 3 years. Requested discount: 0 percent. The quote states a system pressure limit of 1200 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Software does not control the instrument. The selected acquisition software does not control the 6495D LC/TQ (triple quadrupole).
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  • Service plan below the minimum. The 6495D LC/TQ (triple quadrupole) requires at least service level 3 (0 none, 1 warranty, 2 bronze, 3 silver, 4 gold); the quote has CrossLab Bronze.
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4. Software and service: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a system for a customer in United States: the InfinityLab 1290 Infinity II LC, the 6495D LC/TQ (triple quadrupole), the ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 1.8 micron column, controlled by MassHunter software. The method runs at 800 bar and pH 3.0. Service: CrossLab Silver for 3 years. Requested discount: 0 percent. The quote states a system pressure limit of 1200 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • System summary. The InfinityLab 1290 Infinity II LC with the ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 1.8 micron and the 6495D LC/TQ (triple quadrupole) limits this system to 1200 bar; service CrossLab Silver for 3 year(s); region United States.
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5. Regional approvals: Q-TOF in China with a plan and discount not available there

    
The agent's request. Please quote a system for a customer in China: the InfinityLab 1290 Infinity II LC, the 6546 LC/Q-TOF, the InfinityLab Poroshell HPH-C18 2.7 micron column, controlled by MassHunter software. The method runs at 450 bar and pH 11.0. Service: CrossLab Gold for 3 years. Requested discount: 25 percent. The quote states a system pressure limit of 600 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Service plan not offered in region. CrossLab Gold is not offered in China.
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  • Discount above the maximum. A discount of 25 percent is above the 20 percent limit that anyone can approve in China.
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  • Export-compliance review. The 6546 LC/Q-TOF shipping to China needs an export-compliance review before the quote is released.
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6. Regional approvals: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a system for a customer in China: the InfinityLab 1290 Infinity II LC, the 6546 LC/Q-TOF, the InfinityLab Poroshell HPH-C18 2.7 micron column, controlled by MassHunter software. The method runs at 450 bar and pH 11.0. Service: CrossLab Silver for 3 years. Requested discount: 18 percent. The quote states a system pressure limit of 600 bar. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Discount needs approval. A discount of 18 percent is above the 10 percent a sales rep can give in China; it needs sales management approval.
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  • Export-compliance review. The 6546 LC/Q-TOF shipping to China needs an export-compliance review before the quote is released.
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  • System summary. The InfinityLab 1290 Infinity II LC with the InfinityLab Poroshell HPH-C18 2.7 micron and the 6546 LC/Q-TOF limits this system to 600 bar; service CrossLab Silver for 3 year(s); region China.
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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 sales agent prepares a quote for a liquid chromatography / mass spectrometry system: LC module, mass spectrometer, column, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the compatibility, service and approval rules and returns a verdict, every reason and the system figures it computed.
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  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please quote a system for a customer in United States: the InfinityLab 1260 Infinity II LC, the 6470C LC/TQ (triple quadrupole). The method runs at 900 bar and pH 3.0. The rest of the request is on screen.
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  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with three findings, all in one answer. A method pressure of 900 bar is above the 600 bar limit of the InfinityLab 1260 Infinity II LC. The ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 1.8 micron uses sub-2 micron particles and needs a UHPLC-class pump; the InfinityLab 1260 Infinity II LC is not one. The quote states a system pressure limit of 1200 bar, but this LC and column pair is limited to 600 bar.
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  6. The validator returned three 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 quote are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for a column with sub-2 micron particles on an LC that cannot run UHPLC pressures, 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 LC system to InfinityLab 1290 Infinity II LC.
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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 three earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  13. Three problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    14.