How European businesses are turning company knowledge into competitive advantage

Summary

European businesses hold valuable collective knowledge, but employees often spend hours searching across fragmented tools and storage systems for information that exists somewhere. The report presents a survey of 650 decision-makers across the UK, France, Germany, and eight other European countries to examine how organizations are responding to AI in knowledge management. Although 97% identify effective knowledge management as a competitive-advantage driver, only 28% use a structured, centralized approach; multiple tools cost nearly five working weeks per employee annually, while AI adopters are four times more likely to report significant cost savings. It also says 90% of respondents see Gen Z as a force for simpler, more transparent systems, and presents coordinated strategy, systems, and technology as ways to improve collaboration and decision speed.

Takeaways

1. 1

   97% of surveyed decision-makers say effective knowledge management is a key driver of competitive advantage, but only 28% have a structured, centralized approach.

2. 2

   Using multiple tools costs nearly five working weeks per employee each year compared with using one integrated system.

3. 3

   Organizations using AI for knowledge management are four times more likely to see significant cost savings, while 90% say Gen Z is driving demand for simpler and more transparent systems.