Predictika · Piping system quotes

An AI sales agent's PVC pressure pipe quote, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a quote for PVC-U pressure pipe from the Lareter price list: the standard, pressure class and diameter, the joint, the working pressure and temperature, and the metres ordered. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published price list and returns a verdict, every reason, a line-item quote and the figures it computed.

Scope: Lareter PVC-U pressure pipes (metric, EN 1452 family) from the December 2022 price list: standard, PN class, diameter, joint type, pressure against temperature, options and the quoted total. See everything this validator covers

This validator models quotes for Lareter metric PVC-U pressure pipes (Lareter is an Aliaxis brand) in the three standards of the price list, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • What is offered — the price list is a grid of standard (UNI EN ISO 1452, NF EN 1452, DIN 8061/62), PN class (6, 10, 12.5, 16, 20, 25) and outside diameter (16 to 500 mm); a combination that is not in the list is blocked, and one marked “on request” goes to a person.
  • Joints — plain ends, rubber ring socket (from 40 mm), Power-Lock rubber ring socket (from 63 mm) and solvent socket (from 20 mm), each checked against the diameter.
  • Pressure and temperature — the working pressure each PN 6, PN 10 and PN 16 pipe carries at 20, 40 and 60°C is checked against the duty; PN 12.5, PN 20 and PN 25 are rated at 20°C only, so a warmer duty goes to a person.
  • Price and options — the list price per metre in 6 m lengths on up to two lines, added into a line-item quote and compared with the total the agent states; colours other than dark grey and lengths other than 6 m are on request.

Any quote for these pipes that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: fittings, sewer, threaded, inch-size (BS) and other pipe ranges, other Aliaxis brands, discounts, freight and tax. Assumptions: prices are the printed list prices (euro per metre, ex works) from December 2022 and may have changed; an order is a whole number of 6 m lengths; the Power-Lock gasket is treated as the rubber ring joint from 63 mm, as the price list text describes it.

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

7 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 size that exists only in some standard and PN combinationsOnly with workarounds
The list is a grid of about 180 valid cells across three standards, six PN classes and 22 diameters. In a rules-based CPQ that is a large compatibility table to build and keep in step with each new price list, and every missing cell needs its own message.
The grid is part of the model: any standard, class and diameter is looked up and a missing cell is reported with the values chosen.
Working pressure that falls as the temperature risesOnly with workarounds
The rating depends on the PN class and a temperature band, and is compared with the duty entered on another line, so it needs a cross-field rule for every class and band.
Class, temperature band and duty are in one request and the rating is checked with everything else.
Joints offered only above a minimum diameterOnly with care
One rule per joint type that compares it with the diameter. It works, but each rule is another place to keep current.
Each joint is checked against the diameter on every call, on each line.
Sizes the list prices but marks “on request”Only with care
A price exists, so the line prices normally; a flag and an approval path have to be added for the sizes that need confirmation.
The on-request cells are part of the same grid and send the quote to a person while still showing the price.
Stated totals that must equal the list pricesOnly with care
A stated total is a free-entry field; a rule can compare it with the sum of metres times price, but someone has to write and maintain that comparison.
The stated total travels with the quote and is compared with the computed total on every call.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the quote is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.
All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

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.

1Line 1: a 32 mm pipe in PN 6 to the UNI EN ISO 1452 standard is not in the Lareter price list.
2Line 1: a 110 mm pipe in PN 12.5 to the NF EN 1452 standard is not in the Lareter price list.
3Line 1: the price list marks this size and PN class as on request; Lareter should confirm availability and price.
4Line 1: the solvent socket joint is not offered on a 16 mm pipe (rubber ring from 40 mm, Power-Lock from 63 mm, solvent socket from 20 mm).
5Line 1: at 20°C this pipe is rated for 10 bar working pressure, but the duty is 11 bar.
6Line 1: PN 6 pipe has no working pressure rating in the price list above 40°C; the operating temperature is 60°C.
7Line 1: the price list gives no working pressure above 20°C for PN 12.5, PN 20 and PN 25 pipe; a person should confirm the rating at 30°C.
8The operating temperature of 61°C is above 60°C, the highest temperature in the price list pressure table.
9Colours other than dark grey (blue, orange, yellow) are available on request; Lareter should confirm.
10Lengths other than the standard 6 m (9 m down to 0.15 m) are available on request; Lareter should confirm.
11The quote states a total of €1,598.60; the list prices give €1,599.60.
12Line 1 has 0 lengths of pipe; at least 1 length is needed.
13Line 2 has -3 lengths of pipe; the number cannot be negative.

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. Working pressure and stated total: Two PN 10 lines rated below the working pressure, with a total that leaves out line 2

The agent's request. Please quote 50 lengths of UNI EN ISO 1452 PN 10 pipe, 160 mm, with Power-Lock rubber ring socket, and 30 lengths of UNI EN ISO 1452 PN 10 pipe, 110 mm, with Power-Lock rubber ring socket (each length is 6 m), for a working pressure of 12 bar at 20°C. The quote states a total of €8,508.00. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Blocked.

  • Working pressure above the rating (line 1). Line 1: at 20°C this pipe is rated for 10 bar working pressure, but the duty is 12 bar.
  • Working pressure above the rating (line 2). Line 2: at 20°C this pipe is rated for 10 bar working pressure, but the duty is 12 bar.
  • Stated total does not match. The quote states a total of €8,508.00; the list prices give €10,907.40.

2. Working pressure and stated total: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote 50 lengths of UNI EN ISO 1452 PN 16 pipe, 160 mm, with Power-Lock rubber ring socket, and 30 lengths of UNI EN ISO 1452 PN 16 pipe, 110 mm, with Power-Lock rubber ring socket (each length is 6 m), for a working pressure of 12 bar at 20°C. The quote states a total of €16,249.20. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Allowed.

  • Order summary. 480 metres of pipe ordered, estimated total of €16,249.20 at the December 2022 list prices, ex works and before tax.

3. Joints, pressure at 40°C and colour: Process line with a joint not offered on 32 mm, a pressure above the 40°C rating and a blue pipe

The agent's request. Please quote 120 lengths of NF EN 1452 PN 16 pipe, 63 mm, with solvent socket, and 80 lengths of UNI EN ISO 1452 PN 10 pipe, 32 mm, with rubber ring socket (each length is 6 m), for a working pressure of 9 bar at 40°C, in blue rather than the standard dark grey. The quote states a total of €7,209.60. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Blocked.

  • Joint not offered on this size (line 2). Line 2: the rubber ring joint is not offered on a 32 mm pipe (rubber ring from 40 mm, Power-Lock from 63 mm, solvent socket from 20 mm).
  • Working pressure above the rating (line 2). Line 2: at 40°C this pipe is rated for 7 bar working pressure, but the duty is 9 bar.
  • Colour other than dark grey. Colours other than dark grey (blue, orange, yellow) are available on request; Lareter should confirm.

4. Joints, pressure at 40°C and colour: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote 120 lengths of NF EN 1452 PN 16 pipe, 63 mm, with solvent socket, and 80 lengths of UNI EN ISO 1452 PN 16 pipe, 32 mm, with solvent socket (each length is 6 m), for a working pressure of 9 bar at 40°C, in blue rather than the standard dark grey. The quote states a total of €7,555.20. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Needs approval.

  • Colour other than dark grey. Colours other than dark grey (blue, orange, yellow) are available on request; Lareter should confirm.
  • Order summary. 1,200 metres of pipe ordered, estimated total of €7,555.20 at the December 2022 list prices, ex works and before tax.

5. Joints, pressure at 40°C and colour: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote 120 lengths of NF EN 1452 PN 16 pipe, 63 mm, with solvent socket, and 80 lengths of UNI EN ISO 1452 PN 16 pipe, 32 mm, with solvent socket (each length is 6 m), for a working pressure of 9 bar at 40°C. The quote states a total of €7,555.20. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Allowed.

  • Order summary. 1,200 metres of pipe ordered, estimated total of €7,555.20 at the December 2022 list prices, ex works and before tax.

6. Class not in the price list and non-standard length: NF PN 12.5 line that the price list does not offer, with cut lengths and an unchecked total

The agent's request. Please quote 60 lengths of NF EN 1452 PN 12.5 pipe, 200 mm, with Power-Lock rubber ring socket, and 40 lengths of DIN 8061/62 (DVGW) PN 16 pipe, 225 mm, with Power-Lock rubber ring socket (in non-standard lengths rather than 6 m), for a working pressure of 10 bar at 20°C. The quote states a total of €44,454.00. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Blocked.

  • Not in the price list (line 1). Line 1: a 200 mm pipe in PN 12.5 to the NF EN 1452 standard is not in the Lareter price list.
  • Stated total does not match. The quote states a total of €44,454.00; the list prices give €24,571.20.
  • Length other than 6 m. Lengths other than the standard 6 m (9 m down to 0.15 m) are available on request; Lareter should confirm.

7. Class not in the price list and non-standard length: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

The agent's request. Please quote 60 lengths of UNI EN ISO 1452 PN 16 pipe, 200 mm, with Power-Lock rubber ring socket, and 40 lengths of DIN 8061/62 (DVGW) PN 16 pipe, 225 mm, with Power-Lock rubber ring socket (each length is 6 m), for a working pressure of 10 bar at 20°C. The quote states a total of €48,255.60. It is ready to send.

Verdict: Allowed.

  • Order summary. 600 metres of pipe ordered, estimated total of €48,255.60 at the December 2022 list prices, ex works and before tax.

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 PVC-U pressure pipe from the Lareter price list: the standard, pressure class and diameter, the joint, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published price list and returns a verdict, every reason, a line-item quote and the figures it computed.
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
  3. The agent says. Please quote 50 lengths of UNI EN ISO 1452 PN 10 pipe, 160 mm, with Power-Lock rubber ring socket, and 30 lengths of UNI EN ISO 1452 PN 10 pipe. The quote states a total of €8,508.00. The rest of the request is on screen.
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
  5. Blocked, with three findings, all in one answer. Line 1: at 20°C this pipe is rated for 10 bar working pressure, but the duty is 12 bar. Line 2: at 20°C this pipe is rated for 10 bar working pressure, but the duty is 12 bar. The quote states a total of €8,508.00; the list prices give €10,907.40.
  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 and against the stated total.
  7. What this shows: for working pressure that falls as the temperature rises, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
  9. The corrected request. It changes the line 1 PN class to PN 16, the line 2 PN class to PN 16 and the stated total to €16,249.20.
  10. It calls the validator again.
  11. This time the validator clears it.
  12. The validator also returns the line-item quote, on screen.
  13. All three earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's total, €16,249.20, matches the quote.
  14. Three problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean €16,249.20 quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.