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Credits Allocation ​

Overview ​

The Credits Allocation system governs how MLC (Meclabs Credits) are distributed, managed, and accessed across the MECLABS AI platform. This hierarchical allocation model supports multiple business scenarios: subscription tiers with pooled credits, re-sellable Customer Kits with bundled credits, and flexible top-up purchases for on-demand usage.

Allocation Hierarchy ​

Organization-Level Pool ​

Each subscription tier includes a monthly allocation of pooled credits shared across all Organization Members:

  • Build Tier: 6,000 MLC pooled credits
  • Sell Tier: 18,000 MLC pooled credits
  • Scale Tier: 75,000 MLC pooled credits

These credits refresh monthly on billing cycle renewal and are accessible to all internal team members.

Customer Kit Credits ​

Customer Kits operate independently from organization pools:

  • Per-Kit Allocation: 1,000 MLC bundled with each $20/month kit
  • Isolation: Kit credits are segregated from organization pools
  • Activation: Credits become available immediately upon kit deployment
  • Target Users: External customers accessing your Agent Delivery System (ADS)

Top-Up Credits ​

Organizations can purchase additional credits on-demand:

  • Pricing: $0.0135 per MLC (35% markup over base compute cost)
  • Pool Integration: Top-ups merge with existing organization pool
  • No Minimum: Purchase any amount based on projected needs
  • Immediate Availability: Credits activate upon payment confirmation

Allocation Rules ​

Monthly Refresh Cycle ​

Billing Cycle

Credits refresh on the monthly anniversary of subscription activation, not calendar months.

  1. Automatic Replenishment: Pooled credits reset to tier allocation on billing date
  2. No Rollover: Unused credits do not carry forward (90-day expiration applies)
  3. Proration: New subscriptions receive full allocation regardless of join date
  4. Downgrades: Credit reduction applies at next billing cycle

21-Day Build Access Pass ​

Special allocation rules apply during the initial build phase:

  • Funded Builds: $10,000 credit allocation for voucher recipients
  • Trial Environment: Credits operate within MECLABS sandbox
  • Acceptance Trigger: Day 21 decision converts to subscription allocation
  • Decline Consequence: Access terminates, no credit transfer

Credit Priority Order ​

When multiple credit sources exist, consumption follows this hierarchy:

  1. Promotional Credits (if applicable)
  2. Subscription Pool Credits (monthly allocation)
  3. Top-Up Credits (purchased on-demand)
  4. Overage Billing (automatic at $0.0135/MLC)

Distribution Mechanisms ​

Organization Members ​

Internal team seats draw from the shared organization pool:

typescript
interface OrgMemberAccess {
  poolType: "organization";
  creditSource: "subscription" | "topup";
  sharedPool: true;
  individualLimit?: number; // Optional per-user caps
}

Customer Kit Assignment ​

Each Customer Kit creates an isolated credit environment:

typescript
interface CustomerKitAllocation {
  kitId: string;
  credits: 1000; // Fixed monthly allocation
  isolation: "complete"; // No cross-kit access
  ownership: "reseller" | "direct";
}

Team-Level Sub-Pools ​

Scale tier organizations can create team-specific allocations:

typescript
interface TeamAllocation {
  teamId: string;
  parentOrgId: string;
  creditBudget?: number; // Optional team limit
  members: string[]; // User IDs with access
}

Automated Provisioning ​

Subscription Activation Flow ​

  1. Payment Confirmation: Stripe webhook triggers allocation
  2. Credit Pool Creation: Organization receives tier-specific credits
  3. Seat Provisioning: Included Org Members activated
  4. Kit Bundling: Sell/Scale tiers receive included Customer Kits
  5. Dashboard Update: Real-time balance reflection

Customer Kit Deployment ​

  1. Purchase/Assignment: Kit allocated from included bundle or purchased
  2. Unique Login Creation: Isolated user account generated
  3. Credit Activation: 1,000 MLC immediately available
  4. ADS Access: Kit user can interact with deployed agents
  5. Usage Tracking: Consumption tracked separately from org pool

Top-Up Processing ​

  1. Purchase Initiation: User requests additional credits
  2. Payment Processing: Stripe handles transaction
  3. Instant Allocation: Credits merge with organization pool
  4. Notification: Admin receives confirmation and updated balance
  5. Audit Trail: Transaction logged for reporting

Allocation Tracking ​

Real-Time Balance Monitoring ​

Organizations access credit information through multiple interfaces:

  • Dashboard Widget: Current balance and burn rate
  • API Endpoint: Programmatic balance queries
  • Email Alerts: Threshold notifications (50%, 75%, 90% consumed)
  • Usage Reports: Historical allocation and consumption data

Attribution Granularity ​

Credit consumption tracks at multiple levels:

typescript
interface CreditAttribution {
  organizationId: string;
  teamId?: string;
  userId: string;
  widgetId?: string;
  timestamp: Date;
  mlcConsumed: number;
  model: string;
  provider: string;
}

Upgrade Triggers ​

Allocation-Based Upgrades ​

The system prompts tier upgrades when allocation limits approach:

Current TierTrigger ConditionRecommended Action
Build>5,000 MLC monthly usageUpgrade to Sell (18,000 MLC)
Sell>15,000 MLC monthly usageUpgrade to Scale (75,000 MLC)
Scale>70,000 MLC monthly usagePurchase top-ups or negotiate enterprise

Kit Allocation Exhaustion ​

When included Customer Kits are fully deployed:

  • Build → Sell: Gain 10 included kits
  • Sell → Scale: Expand to 45 included kits
  • Alternative: Purchase additional kits at $20/month

Billing Integration ​

Stripe Automation ​

Credit allocation integrates with Stripe for seamless provisioning:

  1. Subscription Management: Tier changes trigger reallocation
  2. Usage-Based Billing: Overage charges at $0.0135/MLC
  3. Invoice Generation: Monthly statements include allocation details
  4. Payment Methods: Credit card, ACH, wire (enterprise)

Proration Handling ​

Mid-cycle changes follow these allocation rules:

  • Upgrades: Immediate access to higher allocation
  • Downgrades: Reduced allocation at next billing cycle
  • Cancellations: Credits remain until period end
  • Reactivations: Fresh allocation upon payment

Partner Program Allocations ​

Reseller Credit Management ​

Certified Partners receive special allocation privileges:

  1. Wholesale Kits: Purchase at $20, resell at market rate
  2. Volume Discounts: Negotiable for 100+ kit commitments
  3. White-Label Options: Custom credit branding available
  4. Commission Credits: 40% lifetime value tracked separately

Agency Pool Management ​

Agencies managing multiple client accounts can:

  • Aggregate credits across client organizations
  • Sub-allocate from master pool
  • Generate consolidated usage reports
  • Apply volume-based top-up discounts

Expiration Policy ​

Important

All credits expire 90 days from allocation date, regardless of source.

Expiration Rules ​

  1. Subscription Credits: 90 days from monthly refresh
  2. Customer Kit Credits: 90 days from kit activation
  3. Top-Up Credits: 90 days from purchase date
  4. Promotional Credits: Custom expiration (typically 30-90 days)

Expiration Notifications ​

  • 30 Days: Initial warning email
  • 7 Days: Urgent reminder with balance
  • 1 Day: Final notice before expiration
  • Post-Expiration: Credits removed, dashboard updated

Security and Compliance ​

Access Controls ​

Credit allocation enforces strict security measures:

  • Role-Based Access: Only admins can purchase top-ups
  • Audit Logging: All allocation changes tracked
  • Fraud Prevention: Unusual consumption patterns flagged
  • PCI Compliance: Payment data never stored locally

Data Privacy ​

  • Isolation: Customer Kit usage data segregated
  • Encryption: Credit balances encrypted at rest
  • GDPR Compliance: Usage data exportable/deletable
  • SOC 2: Annual audits verify allocation integrity

API Reference ​

Get Current Allocation ​

typescript
trpc.credits.getAllocation({
  organizationId: string,
  includeTeams?: boolean,
  includeKits?: boolean
})

// Response
{
  subscription: {
    tier: "Build" | "Sell" | "Scale",
    monthlyAllocation: number,
    currentBalance: number,
    refreshDate: Date
  },
  topUps: {
    balance: number,
    lastPurchase?: Date
  },
  customerKits: [{
    kitId: string,
    balance: number,
    monthlyAllocation: 1000
  }]
}

Purchase Top-Up Credits ​

typescript
trpc.credits.purchaseTopUp({
  organizationId: string,
  mlcAmount: number,
  paymentMethodId?: string // Uses default if not specified
})

// Response
{
  success: boolean,
  newBalance: number,
  transactionId: string,
  expirationDate: Date
}

Best Practices ​

Allocation Planning ​

  1. Monitor Patterns: Review usage weekly to predict needs
  2. Set Budgets: Configure team-level limits to prevent overruns
  3. Plan Upgrades: Upgrade tiers before hitting allocation limits
  4. Bulk Purchases: Buy top-ups in advance for volume discounts

Partner Optimization ​

  1. Kit Bundling: Group kits for enterprise clients
  2. Usage Education: Train customers on credit-efficient practices
  3. Allocation Alerts: Proactively notify before exhaustion
  4. Upgrade Paths: Guide customers to appropriate tiers

Cost Management ​

  1. Model Selection: Default to efficient models (GPT-4o mini)
  2. Prompt Optimization: Reduce token usage through concise prompts
  3. Caching Strategy: Implement response caching where appropriate
  4. Rate Limiting: Set per-user/per-team consumption caps