How configurable tables work

Every comparison section (Award Criteria, Items, Cost, Terms & Conditions, Qualitative/Technical, Quote Details) is displayed as a configurable table. You are never locked into the default structure — you can customize what is shown, add your own fields, create formulas, and reorganize columns to match your exact evaluation framework.

Configuring a Table

Each section card has a "Configure Table" button. Clicking it opens a configuration dialog where you can manage all structural aspects of that table.

What You Can Do in Configure Table:

• Show / Hide Fields: Toggle the visibility of default fields. Default fields (those that come with your spend category template) can be hidden but not permanently deleted — you can always toggle them back on.
• Add Custom Fields: Create your own fields to track additional criteria relevant to your decision. Available field types include: Text, Currency, Number, Volume, Weight, Percentage, Date, and more.
• Reorder Fields: Drag and drop to change the column order. Organize fields in whatever sequence makes sense for your analysis.
• Delete Custom Fields: Remove any custom field you've created (but not default fields).
• Rename Custom Fields: Change the display name of any field you've added.

Populating Custom Fields

Once you've added a custom field to a section, you have two ways to fill it with data:

Manual Entry

Click directly into the field cell and type the value. This is ideal for data you already know or have from external sources.

Agent Extraction

Use the section chat on the section card to ask the agent to extract and populate the field from the uploaded quotes.

Example: "Fill in the 'Minimum Order Quantity' field from the quotes."

The agent will search the documents, find relevant information, and automatically populate the field across all suppliers in that section.

Dynamic Custom Fields

In addition to the fields you manually create, the system also generates custom fields autonomously when it detects noteworthy information in a quote that doesn't fit the standard template.

Example: If a supplier includes a price escalation clause in their proposal, the system may automatically add a "Price Escalation" field to the Terms & Conditions section.

These system-created fields are identified by an icon and can be managed exactly like your own custom fields:

• Show or hide them via Configure Table
• Rename them for clarity
• Remove them if they're not relevant to your decision

Calculated Fields

Calculated fields are fully dynamic, formula-driven fields that automatically compute based on other fields in the table. They are ideal for building custom totals, weighted scores, or specialized metrics.

How to Create a Calculated Field

Use the thread chat or the section chat on any section card to define a formula. Simply describe what you want to calculate, and the agent will set it up for you.

Example Requests:

• "Add a calculated field 'Total Project Cost' = Quote Cost + Travel Expenses + Implementation Fee"
• "Create a field 'Price per FTE per Day' = Total Fees / Number of FTEs / Project Duration"
• "Add a weighted score = (Cost Score × 0.4) + (Quality Score × 0.3) + (Delivery Score × 0.3)"
• "Calculate 'Total Unit Cost' = (Base Price + Setup) / Quantity"

Characteristics of Calculated Fields

• Automatically Computed: The formula is evaluated for every row based on the referenced values.
• Live-Updating: If any underlying value changes, the calculated field recalculates instantly. This makes it perfect for sensitivity analysis and scenario planning.
• Fully Integrated: Calculated fields appear in the table just like any other field. You can show, hide, reorder, or delete them via Configure Table.
• Formula Support: The agent supports standard arithmetic operations: addition (+), subtraction (−), multiplication (×), division (/), and parentheses for grouping.

Section Chat for Table Changes

Each section card has its own chat input field (similar to "Ask email agent..." on the Email Tasks card). You can use it in two ways: ask a question — the answer opens in the main thread chat, focused on that section's data. Or request a change — the agent executes it directly on the section table, showing an "Updating section content..." indicator while it works.

Here are the types of changes you can request:

Structural Changes

• Add a new row or field
• Merge or split rows
• Create or update a calculated field

Content-Level Changes

• Re-extract a specific data point from the quotes
• Reformat values (e.g., convert from kg to lbs, or from monthly to annual pricing)
• Fill in missing data across multiple suppliers
• Clarify ambiguous information from the source documents

Example Interactions:

• "Add a field 'On-Time Delivery History' and fill it from the RFQ responses."
• "Convert all weights from pounds to kilograms."
• "Create a calculated field for 'Cost per Unit per Year' = Total Cost / Quantity / Years."
• "The 'MOQ' field looks inconsistent. Re-extract it from the original quotes."

While processing your request, you'll see an "Updating section content..." indicator at the bottom of the card. Once complete, the table refreshes with your changes.

Managing Multiple Custom Configurations

If you're comparing multiple scenarios or need different views for different stakeholders, you can:

• Save your current configuration by name (e.g., "Buyer's View" or "Engineering Focus") — planned for future release
• Switch between configurations to see the same quotes evaluated under different criteria
• Export or share a specific configuration with team members

Tips & Best Practices

Start Simple, Then Add Complexity

Begin with the default fields to understand the data. Once you're familiar with what's available, add custom fields and calculated fields to build your evaluation framework.

Use Naming Conventions

Name custom fields clearly so others on your team understand what they measure. For example, use "Delivered Unit Cost (USD)" instead of "Cost2".

Leverage Dynamic Fields

Let the agent extract data via the inline chat rather than manually typing everything. This reduces errors and is faster for large quote sets.

Build Scoring Models Progressively

Start with simple calculated fields (e.g., total cost). Once those are solid, build weighted scores that combine cost, delivery, quality, and other factors. Test different weights to see how robust your rankings are.

Document Your Formulas

If you create complex calculated fields, consider adding a note or comment in the thread explaining the logic. This helps other team members understand and trust your evaluation.

Summary

The combination of configurable tables, calculated fields, and inline chat gives you complete control over your quote comparison structure. You're never constrained by the default template — you can build any analysis framework your business requires, from simple field reordering to sophisticated weighted scoring models with live recalculation.