In this hyper-connected era and ubiquitous computing world, a tsunami of knowledge is being generated and shared by organisations. The key concern is that knowledge alone cannot work its magic.  Knowledge should be tied to action to deliver real value in the form of cutting-edge innovations and streamlined internal processes.
As technologies advance and ways of working change, knowledge management should also be redefined to achieve maximum benefits.
Here is a list of some of the notable knowledge management trends that you cannot miss out on.
1. Cloud Continues to Rule
Cloud hosting is a great option that is incredibly flexible and secure. To make the most of a SaaS knowledge management system, you need two things – an internet connection and a device (laptop, mobile phone, or desktop). Modern cloud-based knowledge management systems are based on a subscription model where you just pay for the services you opt for.
2.      Friendly User Interface for Effortless Navigation
A good user interface facilitates a smooth interaction between the user and the knowledge management system. It is not just aesthetically pleasing but also responsive, uncluttered, and easy to navigate.
3.      Social Media Elements for Higher Engagement
There is a reason why people love using social media. It keeps them connected and informed just with a few clicks and swipes. Features like activity streams, votes, likes, comments and instant sharing facilitate the culture of ‘collaboration with a click’.
4.      Information Mobility
Mobile technology is here to stay for a long, long time. One major reason behind this is the heightened convenience and accessibility it provides. Today, most of the knowledge management systems are compatible with mobile phones, making information available in a flash, whether your employees are in the office or working remotely, or traveling. This information mobility promises higher productivity, better decision-making, and borderless collaboration.
5.      100% Customisation
To offer feel-good experiences to employees, a knowledge management system must literally feel familiar to read and browse. A lot of information can overwhelm readers, but the way it is presented can make all the difference between good and poor employee experience.
6.      AI-Powered Search for Quick Content Discovery
A knowledge management system amounts to nothing if it does not have a powerful search engine. That is why AI-powered search that works at the speed of light is a prominent knowledge management trend for this year and all coming years. Unlike a normal search system, AI-supported search produces the most relevant results after analysing the user’s search history and the context of the query.
Â
7.      Support That Never Sleeps
Customers are the primary source of revenue for any kind of business. That makes customer support an important area that cannot be ignored at any cost. Besides knowledge sharing and collaboration, a state-of-the-art knowledge management system can even help in customer support. Seeing this possibility, businesses today are employing knowledge management systems for both internal and external use.
8.      Media-Rich Content for Higher Engagement
Traditional knowledge management systems consisted of lengthy documents and guides. Today’s knowledge management trends are in line with what employees want – a seamless and engaging knowledge-seeking experience. More focus is now given to content that is a rich mixture of text, images, and videos.
9.      Real-Time Notifications to Keep Employees Updated
Every member having access to your KMS will get instant notifications regarding article updates, new sections created policy changes, and much more.
10.  Pragmatic Analytics for Impeccable Experiences
Companies today know the tremendous power of data and analytics. Analytics helps you understand your KMS and related employee experiences in ways you cannot even imagine. Right from what your employees frequently search for to the path they take through your knowledge base, analytics decode every little activity. Analytics gives actionable insights into how many employees access your knowledge base, the language they speak and the country they live in, the bounce rate on specific pages, and much more.
11.  Powerful Collaboration Tools
A knowledge management system is slowly becoming an all-purpose tool, with companies now trying to use it for both knowledge-sharing and collaboration. One of the major benefits of a knowledge-based management system is that it facilitates company-wide knowledge exchange.
12.  Flexible Management of User Roles & Permissions
One of the notable features of a knowledge management system is its ability to streamline user management and define each member’s roles and responsibilities. You want a culture where employees can contribute their knowledge, share suggestions, and receive feedback, but with some level of governance. Flexible user management with you having complete control of what each user is responsible for is one of the most notable knowledge management trends for the future.
13.  Digital Workspaces
A knowledge management system is a social platform where information is shared, organised, and stored securely. A digital workspace is a new idea in knowledge management that keeps your intranet segmented and organised for easy reference. If implemented, it can streamline the way knowledge is managed and shared across departments.
14.  Discussion Forums
A knowledge management system is incomplete without a discussion forum. Simply coming to the KMS, sharing and retrieving information from the articles written is old school. Modern knowledge management solutions are equipped with a full-fledged discussion forum where employees can ask questions and get a response within seconds.
15.  Knowledge Bots For Prompt Access to Information
The ultimate goal of a knowledge management system is to make knowledge-gathering a seamless, uninterrupted process. Knowledge bots help you achieve just that. Knowledge bots deliver relevant answers at the speed of light through chat or voice mediums. Knowledge bots act as personal assistants giving employees everything they need at a moment’s notice.