"VOLT" Releases "Hidden Cost Discovery AI" for Web Production Costs - AI Detects Additional Cost Risks by Uploading Estimates

For users of "VOLT" (https://volt-web.dev), we have released "Hidden Cost Discovery AI" on our platform, which uses AI to pre-detect additional cost risks included in web production estimates.

Tool URL: https://volt-web.dev/tools/hidden-cost-detector

Why Do "Additional Costs" Occur in Web Production?

According to a survey by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, approximately 62% of small and medium-sized enterprises have experience outsourcing website production (Source: Small and Medium Enterprise Agency "Survey on IT Utilization by Small and Medium Enterprises"). However, web production estimates are often filled with technical jargon, and many clients cannot accurately decipher what is included and what is not.

The web production industry is plagued by disputes where initial estimates are presented cheaply, only for additional charges to be levied mid-production with claims like "This is an extra charge." Specific patterns include:

• Responsive design (smartphone display) as an additional charge
• Contact form setup as an additional charge
• SSL certificate (HTTPS conversion) as an additional charge
• Minor text revisions after launch as an additional charge
• Photo selection and processing as an additional charge
• Basic SEO setup (meta information settings, etc.) as an additional charge
• Initial server and domain setup as an additional charge

The problem is not that these items are "not included" in themselves, but rather that contracts are signed without the client realizing they are "not included.".

How to Use "Hidden Cost Discovery AI"

Operation is completed in 3 steps.

STEP 1 ── Upload Estimate

Upload the web production estimate received from another company in image (JPG/PNG) or PDF format. Since OCR automatically recognizes text, it can also handle estimates taken with a smartphone camera, even if they are paper documents. Handwritten estimates are not supported.

STEP 2 ── AI Analyzes Estimate

The AI reads the items in the estimate and cross-references them with generally required processes and functions in web production. It extracts items not clearly stated in the estimate as "unlisted items" and displays the probability of additional costs occurring, based on past production trouble cases, in three levels: "High," "Medium," and "Low.".

STEP 3 ── Output Checklist

The detection results are displayed as a "Pre-Order Checklist." Each item includes specific confirmation phrases like "Please ask the production company this," which can be used directly when inquiring with the production company.

Main Items Subject to Detection

• Presence and scope of responsive design
• Initial setup and customization scope of CMS (WordPress, etc.)
• Upper limit of revisions and fee structure for exceeding it
• Costs for procuring materials (photos, illustrations, icons)
• Presence of post-launch maintenance and operational costs
• Ownership and management rights of domain and server
• Scope of basic SEO setup
• Introduction of access analysis tools
• Handover of data (design files, etc.) after delivery

3 Usage Scenarios

1. When Comparing Estimates from Multiple Companies

Company A is 500,000 yen, Company B is 800,000 yen. While Company A may seem cheaper at first glance, it's not uncommon for Company B to include responsive design, SEO setup, and 3 months of maintenance. By running each company's estimate through this tool, you can compare "included items" and "not included items" in a standardized format.

2. For Internal Approval Before Finalizing Budget

Whether "additional costs will occur" is the point that most concerns business owners and decision-makers. Attaching the checklist from this tool to internal documents makes it easier to get approval, as it demonstrates that "the validity of the estimate has been verified by a third-party tool.".

3. Final Check Before Contract with Production Company

By performing a final check with this tool just before signing the contract, you can prevent disputes over additional charges during production by clarifying which items are "unlisted but confirmed" and which are "unlisted and unconfirmed.".

Future Feature Additions

"Hidden Cost Discovery AI"