• Written by Azhar Aliyar, Director

A purchasing manager checks the inventory levels of a specific product in the enterprise resource planning system, then asks the AsscherAi assistant if there are any outstanding purchase orders for that product, which is answered from the enterprise knowledge base. An enterprise knowledge base is a corpus of data that an assistant uses to answer questions, in this case the purchase order table and the inventory table.

Definition

The enterprise knowledge base is the collection of data tables and indexes that the assistant queries to answer questions, such as the purchase order table, the inventory table, and the customer database. It is not a separate database, but rather a view of the existing data systems in the organisation. The enterprise knowledge base is used by the assistant to provide answers to questions asked by users, such as the purchasing manager.

The data in the enterprise knowledge base is typically sourced from various systems within the organisation, such as the enterprise resource planning system, the customer relationship management system, and other databases. The data is then indexed and formatted to allow the assistant to query it and provide answers to user questions.

Difference from related concepts

Most people get the enterprise knowledge base confused with the data warehouse, which is a separate database that stores historical data for reporting and analysis. The data warehouse is used for tasks such as generating reports and performing data analysis, whereas the enterprise knowledge base is used for answering specific questions asked by users. The two are not the same, and the distinction is important to understand when evaluating an assistant for a large organisation.

The data warehouse is typically used by analysts and managers to generate reports and perform data analysis, whereas the enterprise knowledge base is used by the assistant to provide answers to user questions. While the two may overlap, they are distinct concepts and should not be confused with each other.

Applications in a large organisation

In a large organisation, the enterprise knowledge base can be used to answer questions from various departments, such as sales, marketing, and operations. For example, a sales manager can ask the assistant about the sales history of a specific product, and the assistant can answer from the sales database in the enterprise knowledge base. A category manager can compare two suppliers by asking the assistant about their pricing and delivery history, which is answered from the purchase order table and the inventory table in the enterprise knowledge base.

The enterprise knowledge base can also be used to provide answers to questions from external stakeholders, such as customers and partners. For example, a customer can ask the assistant about the status of their order, and the assistant can answer from the order tracking system in the enterprise knowledge base. To learn more about how AsscherAi can be used in your organisation, visit our website.

Limitations

The enterprise knowledge base is not a replacement for the existing data systems in the organisation. It is simply a view of the data that allows the assistant to answer questions. The enterprise knowledge base does not provide real-time updates or alerts, and it is not a system of record. It is also not a data analytics platform, and it is not intended for complex data analysis or reporting.

The enterprise knowledge base is limited to answering questions that can be resolved by querying the existing data systems. It is not a decision support system, and it is not intended to provide recommendations or guidance. If you have questions about how AsscherAi can be used in your organisation, or if you would like to learn more about the enterprise knowledge base, you can contact us for more information.

When it is the wrong choice

The enterprise knowledge base is not the right choice for every organisation or every use case. If an organisation has a simple data structure and limited data sources, a smaller, more straightforward data system may be more appropriate. Additionally, if an organisation has highly complex data analysis or reporting requirements, a more advanced data analytics platform may be needed.

In some cases, the enterprise knowledge base may not be the best fit for an organisation's specific needs. For example, if an organisation has a large amount of unstructured data, such as documents or images, a different type of data system may be needed. In these cases, it is important to carefully evaluate the organisation's specific needs and choose the data system that best fits those needs.