Skip to main content

Pricing Agent

Stefan Ciesla
Updated

The Pricing Agent is a chat-based quoting workflow designed to get you to a draft quote in a few minutes, using AI to interpret inputs, match precedents, surface relevant Fee Menus/policies, and draft a quote.

260303-AgentHome.png

What you can do (common outcomes)

  • Create a precedent-based draft quote quickly.
  • Compare and select an optimal Pricing Framework.
  • Review and improve margin using economics and optimisation tools.
  • Generate client-ready drafts via Client Correspondence.

What you need to provide (typical inputs)

  • Work type
  • Jurisdiction
  • Value (when relevant)
  • Key features (specific to the work type)

The Pricing Agent sequence (standard journey)

This is the end-to-end sequence you will follow in most matters. Some steps loop (especially framework selection and economics).

1) Start with source material

  • Attach a term sheet or client email, or describe the matter in chat.

2) Confirm matter features

  • Confirm or correct the inferred work type, jurisdiction, value, and key features.

    260303-QuoteCharas.png

3) Precedent matching

  • The Pricing Agent proposes relevant precedents (and may reference templates/policies).
  • Review the selection before moving on, because it anchors the baseline quote.
260303-PrecedentButton.png

260303-PrecedentBank.png

If the precedents look wrong: tell the Pricing Agent to use different precedents and provide the relevant Matter IDs.

4) Baseline draft quote is created

  • Once precedents and inputs are confirmed, the Pricing Agent prepares a baseline draft quote.

5) Select Pricing Frameworks to compare

  • Once a baseline quote exists, the Pricing Agent will ask which frameworks you want to compare (usually up to three):
    • Time & Materials
    • Fixed Fees
    • Success Fees with Break Fee
260303-inchat-frameworks.png

6) Compare frameworks (side pane)

  • Review side-by-side comparisons in the side pane.
  • This helps you choose the best commercial structure, not just the first draft number.
260303-FrameworksSidePane.png

7) Choose a framework → quote & economics become available for that scenario

  • Once you select a framework, the quote updates to that scenario.

    260303-detailedquote.png
  • You can then review margin and economic analysis for the selected scenario.
260303-econa1.png
260303-econa2.png

You can always change frameworks later. Switching frameworks lets you compare what the economics look like under each scenario.

8) Refine the quote (structure, assumptions, and margin)

  • Edit workstreams (tweak, add, delete).
  • Adjust assumptions and scope descriptions (where configured).
260303-EditQuote.png

9) Produce client-ready output

  • Use Client Correspondence to generate a shareable summary.
  • Export to Word or PDF.
260303-clientcorrespond1.png
260303-clientcorrespond2.png

Use cases (detailed playbooks)

Use these when you want practical guidance for a specific goal. Each playbook references where it sits in the standard journey.

Use case: Create a precedent-based quote (fast, defensible first draft)

Where in the sequence: Steps 1–4

When to use

  • You have a client email or term sheet and want a credible first pass in minutes.

What good looks like

  • Matter features are correct (work type, jurisdiction, value where relevant, key features).
  • The selected precedents are genuinely comparable.
  • The baseline quote structure (work streams and assumptions) is directionally right.

What to do (recommended loop)

  1. Confirm or correct the matter features in chat.
  2. Review the agent’s proposed precedents and rationale.
  3. If you are unsure whether the precedents are comparable, open the Precedent Bank to validate fit.
  4. If you want to steer the quote, tell the Pricing Agent to use specific precedents and provide Matter IDs.

Where to do it

  • Chat: confirm features, challenge or override precedent selection.
  • Precedent Bank: use to sanity-check whether the chosen precedents are suitable.

Common pitfalls

  • Accepting the first precedent match without checking comparability.
  • Correct features (work type/jurisdiction) but mismatched complexity, which can distort fees and margin.

Use case: Select the optimal Pricing Framework (trade-offs + high-level economics)

Where in the sequence: Steps 5–7

When to use

  • You have a baseline quote and need to choose the best commercial structure for the client.

What you’ll see (side pane comparison)

  • High-level trade-offs between options (certainty, upside, risk-sharing).
  • High-level economics for each option so you can spot frameworks that are commercially attractive but economically fragile.
  • Guidance on potential uplift logic where relevant.

What to do

  1. Select up to three frameworks to compare:
    • Time & Materials
    • Fixed Fees
    • Success Fees with Break Fee
  2. Review the side-by-side comparison in the side pane.
  3. Choose a framework.

Important sequencing note

  • You only get full economic analysis after you have chosen a framework.
  • You can always switch frameworks later to compare economics across scenarios.

Where to do it

  • Framework selection: in chat.
  • Comparison view: side pane.

Common pitfalls

  • Selecting a framework based on preference before checking the economics and risk-sharing trade-offs.

Use case: Optimise margin (understand the drivers, then use the right lever)

Where in the sequence: Steps 7–8

When to use

  • You have selected a framework and the economics show margin below target (or fragile under overruns).

Understand profit dynamics (what typically moves margin)

  • Fees: total fees and how they are distributed across work streams.
  • Resourcing: allocation assumptions that drive cost and hours.
  • Realisation and discounts: changes directly affect effective rates and profitability.
  • Overrun sensitivity: how quickly margin degrades if delivery overruns assumptions.

Improve margin (recommended order of operations)

  1. Tighten or clarify assumptions and scope first (improves defensibility and can reduce risk).
  2. Adjust structure (work streams) to better reflect how the matter will actually be delivered.
  3. Use fee levers (discounts, realisation) where appropriate.
  4. Use optimisation tools to explore options:
    • Maximise Profitability (resourcing optimisation)
    • Optimise Time (uplift and hours trade-offs)
  5. If edits create inconsistencies between totals and line items, use the Assistant to reconcile.

Where to do it (tools and locations)

  1. Fees options: three dots next to Fees.

    260303-ToolsFeeOpts.png
  2. Maximise Profitability: quote screen tool.

  3. Optimise Time: quote screen tool.

    260303-ToolsFeeOpts-Profit.png
  4. Assistant: side pane helper.
260303-ToolsAssist.png

Tool finder (when you know what you want to do)

Use this section when you are not following the chat-led sequence and just need to locate the right control.

  • Precedent Bank: validate precedent fit.
  • Pricing Framework comparison: side pane after selecting frameworks.
  • Fees options (three dots next to Fees): realisation, discounts, return to AFAs, maximise profitability.
  • Economic analysis: available after choosing a framework.
  • Maximise Profitability: suggests optimal resourcing configuration and shows impact on profit score.
  • Optimise Time: suggests uplift and hours trade-offs to reach target margins.
  • Client Correspondence (top right): client-ready summary, toggle fee visibility, export Word/PDF.
  • Quote management options (three dots next to Client Correspondence): share link, review features, open in Quote Builder.
  • Assistant: resolves inconsistencies between totals and line items.

Fee Menus (simplified fixed-fee quoting)

Fee Menus are pre-configured fixed-fee scales that can be associated with specific clients and work types, and set up in the admin area. When a Fee Menu applies, the quote creation experience becomes a simplified, question-driven flow.

Use this section when you start a quote and Ayora detects that a relevant Fee Menu exists for the selected client.

  1. Select the client when starting the quote

    • If Ayora finds a Fee Menu associated with that client (and the relevant context), you will be offered a simplified Fee Menu flow.
    260303-FeeMenuS.png

  2. Complete the Fee Menu questions

    • You will see a simplified form with pre-configured questions.
    • Each answer helps determine the fixed fee price.
    260303-FeeMenuP.png

  3. Review the calculated fee output

    • Ayora calculates the resulting price based on your selections.
    260303-FeeMenuO.png

  4. Use the simplified economic analysis (hours vs profit margin)

    • Designed for fixed-fee arrangements.
    • Shows how many hours are available to spend to achieve a target profit margin.
    • Illustrates how profit margin decays as hours spent increase.
    260303-FeeMenuEA.png
  5. Return to the Pricing Agent when Fee Menus do not apply
    • If no Fee Menu applies, you can continue with the normal Pricing Agent-led quoting process (or use Quote Builder).

Note: Fee Menus are, by definition, fixed-fee arrangements. Related concepts (such as fixed-fee scope items) are covered separately.

Powered by Zendesk