The Human-in-the-Loop Advantage: How Agentic AI Elevates, Not Replaces, Estimators

In our ongoing exploration of non-linear pricing, we’ve shown how agentic AI can help signage teams move from chaos to clarity.

First, we reimagined quoting as an adaptive, human-centered process in From Chaos to Clarity: Non-Linear Agentic AI for Signage Pricing. Then, we explored how the RAG-powered Knowledge Library serves as the intelligence core in The Knowledge Engine Behind Non-Linear Pricing.

Now, we turn to the most important part of the system: the people who use it.

Automation Was Never the Goal

At CellaNova Technologies, we’ve seen firsthand that automation alone doesn’t solve pricing challenges — especially in industries like signage, where every project is unique.

A purely automated system can generate fast results, but it can’t capture the nuance, experience, and judgment that seasoned estimators bring to every quote.

That’s why our CustomCore Systems use a human-in-the-loop design — ensuring AI works with estimators, not instead of them.

AI as a Co-Pilot, Not a Replacement

In traditional quoting tools, automation replaces steps. In an agentic system, it enhances human decision-making.

Each AI agent in our non-linear pricing solution plays a distinct role:

• The retrieval agent surfaces relevant materials, specs, or past jobs from the Knowledge Library.

• The context agent aligns details — like materials or labor — with current project parameters.

• The drafting agent generates proof and proposal templates with consistent formatting and pricing logic.

But every one of those agents feeds their output back to a human estimator for review, refinement, and approval.

The system adapts to how people think — not the other way around.

Empowering Better, Faster Decisions

By keeping humans in the loop, the system unlocks the best of both worlds:

• Speed: AI automates data retrieval, formatting, and first drafts.

• Intelligence: Estimators focus on judgment, negotiation, and client-specific nuance.

• Creativity: Designers and project managers gain more time for what really matters — crafting visual impact and client experience.

It’s not just about faster quotes — it’s about better decisions at every step.

Collaboration in the Agentic Workspace

The workspace-centric UI brings this human-AI partnership to life.

Within a single screen, estimators can:

• Chat with AI agents to refine proposals in real time.

• View canvas previews of proofs and attachments.

• Adjust materials, pricing, or specs — with the system updating downstream calculations instantly.

Every conversation, edit, and approval strengthens the system’s understanding of what “good” looks like — reinforcing consistency across future quotes.

Building Trust Through Transparency

Trust is at the heart of any pricing system. When AI handles part of the workflow, transparency is key.

That’s why the CustomCore interface makes every decision explainable. Estimators can see where data came from, which rules were applied, and how final pricing was generated.

No black boxes. No guesswork. Just clarity and control.

The Future of Human-AI Collaboration in Pricing

Non-linear pricing is more than a technical innovation — it’s a collaborative evolution.

The best estimators don’t lose their value in an AI-powered world. They multiply it. With agentic AI handling the heavy lifting, teams can focus on creativity, precision, and customer relationships.

At CellaNova, we’re building systems where AI adapts to humans — not humans to AI. Because technology should amplify expertise, not erase it.

Learn more about how CustomCore Systems bring human intelligence and agentic automation together at www.cellanovatech.com.

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