Evidence matrices
Compare candidates, suppliers or items against your criteria by the evidence each one supplied, with no scores and no automated rejection. A person reviews every matrix and makes every decision.
Updated 11/10/2026
An evidence matrix is a table for fair screening and comparison. Each row is a candidate, supplier or item. Each column is one of your criteria, for example "holds a current Gas Safe registration". Each cell says only whether the information supplied shows that criterion, with the exact words that show it and where they came from. A list of clarification questions sits alongside, so you can ask for anything missing.
Nexra never scores, ranks or rejects anyone. A person reviews every matrix and makes every decision.
Open Connect → Evidence matrices in the console. Matrices are made by flows (with the evidence_matrix.create built-in step), by Nexra Agent from information you give it, and over the API. The Evidence-based candidate screening template follows the same rules for the evidence notes it writes to your applicant tracking system.
The fairness rules
These rules apply everywhere a matrix can be made: the console, Nexra Agent, MCP, flows and the API. Anything that breaks them is refused, not stored.
Two answers only. A cell is Evidenced or Not evidenced in supplied information. "Not evidenced" means only that the supplied information didn't show it. It is never a fail or a rejection.
Evidence needs a quote. An evidenced cell must carry the words from the supplied information that show it, and where they came from (for example "CV, page 2").
No scores, ranks or outcomes. Scores, ranks, ratings, weights, pass or fail, decisions, shortlists and recommendations are refused, wherever they appear in the matrix.
No protected characteristics. Criteria about age, sex or gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, disability or health, pregnancy, marital or family status, nationality, sexual orientation, union membership, political views, photographs or appearance are refused. Matrices compare evidence of skills, experience and requirements only.
Only what was supplied. Nexra Agent uses only the information you give it and never guesses.
A person decides. Every matrix opens a review task. It waits for a reviewer, and nothing is sent or rejected automatically.
Review a matrix
Open the matrix to see the table, each cell's quote and source, and the questions. A reviewer (an owner, admin or approver who did not send it for review) then chooses:
Mark reviewed: the matrix has been checked.
Send back: with a short reason, for example to add a missing document. It can then be sent for review again.
Review tasks appear in Approvals too, and send the approval.requested and approval.decided webhook events. A review that nobody decides within 14 days expires; send it for review again.
Who can do what
Matrices can hold people's details, so only owners, admins, Connect operators, developers and approvers can see them. Owners, admins, Connect operators and developers can make them.
Limits
Up to 30 criteria, 200 rows and 50 questions. A quote can be up to 600 characters.
Over the API
All routes are under /api/console/connect and are in the API reference under Records.
| Method and path | What it does |
|---|---|
GET /evidence-matrices | List. Filter by status: pending_review, reviewed or returned |
POST /evidence-matrices | Make a matrix and open its review |
GET /evidence-matrices/:matrixId | Read one, with its review state |
POST /evidence-matrices/:matrixId/review | Send it for review again |
POST /evidence-matrices/:matrixId/decision | { "decision": "approved" } marks it reviewed; { "decision": "rejected", "reason": "..." } sends it back |
POST /api/console/connect/evidence-matrices
Content-Type: application/json
{
"title": "Site engineer applications, October",
"subject": "candidates",
"criteria": [
{ "key": "gas_safe", "label": "Holds a current Gas Safe registration" },
{ "key": "experience", "label": "Three years of network maintenance experience" }
],
"rows": [
{
"key": "candidate_a",
"label": "Candidate A",
"cells": {
"gas_safe": { "status": "evidenced", "quote": "Gas Safe registered since 2019", "source": "CV, page 1" },
"experience": { "status": "not_evidenced" }
}
}
],
"questions": [
{ "rowKey": "candidate_a", "question": "How many years of network maintenance have you done?" }
]
}