Predictika · Siding, panel and soffit orders

An AI sales agent's siding order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an order for LP SmartSide siding and soffit: the product, the lap reveal, the length, the support spacing, the texture, the finish and color, venting, the finish warranty and the number of pieces. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the product rules and returns a verdict and every reason.

Scope: LP SmartSide Trim and Siding orders: 38 Series lap siding and panels, 76 and 190 Series soffit, ExpertFinish and Naturals Collection finishes. See everything this validator covers

This validator models orders for LP SmartSide lap siding, panels and soffit, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Product, size and spacing — the 6, 8 and 12 inch lap reveals in 16 ft lengths, the 8 and 10 ft panels, 4 by 8 ft soffit, and the support spacing each product spans.
  • Texture, finish and color — cedar and brushed smooth textures, primed, ExpertFinish and Naturals Collection finishes, the color numbers each offers, and the finish warranty that applies to prefinished product only.
  • Soffit options and volume — venting on soffit only, the 190 Series special order with its minimum quantity, and the large orders that go to a person for review.

Any siding or soffit order that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. The series names, lap sizes, textures and finish options follow public LP literature; the panel and soffit texture limits, venting, finish warranty, 190 Series minimum, volume review and color numbering are modeled and not published by LP. Not covered: prices (none are modeled, so this page shows no price build-up), trim, batten installation, fasteners, other LP products and taxes.

The AI sales agentBuilds the siding 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.

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
Options that exist only on some products (vented, brushed smooth, a finish warranty)Only with care
Each option is allowed on a different subset of products and finishes, so a rule has to be written and kept in step for every combination.		Every option is checked against the product and finish on every call, in any order the choices arrive.
Sizes and spacing that differ by productOnly with care
Lengths, reveals and the longest support spacing differ between lap, panel and soffit, so each product needs its own rule.		The product, length, reveal and spacing are fields of one request and are checked together on every call.
Finish, color number and reveal that must agreeOnly with workarounds
ExpertFinish, Naturals and primed product each have their own color range and reveal limits, so the rules must look up the finish first and then compare the color and reveal.		The finish, color and reveal are checked together on every call.
A special-order product with a minimum quantity and a large order that needs reviewOnly with workarounds
The 190 Series minimum and the review for large orders depend on the quantity and the product together, and one is a block while the other goes to a person.		The quantity and product are checked together, and a block always outranks a review.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as a step is saved or 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 order; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1An order needs at least 1 piece; the order has 0.
238 Series lap siding comes in 6, 8 and 12 inch reveals; the order has 10 inches.
338 Series lap siding comes in 16 ft lengths; the order has 12 ft.
438 Series panels come in 8 or 10 ft lengths; the order has 9 ft.
5Soffit panels are 4 ft by 8 ft; the order has 10 ft lengths.
6Support spacing of 20 inches on center is not a standard spacing; use 12, 16 or 24.
738 Series siding spans a maximum of 16 inches on center; the order has 20 inches.
838 Series siding spans a maximum of 16 inches on center; the order has 24 inches.
9Panels and soffit are offered in cedar texture only; brushed smooth is a lap siding texture.
10ExpertFinish prefinished lap siding is offered in 6 and 8 inch reveals only.
11The Naturals Collection is offered as 8 inch lap siding only.
12ExpertFinish core colors are numbered 1 to 16; the order has color 17.
13ExpertFinish core colors are numbered 1 to 16; the order has color 0.
14Naturals Collection colors are numbered 1 to 6; the order has color 7.
15Primed product has no factory color; the order lists color 4.
16The finish warranty applies to prefinished (ExpertFinish) products, not primed ones.
17Venting is a soffit option; siding is not vented.
18190 Series soffit is a special order with extended lead time; a person confirms delivery dates.
19190 Series soffit is special order with a minimum quantity of 20 panels; the order has 10.
20190 Series soffit is a special-order primed product; it is not quoted prefinished.
21An order of 2,000 pieces goes to volume review.
22An order of 3,000 pieces goes to volume review.

  

  

    
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. Panels: length, spacing, texture and options: A large order of 9 ft brushed smooth, vented panels with a finish warranty on a primed finish, on wide spacing

    
The agent's request. Please order 2,400 pieces of 38 Series panels in 9 ft lengths, brushed smooth texture, primed finish, vented and with the finish warranty, on 24 inch support spacing. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Panel length. 38 Series panels come in 8 or 10 ft lengths; the order has 9 ft.
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  • Span too wide for 38 Series siding. 38 Series siding spans a maximum of 16 inches on center; the order has 24 inches.
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  • Texture not offered. Panels and soffit are offered in cedar texture only; brushed smooth is a lap siding texture.
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  • Finish warranty needs prefinish. The finish warranty applies to prefinished (ExpertFinish) products, not primed ones.
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  • Vented only for soffit. Venting is a soffit option; siding is not vented.
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  • Large volume. An order of 2,400 pieces goes to volume review.
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2. Panels: length, spacing, texture and options: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please order 1,800 pieces of 38 Series panels in 10 ft lengths, cedar texture, ExpertFinish finish in color 5, with the finish warranty, on 16 inch support spacing. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 1,800 piece(s) ordered, support spacing 16 inches on center.
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3. Soffit: length, spacing, texture and color: Soffit in 10 ft lengths with brushed smooth texture, a Naturals color and a wide spacing

    
The agent's request. Please order 120 pieces of 76 Series soffit in 10 ft lengths, brushed smooth texture, Naturals Collection finish in color 8, on 32 inch support spacing. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Soffit panel length. Soffit panels are 4 ft by 8 ft; the order has 10 ft lengths.
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  • Support spacing not standard. Support spacing of 32 inches on center is not a standard spacing; use 12, 16 or 24.
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  • Span too wide for soffit. Soffit spans a maximum of 24 inches on center; the order has 32 inches.
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  • Texture not offered. Panels and soffit are offered in cedar texture only; brushed smooth is a lap siding texture.
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  • Naturals Collection lap only, 8 inch. The Naturals Collection is offered as 8 inch lap siding only.
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  • Naturals color number. Naturals Collection colors are numbered 1 to 6; the order has color 8.
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4. Soffit: length, spacing, texture and color: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please order 120 pieces of 76 Series soffit in 8 ft lengths, cedar texture, primed finish, vented, on 24 inch support spacing. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 120 piece(s) ordered, support spacing 24 inches on center.
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5. Lap siding: reveal, color and venting: Lap siding with a 12 inch ExpertFinish reveal, an unknown color, venting and wide spacing

    
The agent's request. Please order 400 pieces of 38 Series lap siding with a 12 inch reveal in 16 ft lengths, cedar texture, ExpertFinish finish in color 17, vented, on 24 inch support spacing. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Span too wide for 38 Series siding. 38 Series siding spans a maximum of 16 inches on center; the order has 24 inches.
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  • ExpertFinish lap reveals. ExpertFinish prefinished lap siding is offered in 6 and 8 inch reveals only.
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  • ExpertFinish color number. ExpertFinish core colors are numbered 1 to 16; the order has color 17.
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  • Vented only for soffit. Venting is a soffit option; siding is not vented.
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6. Lap siding: reveal, color and venting: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please order 400 pieces of 38 Series lap siding with a 8 inch reveal in 16 ft lengths, cedar texture, ExpertFinish finish in color 12, with the finish warranty, on 16 inch support spacing. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 400 piece(s) ordered, support spacing 16 inches on center.
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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 LP SmartSide siding and soffit: the product, the lap reveal, the length, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the product rules and returns a verdict and every reason.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please order 120 pieces of 76 Series soffit in 10 ft lengths, brushed smooth texture, Naturals Collection finish in color 8, on 32 inch support spacing. It is ready to send.
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  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with six findings, all in one answer. Soffit panels are 4 ft by 8 ft; the order has 10 ft lengths. Support spacing of 32 inches on center is not a standard spacing; use 12, 16 or 24. Soffit spans a maximum of 24 inches on center; the order has 32 inches. The other three are on screen.
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  6. The validator returned six 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.
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  7. What this shows: for finish, color number and reveal that must agree, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the length to 8 ft, the texture to cedar, the finish to primed and the color number to none. Two more changes are on screen.
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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 six earlier findings are cleared.
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  13. Six problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean order. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    14.