Best Knowledge Management Tools and Software for Business
Companies improve knowledge management to uncover their innovative potential and add value to unique propositions through corporate learning. Today, businesses have access to various knowledge management tools to optimize knowledge discovery, storage, distribution, and use. The article will review the top 10 knowledge management software and their best features.
Businesses create, collect, review, share, and use enormous amounts of knowledge. At every stage, they need stable access to every storage and new channel of information acquisition. It all makes knowledge management extremely sophisticated, even in a digital environment.
Before diving into the features, pricing, and other parameters of the knowledge management tools, we need to clarify what types of knowledge management software exist in the market and what business activities they match.
Knowledge Management Software: An Overview
Knowledge management software is a content management software that consolidates information collection, storage, and accessibility.
Knowledge management software may focus on or combine all of the following processes:
- Acquisition of new knowledge;
- Storage of knowledge;
- Knowledge distribution;
- Knowledge use;
- Administration of knowledge management solutions;
- Alignment of knowledge with strategic goals.
Typically, we will meet these seven types of knowledge management software for business.
Project Management Software
Project management software helps keep the focus on business processes and productivity linking all departments in the shared space for effective collaboration on one or multiple projects.
Typically it includes views with project scope, timeline, documentation, reports, etc. Project management software benefits teams of any size and opens opportunities for future automation by consolidating project data input and constantly tracking workflow.
Project management software is by far one of the most practical tools for knowledge management ever seen.
Learning Management Systems (LMS)
It is easy to find LMS systems in educational institutions or enterprise-level organizations. Depending on the features of a particular LMS, it can be used just for course data storage or even for organizing exams and other interactive events among students or workers.
The LMS system works well for setting up incentive programs and tracking scores of workers or students to assign grades and distribute bonuses based on achievements and contributions.
Customer Relationship Management Software (CRM)
CRMs frequently define a good share of success behind the sales department activities. The way CRM is set up will affect every stage of the pipeline.
- How quickly do new prospects get the first response?
- How easy is it to find older contacts to use as the target database for the email campaign?
- How many activities do we need to perform to convert a prospect into a customer?
These are just some examples of types of knowledge circulating inside the CRM type of knowledge management tools.
Content Management Systems (CMS)
CMSs and document management systems are irreplaceable tools in the digitalization era. They help manage a company’s digital content. Many have in-built features to create and modify the files in the environment.
Some CMSs offer comprehensive management of enterprise files, but some focus on web content management only.
Automation Software
Automation software varies from no-code solutions to raw programs that integrate into existing software. No-code or low-code solutions allow semi-techy professionals to build automated scenarios for familiar workflows. Teams may easily create automated checklists, generate documents, and send data to external platforms.
Knowledge Base
Knowledge base software provides space for content storing, content organization, and access management. Such content typically assumes guides, FAQs, tutorials, or custom knowledge formats created and shared with the team.
A good knowledge base will have robust navigation and accessibility from all workspaces. With suitable software, businesses can build a team Wiki open to import information from essential sources. Usually, all tools for knowledge management provide knowledge bases as a foundation.
Inventory Management Software
A team more likely needs inventory management when it deals with a vast sales flow. Imagine e-commerce. Every product’s availability status, price update, and other attribute change is nearly impossible to perform manually for hundreds of products.
These are common types of knowledge management software for various business purposes. In reality, a single software may be a good fit for all of them, or at least combine several functions.
How to know that knowledge management software has all the features you need?
Best Features of Software for Knowledge Management
No matter what department needs knowledge management tools, there is always a set of features to look for in the first place. In short, the best knowledge management software includes:
- Internal knowledge base;
- Third-party integrations with popular tools (Slack, Google Drive, Confluence, etc.);
- Chrome extension to carry access to the knowledge base across the web;
- Public knowledge base;
- Collaborative environment;
- Easy, intuitive navigation, such as AI-based semantic search.
Finally, let’s review some of the superior examples of the best software for knowledge management out there!
Top 10 Knowledge Management Software
Based on the best features, we have created our list of the top 10 knowledge management tools and software for business. Here they are!
OneBar
OneBar is a perfect option when a team needs knowledge management for remote work. It integrates with the essentials, such as Slack, and spreads knowledge across the team with simple commands. Some prominent OneBar use cases include sales, support, IT, and engineering.
One best thing about OneBar is its capability to integrate into any workflow regardless of the team’s purpose.
Key Features of OneBar
- Internal knowledge base;
- Questions;
- Chrome extension;
- Slack integration;
- AI-based semantic search;
- Public knowledge base.
Free Version Available
- Yes, for up to 3 users.
Starting Price
- 200$ for up to 200 users (billed monthly).
Zendesk
Zendesk focuses on customer service and customer success teams. Support and Customer Success teams will have exceptional conversational experience across channels.
Key Features of Zendesk
- Customizable pipeline;
- Email integration;
- Calendar integration;
- Pre-built dashboards.
Free Version Available
- Free trial.
Starting Price
- 19$ per user (billed annually).
Guru
Guru helps teams to organize their information and access it anywhere. It governs internal communications and employee onboarding, eliminating repetitive requests.
Key Features of Guru
- Browser extension;
- Slack & Microsoft Teams app;
- Scheduled content verification.
Free Version Available
- Yes, free for up to 3 users.
Starting Price
- 5$ per user (billed monthly).
Lessonly by Seismic
Lessonly enables teams with advanced sales training and coaching. Unlike many other knowledge management apps, it pursues an education-first goal and gives spaces for personalized learning setup.
Key Features of Lessonly
- Sales content management;
- CRM integration;
- AI-powered content recommendations.
Free Version Available
- Demo available.
Starting Price
- Upon request.
Kipwise
Kipwise unifies all company’s internal knowledge sources and delivers any information with the AI-driven search upon a teammate’s request.
Key Features of Kipwise
- Internal FAQ process;
- Content review process;
- Analytics.
Free Version Available
- Free 14-days trial.
Starting Price
- 4.25$ per user (billed monthly).
Shelf
‘Right Answer. Right Place. Right Time. Every Time.’ is the motto of Shelf. It is a handy tool for contact centers processing hundreds of requests a day.
Key Features of Shelf
- Search with MerlinAI;
- Workflows;
- Knowledge base.
Free Version Available
- No.
Starting Price
- 20$ per user (billed monthly).
Tettra
Tettra’s knowledge management platform cares about questions. Repetitiveness is the primary foe of the tool. It organizes knowledge coming from Slack and MS Teams.
Key Features of Tettra
- Questions & answers;
- Version history;
- Content automation.
Free Version Available
- Yes, free for up to 10 users.
Starting Price
- 8.33$ per user (billed monthly).
AllAnswered
AllAnswered is an all-in-one knowledge management software. It collects knowledge trapped in different places and helps grow the team’s expertise.
Key Features of AllAnswered
- Subdomain;
- Communities;
- Wiki Pages & Q&As.
Free Version Available
- Free 14-days trial.
Starting Price
- 3$ per user (billed monthly).
Stonly
Stonly stays among apps for knowledge management focused on the success of employees and customers and their independence in reaching one. Self-serve guides aim at giving any participant freedom of decision-making.
Key Features of Stonly
- Guides;
- Embedding external guides;
- Knowledge base.
Free Version Available
- Free 14-days trial.
Starting Price
- 99$ up to 3 users (billed monthly).
Scribe
Scribe allows businesses to turn any process into a step-by-step guide. With it, teams can experience smooth hiring, training, and customer assistance.
Key Features of Scribe
- Branded guides;
- Pages;
- Customization.
Free Version Available
- Yes, free for individual use.
Starting Price
- 23$ per user (billed monthly).
Final Thoughts
Choosing enterprise knowledge management software or tools for smaller teams is challenging, but it is for life. Proper research of the features and benefits will help equip the team with the best software, which in turn comes with positive effects, such as production cost reduction or improved sales process.
OneBar strives to improve the knowledge management of businesses from small to enterprise sizes. It is easy to integrate and try out anytime. We promote knowledge sharing culture and help pick the top knowledge management software for any team. If you have questions about the best knowledge management software, feel free to contact us at info@onebar.io.
