Purpose and scope
A score you cannot check is not a score you should rely on.
This methodology explains how Smartreview AI Pvt Ltd ("Smartreview AI", "we") produces the Trust-IQ Score™ for a business software product: what is audited, how each parameter is decided, how the number is calculated, how long results last, and what can never influence it.
It applies to buyers who use the score and to software companies ("Partners") whose products are audited. Partners are also bound by the Master Services Agreement and the Acceptable Use Policy. If either conflicts with this document, the signed agreement prevails.
Audited products only
A product is scored only when its Partner has submitted evidence and completed an audit.
Smartreview AI
Smartreview AI's own audit team runs every audit. No one else can set or change a result.
- Owns the parameter librarySets every requirement and what evidence it needs
- Decides every resultFully met, partially met or not met, and how long evidence stays valid
- Keeps the recordStores every decision and the evidence behind it
How it works
Three steps, the same for every Partner on every plan.
- 1Partner
Submit evidence
Answer every applicable parameter and attach the evidence it asks for.
- 2Smartreview AI
Audit and score
An auditor checks the evidence and rates each parameter.
- 3Published
Get your score
Your Trust-IQ Score™ goes live out of 100, with a valid-until date on every result.
One audit round, decisions final. Before deciding, an auditor may ask the Partner to clarify a response. Once decided, a result cannot be re-argued in the same round. The Partner may submit new evidence at the next annual audit, or at a quarterly review once the result has expired.
How the score adds up
Each applicable parameter receives one status and one score. The Trust-IQ Score™ is the average of those scores, shown out of 100. There are no domain weightings, no hidden multipliers and no fixed number of parameters.
Number of applicable parameters× 100
The parameters
A parameter is one specific requirement a Partner must show with a response and, where stated, supporting evidence. Smartreview AI keeps one parameter library. Each parameter records the requirement, guidance for Partners, whether evidence is mandatory and which categories it applies to. Parameters are grouped into six domains for navigation only; the grouping does not affect the score.
Software development life cycle
Product management
Organization
Security & privacy
Customer support
Innovation
Evidence standards
A response is worth what its evidence shows. Auditors apply four standards to every parameter.
Current
Evidence must be in force on the audit date. An expired certificate, a superseded policy or an out-of-date test cannot support Fully met.
In scope
Evidence must cover the product and legal entity being audited. A certificate that does not cover the product does not satisfy the parameter.
Attributable
Evidence must show who issued or approved it and when. Where the issuer keeps a public register, we may check against it.
No assertion alone
Where a parameter requires evidence, a statement without it cannot be marked Fully met.
Audit cycle, validity and certification
The audit runs on a 12-month cycle. Between audits, results whose evidence has expired are reviewed every quarter, so the score keeps pace with the evidence.
Annual audit
Every applicable parameter is audited once every 12 months, from fresh responses and current evidence. Results never roll over into the next cycle.
Validity set at audit
The auditor decides how long each result is valid, based on the evidence behind it. A result is never valid beyond the expiry of its own evidence, such as a certificate, report or insurance policy.
Quarterly review of expired evidence
An expired result scores 0. The Partner may submit renewed evidence, which Smartreview AI reviews at the next quarterly review. Only expired results are reviewed quarterly; all others stand until the annual audit.
Score expires every 12 months
Every completed audit is certified with its published score, whatever that score is. The score and certification expire 12 months after the audit and never renew automatically; only a new annual audit renews them.
What you cannot buy
Partners pay for the audit service, never the result. The score is earned from checked evidence.
- You cannot buyPointsOnly evidence earns points. Auditors never see plan or billing details.
- You cannot buyA better rankNo sponsored slots. Rankings use the score alone.
- You cannot buyPreferential treatmentSame parameters, standards and audit for every plan.
- You cannot buyA permanent badgeEvery score expires after 12 months. Only a new audit renews it.
No one's pay depends on a result. Offering anything to influence one is a material breach.
Integrity of submissions
By submitting, a Partner confirms that its responses are accurate and complete, that its evidence is genuine and unaltered, and that it is entitled to share that evidence with us for audit.
If we have reasonable grounds to believe a submission is false, misleading, altered or forged, or that a result was obtained by inducement or pressure, we may, after giving the Partner notice and a chance to respond where circumstances allow:
We may also reopen a result if its evidence stops being valid during its period, for example a certificate withdrawn by its issuer or an insurance policy that lapses.
Corrections and records
We fix our mistakes
If a Partner shows we made an error of fact or process, such as auditing the wrong document or missing a file that was submitted, we correct the result and recalculate the score.
- 1RequestEmail support@smartreviewai.io within 30 days of publication
- 2ReviewSmartreview AI checks the record against the evidence already submitted
- 3CorrectThe result is fixed and the score recalculated
A permanent audit trail
Every result, correction and change of valid-until date is recorded. Earlier entries are kept, never overwritten.
- AuditorWho decided
- DateWhen it was decided
- ReasonWhy it was set or changed
Changes to this methodology
- Material changes
Versioned
Material changes are published with a new version number and effective date, so every score can be read against the rules that produced it.
- Before it applies
Notice to Partners
Partners get at least [30] days' notice of a material change before it takes effect, as set out in the Master Services Agreement.
- Next annual audit
New parameters
A new parameter counts toward a Partner's score from its next annual audit, so no score falls because a requirement was added mid-cycle.
- Existing results stand
Changed or retired parameters
A retired parameter leaves the calculation for everyone. When a parameter's wording changes, existing results stand until they expire.
What never counts
The Trust-IQ Score™ is calculated only from audited parameter results.
What a score is - and is not
A Trust-IQ Score™ is
- Smartreview AI's audited outcome, reached in good faith under this published methodology
- Based only on the evidence the Partner submitted for audit
- Valid for the effective and valid-until dates shown
- Consistent, comparable across products and traceable to evidence
A Trust-IQ Score™ is not
- A one-time badge. It is re-earned every year through a fresh audit
- A measure of popularity, reviews or market share
- An endorsement of any product or purchase
A score reflects the evidence at the time of audit. Trust-IQ certification is Smartreview AI's own scheme, independent of accredited certification bodies.
To the extent permitted by law, Smartreview AI is not liable for decisions made in reliance on a Trust-IQ Score™. Use of the score is governed by our Terms & conditions.
Confidentiality, data and contact
What we publish
- Trust-IQ Score™
- Parameters by status
- Results by domain
- Validity dates
- Certification status
What stays confidential
- Partner responses
- Evidence files
- Auditor notes
- Auditor access only
- Plan and billing details
Personal data
- Officer name is not disclosed
- Used only for the audit
- Under our Privacy policy
- Redact what isn't needed
- Kept only as long as needed
Questions, corrections or misuse reports: contact@smartreviewai.io
Proprietary rights notice
This methodology, including its parameter library, evidence guidance, audit procedures, validity rules and scoring arithmetic, is the confidential and proprietary information of Smartreview AI Pvt Ltd and is protected by copyright, trade secret and trademark law, and by patent applications filed by Smartreview AI Pvt Ltd. "Smartreview AI" and "Trust-IQ Score" are trademarks of Smartreview AI Pvt Ltd.
We publish this document so buyers and Partners can understand how a score is produced. Publication grants no licence. Without our prior written permission you may not: (a) copy, adapt or create derivative works of this methodology; (b) use it to build, train, benchmark or improve a competing scoring, rating, review, assessment or certification product or dataset; (c) attempt to derive unpublished parameters, guidance or audit criteria; (d) use our trademarks, badges or scores except as permitted in your agreement with us; or (e) use this document or our data to train any machine-learning or AI system.
We may enforce these rights by any remedy available at law, including injunctive relief, and by suspending or terminating any account, listing or score. Report suspected misuse to contact@smartreviewai.io.
© 2026 Smartreview AI Pvt Ltd. Trust-IQ Score™ Methodology, version 2.0, effective July 11, 2026.