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Curious Context Labs

Operations · Custom app

Supplier quote comparison

AI supplier quote comparison for purchasing teams

A purchasing tool that pulls supplier quotes from email into one like-for-like table, with freight, lead times and terms side by side.

01 today

The problem

Quotes come back in every layout imaginable, with different units, pack sizes, freight terms and validity dates. Whoever does purchasing copies them into a spreadsheet by hand to compare, and often just picks the usual supplier because there is no time. Hidden costs, like minimum order charges, get missed.

02 the run

What the AI does

  1. Step 1: Collects quotes for a request from the purchasing inbox in Outlook or Gmail, including PDF and spreadsheet attachments.
  2. Step 2: Pulls out unit prices, pack sizes, freight, lead times, payment terms and expiry dates from each quote.
  3. Step 3: Converts everything to the same unit and currency so the totals compare like for like.
  4. Step 4: Shows the quotes side by side in one screen, with each supplier's past delivery record from your ERP next to the price.
  5. Step 5: Highlights missing items, unusual terms and quotes about to expire, and drafts follow-up questions to suppliers.
  6. Step 6: Creates a draft purchase order in NetSuite, SAP Business One or Xero for the option your buyer picks.

paused: waiting for a person to approve

03 human in the loop

Where a person approves

Your buyer chooses the supplier and approves every purchase order. Any follow-up email to a supplier is shown as a draft for them to send.

04 after

What changes

Buyers compare quotes on one page instead of rebuilding a spreadsheet for every purchase. Decisions take total cost and delivery history into account, not just the headline price.

Results from a real build

[CASE STUDY] We only publish results we can name and check with the client.

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Tell us how your business runs. We'll tell you where AI fits.

A free 30-minute call. You talk, we ask questions, and you leave with a few concrete ideas — or an honest answer that AI isn't the right fix yet.

Working with teams in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.