Is this tool forward-looking or a forensic, after-the-fact analysis?

Why it matters: Nodes & Links, Foresight, nPlan and ALICE describe forecasting, risk and what-if work on live schedules. Steelray Delay Analyzer describes a half-step forensic analysis per AACE RP 29R-03; SmartPM lists windows analysis and time impact analysis. In the demo: Use forecasting tools for early warning and mitigation, and ask your scheduling expert which method the claim will rely on before choosing a delay tool.

Which method does it run, and can it be named in a report?

Why it matters: Steelray names its method (AACE RP 29R-03, MIP 3.4, half-step with the Daily Progress Method). We did not record a named method from the other schedule vendors. In the demo: Ask the vendor to put the method, its assumptions and any settings in writing so the analysis can be described and defended.

Can the other side reproduce the result?

Why it matters: Steelray lists Excel exports and progress-only schedule exports; Nodes & Links says its answers are auditable back to source. A result that cannot be rerun from the same updates is hard to rely on. In the demo: Confirm you can export inputs, outputs and every schedule update as submitted, not just a dashboard view.

Will it help you hit notice deadlines, or only find them?

Why it matters: First Rule, Document Crunch and Provision flag clauses with citations; First Rule names notice requirements and liquidated damages, and Document Crunch's Project Assist covers notices. In the demo: Ask for a cited list of every notice clause, time bar and change procedure, and give it to the field team at kickoff.

Where is the cost record, and is it signed?

Why it matters: Clearstory describes signed digital T&M tags, shared COR logs and rate libraries; its COR Review Agent is listed as closed beta. In the demo: Ask how edits after signature are tracked and whether the log exports with dates, signers and rates intact.

What happens to your contract and schedule data?

Why it matters: Nodes & Links says data never touches public LLMs and cites ISO 27001; Clearstory says it does not train AI models on customer data; Document Crunch cites SOC 2. These are vendor statements. In the demo: Before uploading claim documents, check with counsel about privilege and confidentiality, and ask the vendor for retention and deletion terms in writing.

Home / Guides / Questions to ask before using AI or software on a claim or delay analysis

Questions to ask before using AI or software on a claim or delay analysis

A checklist for anyone thinking about using software on a construction claim or delay analysis. These are our suggestions, drawn from our claims and contract-risk articles. They are not findings: Means & Methods Lab has not tested any tool, and nothing here is legal advice. A claim's strategy belongs with counsel and qualified experts. Where a question mentions a vendor, it points to something that vendor publishes.

SUGGESTIONS, NOT FINDINGS. No tool has been tested by Means & Methods Lab. Vendor facts are desk research from vendor websites and are not verified. Updated 2026-10-15.

The questions (6)

Q01Is this tool forward-looking or a forensic, after-the-fact analysis?
WHY IT MATTERS · Nodes & Links, Foresight, nPlan and ALICE describe forecasting, risk and what-if work on live schedules. Steelray Delay Analyzer describes a half-step forensic analysis per AACE RP 29R-03; SmartPM lists windows analysis and time impact analysis.
IN THE DEMO · Use forecasting tools for early warning and mitigation, and ask your scheduling expert which method the claim will rely on before choosing a delay tool.
Q02Which method does it run, and can it be named in a report?
WHY IT MATTERS · Steelray names its method (AACE RP 29R-03, MIP 3.4, half-step with the Daily Progress Method). We did not record a named method from the other schedule vendors.
IN THE DEMO · Ask the vendor to put the method, its assumptions and any settings in writing so the analysis can be described and defended.
Q03Can the other side reproduce the result?
WHY IT MATTERS · Steelray lists Excel exports and progress-only schedule exports; Nodes & Links says its answers are auditable back to source. A result that cannot be rerun from the same updates is hard to rely on.
IN THE DEMO · Confirm you can export inputs, outputs and every schedule update as submitted, not just a dashboard view.
Q04Will it help you hit notice deadlines, or only find them?
WHY IT MATTERS · First Rule, Document Crunch and Provision flag clauses with citations; First Rule names notice requirements and liquidated damages, and Document Crunch's Project Assist covers notices.
IN THE DEMO · Ask for a cited list of every notice clause, time bar and change procedure, and give it to the field team at kickoff.
Q05Where is the cost record, and is it signed?
WHY IT MATTERS · Clearstory describes signed digital T&M tags, shared COR logs and rate libraries; its COR Review Agent is listed as closed beta.
IN THE DEMO · Ask how edits after signature are tracked and whether the log exports with dates, signers and rates intact.
Q06What happens to your contract and schedule data?
WHY IT MATTERS · Nodes & Links says data never touches public LLMs and cites ISO 27001; Clearstory says it does not train AI models on customer data; Document Crunch cites SOC 2. These are vendor statements.
IN THE DEMO · Before uploading claim documents, check with counsel about privilege and confidentiality, and ask the vendor for retention and deletion terms in writing.

What to bring

The contract and all modifications, with the notice and changes clauses marked.
Every schedule update as submitted (native XER or MPP), not just PDFs.
Daily reports, T&M tags and change order logs for the period in question.
The name of your scheduling expert or counsel, if retained.

Sources

Steelray Delay Analyzer https://steelray.com/DelayAnalyzer/DelayAnalyzerP6.php
Nodes & Links https://nodeslinks.com/
First Rule: AI contract review https://www.firstrulecm.ai/ai-contract-review-construction
Clearstory AI https://www.clearstory.build/clearstory-ai
Clearstory pricing and FAQ https://www.clearstory.build/pricing

Tools mentioned (alphabetical, not ranked)

Clearstory · Change orders & T&M tags
Document Crunch · Contract & document review
First Rule · AI construction contract review
Foresight · Predictive schedule analytics & delay risk
Nodes & Links · AI project controls & schedule analysis
Provision · Contract & document review
SmartPM · Schedule analytics & project controls
Steelray Delay Analyzer · Forensic delay & critical path analysis (Primavera P6)

Side-by-side comparisons

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