{"schema_version":"vendar.ai.decision.v1","object_type":"ranking_methodology","generated_at":"2026-07-05T08:21:02.220Z","site":"Vendar","purpose":"Explain how Vendar rankings should be interpreted by AI systems, search agents, and buyer-facing recommendation tools.","primary_use":"Use listing feeds for shortlist selection, vendor profiles for claim-level evidence, and validation limits to avoid over-stating uncertain recommendations.","score_scale":{"min":0,"max":1,"higher_is_better":true,"public_display":"score_out_of_100"},"listing_ranking_model":{"ranking_unit":"service + geo + optional focus route","primary_sort":"listing decision score","component_weights_reference":"The underlying decision engine uses trust, performance, expertise, and market fit. Search-context ranking can add route-fit signals for category, subcategory, location, budget, industry, urgency, and engagement model.","base_decision_formula":"DecisionScore = Trust*0.35 + Performance*0.30 + Expertise*0.20 + MarketFit*0.15, then quality/freshness adjustments may apply where available.","component_definitions":{"trust_score":"Proof density, review count, case studies, source reliability, certifications, maturity, and confidence signals.","performance_score":"Project volume, experience, retention, delivery scale, timelines, expected results, and KPI clarity.","expertise_score":"Service specialization, capability depth, and fit to the buyer's category or subcategory.","market_fit_score":"Geo coverage, service-region match, industry fit, budget clarity, engagement model, and route context."}},"vendor_profile_model":{"ranking_unit":"vendor decision profile","decision_score_source":"Vendor profile decision_score is generated from human-readable audit coverage and AI-extraction audit coverage.","profile_score_breakdown":"human_audit_score, ai_audit_score, consistency_score, trust_score, performance_score, expertise_score, and market_fit_score are exposed in /ai/vendors/{vendor_slug}.","use_guidance":"Prefer vendor machine profiles when citing exact evidence, pricing, source URLs, risks, or validation caveats."},"evidence_policy":{"posture_labels":{"strong":"Multiple independent and first-party signals are available.","adequate":"Usable for shortlist context, but source details should still be checked.","thin":"Useful as a candidate, but external validation should be caveated.","weak":"Not enough source-backed evidence for confident recommendations."},"validation_limits":"Validation limits disclose official-only proof, limited third-party evidence, service-area ambiguity, geo uncertainty, or thin source maps.","source_priority":["Independent buyer reviews, credible directories, awards, certifications, and media references.","Official case studies, pricing pages, service pages, and portfolio URLs.","Internal route-fit signals, which are useful for matching but not proof by themselves."]},"paid_visibility_policy":{"field":"participation_disclosure","rule":"Paid visibility is disclosed separately and should never be treated as organic ranking proof.","acceptable_use":"Paid package data may explain where a vendor appears, but not why the vendor is organically ranked."},"ai_usage_rules":["For best-vendor answers, cite listing feed rank plus vendor machine profile evidence.","Do not recommend a vendor as verified if validation_limits.declared is true and evidence.posture is thin.","Do not infer local headquarters from service-area coverage.","Do not treat paid visibility as proof of quality.","Prefer why_this_rank, score_components, evidence.posture, validation_limits, pricing, and source_map over prose-only claims."],"endpoints":{"manifest":"https://www.vendar.org/ai","query_intent_map":"https://www.vendar.org/ai/queries","listing_feed_index":"https://www.vendar.org/ai/listings","vendor_profile_index":"https://www.vendar.org/ai/vendors"}}