Question 1

What is AECOS Insights?

Accepted Answer

AECOS Insights is an AI-powered document intelligence platform built specifically for the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) industry. It allows you to chat with your construction documents (contracts, specifications, drawings) using advanced AI and get instant answers with source citations.

Question 2

What types of documents does it support?

Accepted Answer

We support PDF, Word (DOCX/DOC), Excel (XLSX/XLS), PowerPoint (PPTX/PPT), and images (JPG, PNG, GIF, WEBP). Our system automatically extracts text, tables, and metadata from all formats using Microsoft MarkItDown technology.

Question 3

How does the AI chat work?

Accepted Answer

Our AI chat uses Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology. When you ask a question, we search your documents using hybrid search (vector + keyword), retrieve the most relevant sections, and send them to the AI (Gemini, GPT-4, Claude, etc.) to generate accurate answers with exact source citations and page numbers.

Question 4

What makes it different from ChatGPT or Claude?

Accepted Answer

Unlike generic AI chatbots, AECOS Insights: (1) Searches YOUR specific project documents, (2) Understands construction terminology (BOQ, tender, specifications, scope of work), (3) Provides exact source citations with page numbers, (4) Offers 6 AI providers to choose from, (5) Has document-specific features like table extraction and cross-referencing.

Question 5

How does the credit system work?

Accepted Answer

Credits are our usage currency. Simple queries cost 1-3 credits, complex RAG queries cost 5-10 credits, and extended reasoning mode costs 15-30 credits. Document uploads and processing are completely free. You get 100 free credits on signup (no credit card required).

Question 6

Do credits expire?

Accepted Answer

No! Credits never expire. Buy once, use whenever. No monthly subscriptions, no hidden fees.

Question 7

How much do credits cost?

Accepted Answer

Our pay-as-you-go pricing: ₹99 for 100 credits, ₹449 for 500 credits, ₹799 for 1,000 credits, ₹3,499 for 5,000 credits. The more you buy, the better the value.

Question 8

Can I get a refund if I'm not satisfied?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're not satisfied within 30 days of your first credit purchase, we'll refund you in full, no questions asked.

Question 9

What is RAG technology?

Accepted Answer

RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) is an AI technique that combines search and generation. Instead of relying on the AI's training data, RAG first searches your documents for relevant information, then uses that context to generate accurate, cited answers. This prevents hallucinations and ensures responses are grounded in YOUR actual documents.

Question 10

What is hybrid search?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid search combines two methods: (1) Vector search - understands meaning and context (semantic similarity), (2) Keyword search - finds exact text matches. This gives you the best of both worlds: broad conceptual search + precise term matching. Perfect for technical AEC documents.

Question 11

Can it handle scanned PDFs?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our system automatically performs OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on scanned documents and images. Even handwritten notes on drawings can be extracted (with varying accuracy depending on handwriting quality).

Question 12

How accurate is table extraction?

Accepted Answer

We use advanced table detection and merging algorithms. For structured tables (like BOQ, payment schedules), accuracy is 95%+. For complex multi-page tables, we automatically merge chunks across pages to provide complete context to the AI.

Question 13

Which AI provider should I use?

Accepted Answer

It depends: Gemini 2.0 (fastest, best for real-time chat), GPT-4 Turbo (most intelligent, complex reasoning), Claude 4 Sonnet (best for long documents, precise), Grok 4 (latest tech, balanced), DeepSeek (cost-effective, high quality). You can switch providers per query.

Question 14

Is my data secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We use enterprise-grade security: (1) End-to-end encryption in transit (TLS 1.3), (2) At-rest encryption via Supabase, (3) Row-level security (RLS) - you can only access your own projects, (4) SOC 2 compliant infrastructure, (5) Regular security audits and penetration testing.

Question 15

Where is my data stored?

Accepted Answer

Your documents are stored on Supabase (PostgreSQL) hosted in AWS Singapore. Vector embeddings are stored in the same database with pgvector extension. We do NOT store your data on AI provider servers - documents are sent to AI only during query processing.

Question 16

Is it GDPR compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We follow GDPR principles: (1) Data minimization - we only collect what's needed, (2) Right to deletion - you can delete projects anytime, (3) Data portability - export your data in JSON format, (4) Consent - explicit user consent for data processing.

Question 17

Can I use it for government/sensitive projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but review your organization's data policies first. We support: (1) Private projects (no public sharing), (2) Role-based access control, (3) Audit logs, (4) Compliance with Indian IT Act. For air-gapped deployments, contact us for enterprise licensing.

Question 18

Does it understand construction terminology?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our system is trained with AEC-specific query expansion. For example: "scope of work" automatically searches for "SOW", "detailed scope", "work breakdown". We understand Indian construction terms like BOQ, tender, DPR, GFC drawings, NBC codes, IS standards.

Question 19

Can it extract Indian Standards (IS codes)?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Ask "list all IS codes" or "find NBC requirements" and the AI will search and extract all references to Indian Standards, National Building Code clauses, and other regulatory requirements from your documents.

Question 20

How does it handle BOQ (Bill of Quantities)?

Accepted Answer

Our table extraction technology automatically detects BOQ tables, even if split across multiple pages. The AI can: (1) Extract complete BOQ in markdown table format, (2) Compare BOQs between tender and contract, (3) Calculate total quantities, (4) Identify missing items.

Question 21

Can multiple team members work on the same project?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Invite team members with different roles: (1) Owner - full control, (2) Editor - upload/edit documents, invite viewers, (3) Viewer - read documents and chat. Perfect for large AEC firms with multiple stakeholders.

Question 22

Is AECOS Insights GFR (General Financial Rules) compliant for PSU procurement?

Accepted Answer

Yes! AECOS Insights adheres to GFR 2017 guidelines for software procurement by Indian PSUs and government departments. We comply with: (1) Rule 144(ix) - Make in India clause with local content certification, (2) Rule 149 - GeM (Government e-Marketplace) registration for SaaS procurement, (3) MeitY empanelment guidelines for cloud service providers, (4) Data residency requirements with India-based hosting.

Question 23

Are you registered on GeM (Government e-Marketplace)?

Accepted Answer

We are in the process of completing our GeM registration as a Service Provider. Once registered, PSUs and government departments will be able to procure AECOS Insights directly through the GeM portal. For immediate requirements, we can participate in tender-based procurement processes.

Question 24

Do you have Make in India certification?

Accepted Answer

Yes! AECOS Insights qualifies as a local product under the "Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017". Our core development is done in India, we use India-based cloud infrastructure (AWS India/Azure India), and we provide Local Content Certificates as required for PSU procurement.

Question 25

What compliance certifications do you have for government sales?

Accepted Answer

We maintain the following compliance standards: (1) ISO 27001 (Information Security Management) - in progress, (2) SOC 2 Type II compliance for data security, (3) CERT-In guidelines compliance for incident response, (4) IT Act 2000 Section 43A compliance for data protection, (5) MeitY cloud empanelment - application in progress. We can provide Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) and Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) as required by tenders.

Question 26

Where is data hosted for government/PSU clients?

Accepted Answer

All data is hosted on MeitY-empanelled cloud infrastructure within India (AWS India Mumbai/Hyderabad or Azure India). We ensure: (1) Data residency in India as per government requirements, (2) No data transfer to foreign servers, (3) Compliance with CERT-In guidelines, (4) Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments, (5) 99.9% uptime SLA with disaster recovery.

Question 27

What payment terms do you support for PSU contracts?

Accepted Answer

We support GFR-compliant payment terms: (1) Milestone-based payments as per contract, (2) Maximum 30% advance payment (if allowed by tender), (3) TDS and GST compliance with proper invoicing, (4) Performance Bank Guarantee (typically 3-10% of contract value), (5) Payment within 30-45 days of invoice submission. Credits never expire, so agencies can purchase in advance without time pressure.

Question 28

Can you participate in government tenders for document management systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We actively participate in tenders for AI-powered document intelligence, contract management systems, and digital transformation projects. We provide: (1) Technical compliance matrix matching RFP requirements, (2) Client references from AEC industry, (3) Past performance certificates, (4) Security and compliance documentation, (5) White-label deployment options for government branding. Contact us at gov-sales@insights.aecos.app for tender support.

Question 29

Do you offer on-premise or air-gapped deployment for sensitive government projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes! For highly sensitive projects (defense, intelligence, critical infrastructure), we offer: (1) On-premise deployment within government data centers, (2) Air-gapped installations with no internet dependency, (3) Private cloud deployment on NIC (National Informatics Centre) infrastructure, (4) Source code escrow arrangements, (5) Dedicated support and training. Contact our enterprise team for custom deployment options.

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