| name | research |
| description | Survey how best-in-class ERPs and point solutions implement a feature, and produce a findings file at .ai/research/{slug}.md. Use when designing a new feature, evaluating approaches, or answering "how do competitors / SAP / the industry do X". Required before designing any ERP-domain feature (accounting, costing, tax, inventory valuation, RMA, MRP, etc.). Do not use for UI styling questions (copy an existing Carbon screen instead) or for bugs (use root-cause). |
research — competitor best-practice survey
Input: a feature or domain question. Output: .ai/research/{feature-slug}.md with
consensus patterns and a recommendation for Carbon. This skill only researches and
writes the findings file — it does not design, plan, or write code.
Announce at start: "Using the research skill — surveying how competitors
handle {feature}."
Step 1: Classify the domain
Match the request against this table. A feature may match multiple rows (e.g.
"shop floor inspections" → MES + Quality). Research every matching row.
| Domain | Always | Also research | Keywords |
|---|
| Accounting | SAP | NetSuite | GL, AP, AR, invoicing, payments, accruals, journal entries, period close, financial reports |
| Discrete manufacturing | SAP | Epicor | job shops, work orders, BOMs, routing, job costing |
| MES / production tracking | SAP | Manufacturo, First Resonance | real-time tracking, dispatch, machine monitoring, scheduling |
| CNC parts / sheet metal | SAP | Fulcrum, Paperless Parts | quoting, estimating, nesting, RFQ |
| Quality | SAP | 1factory, HighQA |
