ANVE: the private AI office, on the record. See what that means

ANVE

Private AI glossary · updated 2026-10-16

Annual maintenance contract (AMC)
Keeping an AI box working after the warranty ends: parts, people, patches.

Short answer. An annual maintenance contract (AMC) is an agreement under which a supplier or service firm maintains equipment for a yearly fee, usually starting when the warranty ends. India’s Manual for Procurement of Goods sets out the common terms: the maintenance contract starts after the warranty period, can be placed with the original supplier or another competent firm, and is generally paid half-yearly or quarterly. Complex and large maintenance contracts may include a service level agreement on uptime, response times and escalation, with penalties for delay. The manual also tells buyers to add the discounted cost of several years of maintenance to the purchase price when comparing bids, because cheaper equipment can carry a higher maintenance bill. For an office AI box, an AMC should also cover software and security updates, model updates and repairs that keep data safe.

01

With or without spares

TypeUsually coversWatch for
With spares, often called comprehensive (CMC)Labour and replacement partsWhat counts as a spare and what as a consumable; the manual notes consumables are often excluded even when major parts are included
Without sparesVisits and labour; parts charged extraA guaranteed price list for spares, which the manual suggests asking for with the bid
02

What an AMC for an AI box should cover

  • Hardware: on-site visits, response and repair times, and replacement of failed parts such as drives, memory or fans.
  • Data during repair: failed drives stay with the office or are destroyed on site, never taken away with data on them.
  • Software: operating system and security updates, and how they reach a box that is not on the internet.
  • Models: whether newer model versions are included or charged separately.
  • Service levels: response and repair times, with penalties for delay, as the procurement manual describes.
  • Escalation: named contacts and time limits for each level.
  • End of support: notice before the vendor stops updates.
03

Pricing and evaluation

The manual suggests stating whether maintenance charges include visiting charges, spares and consumables, and whether space and electricity for the contractor are provided free. When several years of maintenance are part of a purchase, it recommends discounting future years to net present value and adding them to the price to rank the bids. It also suggests a clause that the contractor’s prices do not exceed what it charges others for similar services.

04

ANVE and updates

As the /security page sets out, ANVE does not update itself over the internet: today ANVEAI installs updates on site, and signed update packages applied offline by USB are not on ANVE yet. ANVE is pre-release and its final price is not announced, so get maintenance and support terms in writing before a paid pilot.

05

Questions people ask

When should an AMC start?
After the warranty ends. The procurement manual notes that during the warranty period the supplier maintains the goods free of cost.
Must the AMC be with the original supplier?
No. The manual allows it with the supplier or another competent and eligible firm, decided case by case.
How is an AMC usually paid?
The manual says payment for maintenance is generally made half-yearly or quarterly.
Should model updates be part of an AI AMC?
Ask, because a hardware-only AMC would leave out security patches and model updates, and those decide whether the box stays useful.
06

What is not real yet

No sealed ANVE unit exists; every image of the appliance on this site is a labelled render. The software runs today on a development machine. No customers yet, no certifications, no delivery date, and the final price is not announced.

Reservations are ₹999 in India or US$12 elsewhere, refundable in full until you confirm an order in writing (terms). Offices that cannot use cloud AI can apply to be one of ten design partners.