When you don't provide real data for a material gap, MAIA uses industry benchmarks as proxies. Every conclusion built on benchmark data is flagged — you always know what's estimated versus what came from your actual data.
What Benchmarks Are
Benchmarks are standardized proxy values derived from published research, regulatory filings, industry surveys, and recognized associations. For example, if you haven't provided your company's revenue growth rate, MAIA might use the SaaS industry median growth rate from a named, cited source.
Benchmarks are not guesses. Each one comes from a governed source with attribution — you can see exactly where the number came from.
How Benchmarks Are Flagged
When a benchmark enters the pipeline, it is tagged as proxy data. This tag follows it through every downstream stage:
- Dependency mapping — dependencies built on benchmark inputs are marked
- Disruption scenarios — scenarios influenced by benchmarks are noted
- Cascade analysis — cascade chains that flow through benchmark-based nodes are flagged
- Countermeasures — stabilizers designed against benchmark-derived risks are identified
- Decision Brief — the final brief clearly indicates which findings are benchmark-derived
This transparency is deliberate. It helps you judge how much weight to put on each finding.
Replacing Benchmarks with Real Data
You can always re-run a rehearsal with real data to replace benchmark-based analysis. During Gap Resolution, choose "I Have This Data" instead of "Accept Benchmark" and provide your actual numbers. The entire downstream analysis recalculates from your real inputs.