The escrow system is designed to protect both buyers and sellers by holding funds securely until an automation is fully delivered and meets the agreed Definition of Done (DoD).

1. Purpose of Escrow

• For Buyers: Ensures you only pay for working automations. Funds are released only after you approve completion.
  
• For Sellers: Guarantees payment is available and will be released once you deliver according to DoD. No risk of unpaid work.
  

2. Escrow Flow Overview

1. Buyer Pays
   
   • When a buyer purchases an automation, payment goes into Autonoms AI’s escrow wallet.
     
   • Funds are not released immediately to the seller.
     
2. Seller Notification
   
   • Seller is notified of purchase and can see escrow status (e.g., Pending, Funded).
     
3. Work & Deployment
   
   • Seller delivers automation through the documented process: consultation → demo → feedback → deployment.
     
4. Definition of Done (DoD)
   
   • Once the automation meets DoD standards (working in buyer’s environment, customized as agreed, tested successfully), the buyer is asked to approve completion.
     
5. Buyer Approval
   
   • Buyer approves project completion inside the Autonoms platform.
     
   • If buyer has concerns, they can request fixes (within scope) before approval.
     
6. Funds Release
   
   • Upon approval, funds are automatically released from escrow to the seller.
     
7. Dispute Resolution (If Needed)
   
   • If buyer and seller disagree, funds remain in escrow until Autonoms AI mediates via the conflict resolution process.
     

3. Escrow Status Stages

Inside the dashboard, both buyer and seller see clear escrow statuses:

• Pending: Buyer has initiated payment, waiting for confirmation.
  
• Funded: Funds are securely held in escrow.
  
• In Progress: Seller has begun work.
  
• Awaiting Approval: Seller has marked automation as complete, awaiting buyer sign-off.
  
• Released: Buyer has approved, funds transferred to seller.
  
• Disputed: Buyer or seller raised an issue; funds temporarily frozen until resolution.
  

4. Escrow Release Conditions

Funds are released to the seller when:

✅ Automation is deployed in buyer’s private environment.

✅ All agreed customizations (within scope) are implemented.

✅ The automation passes functional testing.

✅ Buyer approves completion in the platform.

5. Conflict & Dispute Handling

Conflicts can arise when:

• Buyer refuses approval despite automation meeting DoD.
  
• Seller fails to deliver or misses requirements.
  
• Buyer requests out-of-scope changes without agreement.
  

Resolution Process:

• Escrow remains frozen during disputes.
• Autonoms AI reviews
• A final decision is made:
  • Approve release to seller.
  • Refund to buyer.
  • Partial settlement if both parties share responsibility.
    

6. Transparency & Accountability

• Buyers see exactly what they’re paying for (documentation, subscriptions, costs).
  
• Sellers see exactly what they’ll earn once DoD is met.
  
• Both parties have full visibility of escrow status at every stage.
  

7. Post-Escrow Opportunities

Once escrow is closed, buyers can:

• Re-engage sellers for ongoing work (milestones, contracts, or monthly retainers).
  
• Use AI-Ops-as-a-Service for continuous automation support.
  

📌 Key Takeaways

• Escrow protects buyers from paying upfront for unfinished work.
  
• Escrow protects sellers from unpaid labor by guaranteeing funds.
  
• Payment is only released once DoD is verified.
  
• Autonoms provides conflict resolution if issues arise.
  

✨ This escrow model ensures Autonoms becomes a trusted marketplace where sellers and buyers both feel secure — speeding adoption while eliminating risk.