Easy Reserve Study® (EZRS)® filed a provisional patent application describing the technology behind Zee, the platform’s artificial intelligence (AI) assistant. The filing describes a way for Zee to use the information already in your plan, the changes you are considering, and established reserve planning guidance to answer your questions.
Distinguishing Saved Data from Current Edits
Imagine changing your estimate of how many years a roof will last, then asking Zee about that new estimate before saving it. An answer based only on the old estimate could lead you in the wrong direction.
When you ask a question, Zee uses information about the property or item you are working on and the part of the screen you are editing. It keeps the saved information separate from your proposed changes, so it can respond to the change you are actually considering.
This lets you get guidance on a proposed change without first changing the saved record. You can consider the answer before deciding whether to save your edit.
Matching Questions to Reference Answers
Zee also uses a curated collection of reference answers informed by the National Reserve Study Standards (NRSS). It can match questions to these answers even when you phrase the same question differently. It also uses what you are working on to help choose the right explanation.
When a suitable reference answer is selected, the system returns the selected explanation rather than asking an AI service to write a new version. This keeps established explanations consistent instead of rewording them each time someone asks. Managers can draw on those consistent explanations in board discussions.
Supplying Context for Generated Responses
When you need help drafting text, or no suitable reference answer is available, Zee uses AI to create a response. The system supplies relevant application information alongside your question to an AI service.
For example, a community manager changes a roof’s remaining useful life from ten years to five and asks, “How does this affect our reserve planning?” The system uses relevant data from the roof’s component record, so the manager receives an accurate and consistent answer based on their property’s details.
Zee explains that the earlier replacement leaves five fewer years to prepare for the expense. That shorter funding period may require reviewing contributions and other planned expenditures. The response connects the change to the component being edited, helping the manager understand its practical reserve planning implications.
Why the Combination Matters
By combining established explanations with relevant property data and unsaved edits, Zee provides consistent guidance for familiar questions and more tailored responses when needed. For managers, this means less time repeating details and a clearer understanding of how a proposed change could affect reserve planning—before deciding if the change is the best course of action.
The filing is a provisional patent application.
About Easy Reserve Study (EZRS)
EZRS® makes reserve management and capital planning easy—from collecting and managing data to building plans and keeping them current between studies. Built for property management companies, resort management companies, reserve professionals, and the boards they serve, EZRS® brings reserve data, funding scenarios, budgets, and board-ready reports into one platform.
