Predictika · Commercial seating orders

An AI sales agent's Civara task seating order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an order for Civara task chairs and stools from the KI price list: the back style, base, arms, headrest, frame color, casters, cylinder height, mesh color and upholstery grade on each of two order lines. 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: Civara task chair and task stool orders at the published KI list prices: model, frame color, casters, cylinder, mesh color and upholstery grade, on up to two order lines. See everything this validator covers

This validator models Civara task seating orders as listed in the KI Civara Task Seating Price List (effective September 2, 2026), not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Models and prices — the 32 Civara models (upholstered or mesh back, task chair or stool, 5-star plastic or aluminum base, no arms or 4D arms, with or without headrest), each with its published delivered list price; the warm grey frame adds $88 and the black and white designer casters add $20 per seat.
  • Upholstery — the fabric is priced as the model's yardage (1 yard on an upholstered back, 0.75 yards on a mesh back) times the list price per yard of the chosen grade, B through S; every seat needs a grade or customer own material (C.O.M.), and C.O.M. goes to a person because KI must approve it before production.
  • Options that must fit the model — a task chair needs a low-height or standard-height cylinder, the cylinder options are for task chairs only, a mesh back needs a mesh color (black, charcoal, fog, nickel or ocean) and an upholstered back takes none.
  • Limits and stated figures — the 300 pound weight rating, quantities, and a stated total that must equal the computed delivered total.

Any Civara order that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: other KI product lines, C.O.M. yardage for large orders, dealer or contract discounts, installation, taxes, special services and lead times. Assumptions: the frame and caster upcharges are per seat, the model's yardage is taken from the non-contrast C.O.M. yardage printed beside each model, and a quote can have two order lines. Prices are the list prices in the September 2, 2026 price list and may change.

The AI sales agentBuilds the seating order from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, 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
Options that are valid only on some models, such as cylinders on chairs and mesh color on mesh backsOnly with care
Each option needs a dependency rule tied to the model, and every price-list update means editing those rules.		The option is checked against the model on every call, together with all the other rules.
Prices built from a model price, frame and caster upcharges and yardage times a grade priceOnly with care
A price rule per upcharge plus a yardage table, with the mesh and upholstered yardage kept apart; it works, but it has to be kept in step with the list.		Each line is priced from its model, options and grade on every call and the lines are added into the total.
Stated totals that must equal the computed delivered totalOnly with care
A stated figure is a free-entry field; a rule can compare it with a computed total, but the total depends on everything above.		The stated total travels with the quote and is compared with the computed total on every call.
Two order lines where an unused line must not be checkedOnly with workarounds
Rules per line fire whether or not the line is used unless each is guarded, which is easy to miss.		Each line is checked only when it has a quantity.
Customer own material that needs a personOnly with care
This is not an error but needs sign-off, and an approval step is easy to leave out.		The approval is raised when the order asks for it, and the order cannot be released until it is approved.
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.

    
1The order has 0 on line 1 and 10 on line 2; line 1 needs at least 1 and line 2 cannot be negative.
2The order has 40 on line 1 and -1 on line 2; line 1 needs at least 1 and line 2 cannot be negative.
3The heaviest user weighs 301 pounds; Civara task seating has a 300 pound weight rating.
4Line 1 is a task chair, which needs a low-height or standard-height cylinder; none is chosen.
5Line 2 is a task stool; the low-height and standard-height cylinder options are available on task chairs only.
6Line 1 has a mesh back and no mesh color is chosen.
7Line 2 has an upholstered back, so a mesh color does not apply.
8Line 1 has no upholstery grade or customer own material chosen.
9Line 2 has no upholstery grade or customer own material chosen.
10Line 1 uses customer own material (C.O.M.); KI must approve the material before production, so a person should confirm it.
11The order states a total of $63,680.00; the list prices give $62,750.00.
12Line 2 uses customer own material (C.O.M.); KI must approve the material before production, so a person should confirm it.
13The order states a total of $63,679.99; the list prices give $63,680.00.
14The order states a total of $63,681.00; the list prices give $63,680.00.
15The order states a total of $63,680.00; the list prices give $67,200.00.
16The heaviest user weighs 320 pounds; Civara task seating has a 300 pound weight rating.
17Line 1 has an upholstered back, so a mesh color does not apply.

  

  

    
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. Mesh color and stool cylinders: A community college lab order of mesh task chairs and stools

    
The agent's request. Please quote 36 mesh-back task chairs with an aluminum base and 4D adjustable arms, a black frame, standard casters, a standard-height cylinder and grade B upholstery, plus 12 upholstered-back task stools with a plastic base and no arms, a white frame, designer casters, a standard-height cylinder and grade E upholstery. The heaviest user weighs 250 pounds. The quote states a delivered total of $56,967.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Mesh color missing on line 1. Line 1 has a mesh back and no mesh color is chosen.
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  • Cylinder option on a stool, line 2. Line 2 is a task stool; the low-height and standard-height cylinder options are available on task chairs only.
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2. Mesh color and stool cylinders: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 36 mesh-back task chairs with an aluminum base and 4D adjustable arms, a black frame, standard casters, a standard-height cylinder, fog mesh and grade B upholstery, plus 12 upholstered-back task stools with a plastic base and no arms, a white frame, designer casters and grade E upholstery. The heaviest user weighs 250 pounds. The quote states a delivered total of $56,967.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 48 seats on 2 order lines, delivered total of $56,967.00 at list price.
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3. Upholstery grade and stated total: A clinic office order of upholstered task chairs and stools with warm grey frames

    
The agent's request. Please quote 24 upholstered-back task chairs with an aluminum base and 4D adjustable arms and a headrest, a warm grey frame, standard casters, a low-height cylinder, plus 8 upholstered-back task stools with an aluminum base and no arms, a black frame, standard casters and grade H upholstery. The heaviest user weighs 250 pounds. The quote states a delivered total of $45,368.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Upholstery grade missing on line 1. Line 1 has no upholstery grade or customer own material chosen.
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  • Stated total does not match. The order states a total of $45,368.00; the list prices give $44,504.00.
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4. Upholstery grade and stated total: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 24 upholstered-back task chairs with an aluminum base and 4D adjustable arms and a headrest, a warm grey frame, standard casters, a low-height cylinder and grade H upholstery, plus 8 upholstered-back task stools with an aluminum base and no arms, a black frame, standard casters and grade H upholstery. The heaviest user weighs 250 pounds. The quote states a delivered total of $47,480.00. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 32 seats on 2 order lines, delivered total of $47,480.00 at list price.
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5. Customer own material: A school district office order with customer own fabric on one line

    
The agent's request. Please quote 30 upholstered-back task chairs with a plastic base and 4D adjustable arms, a black frame, standard casters, a standard-height cylinder and the customer's own material upholstery, plus 10 mesh-back task chairs with an aluminum base and no arms, a black frame, designer casters, nickel mesh and grade C upholstery. The heaviest user weighs 250 pounds. The quote states a delivered total of $43,207.50. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Cylinder height missing on line 2. Line 2 is a task chair, which needs a low-height or standard-height cylinder; none is chosen.
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  • Customer own material on line 1. Line 1 uses customer own material (C.O.M.); KI must approve the material before production, so a person should confirm it.
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6. Customer own material: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 30 upholstered-back task chairs with a plastic base and 4D adjustable arms, a black frame, standard casters, a standard-height cylinder and the customer's own material upholstery, plus 10 mesh-back task chairs with an aluminum base and no arms, a black frame, designer casters, a low-height cylinder, nickel mesh and grade C upholstery. The heaviest user weighs 250 pounds. The quote states a delivered total of $43,207.50. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Customer own material on line 1. Line 1 uses customer own material (C.O.M.); KI must approve the material before production, so a person should confirm it.
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  • Order summary. 40 seats on 2 order lines, delivered total of $43,207.50 at list price.
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7. Customer own material: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 30 upholstered-back task chairs with a plastic base and 4D adjustable arms, a black frame, standard casters, a standard-height cylinder and grade L upholstery, plus 10 mesh-back task chairs with an aluminum base and no arms, a black frame, designer casters, a low-height cylinder, nickel mesh and grade C upholstery. The heaviest user weighs 250 pounds. The quote states a delivered total of $49,927.50. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 40 seats on 2 order lines, delivered total of $49,927.50 at list price.
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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 an order for Civara task chairs and stools from the KI price list: the back style, base, arms, 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. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please quote 36 mesh-back task chairs with an aluminum base and 4D adjustable arms, a black frame, standard casters, a standard-height cylinder and grade B upholstery. The heaviest user weighs 250 pounds. The rest of the request is on screen. The quote states a delivered total of $56,967.00.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with two findings, all in one answer. Line 1 has a mesh back and no mesh color is chosen. Line 2 is a task stool; the low-height and standard-height cylinder options are available on task chairs only.
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  6. The validator returned two 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 options that are valid only on some models, such as cylinders on chairs and mesh color on mesh backs, 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 sets the line 1 mesh color to fog. It removes the line 2 cylinder.
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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. The validator also returns the line-item quote. It starts with Civara mesh-back task chair and Upholstery grade B; the other three lines are on screen.
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  13. Both earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's total, $56,967.00, matches the quote.
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  14. Two problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean $56,967.00 quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    15.