Using knowledge capital: How to unearth hidden expert knowledge in your company and turn it into pure gold

Imagine that your company's most valuable asset is lying idle - invisible, unused and threatened by staff turnover on a daily basis. Decades of experience, innovative solutions and in-depth process knowledge lie dormant in the minds of your employees. This hidden knowledge capital is the greatest untapped lever for efficiency, innovation and sustainable success. But how do you tap into this treasure? The answer lies in the intelligent combination of human expertise and strategically deployed artificial intelligence.

In a world that is changing rapidly as a result of digital transformation with AI, neither SMEs nor large corporations in the DACH region can afford to do without this internal gold. This article shows you why AI in knowledge management is not a future trend, but an acute necessity and how you can not only break down knowledge silos with the right AI strategy, but also create a dynamic, learning organization.

The silent problem: when knowledge leaves the company with the employees

Every company knows the scenario: a long-standing expert retires, a key person changes jobs - and with them disappears a huge pool of implicit knowledge. This knowledge is not contained in any manual. It is the sum of experience, intuition and tried-and-tested procedures.

The consequences are serious and costly:

• Inefficiency: Teams keep reinventing the wheel because they cannot access tried and tested solutions. Projects are delayed and the same mistakes are repeated.
• Brake on innovation: Without easy access to the organization's collective knowledge, there is no breeding ground for new ideas. Creativity is nipped in the bud because the status quo has to be laboriously reconstructed.
• High training costs: New employees need months to acquire the knowledge that experienced colleagues have in their heads. This slows down productivity and frustrates both the new employees and their mentors.
• Wrong decisions: Without a sound knowledge base, strategic and operational decisions are often made on instinct, which increases the risk of bad investments.

These knowledge silos are the silent efficiency killers in companies of all sizes. The central challenge of digital transformation is therefore to make this invisible knowledge visible, accessible and usable for everyone.

AI-supported knowledge management: more than just a database

Traditional knowledge management has often failed due to a lack of acceptance and static systems. A wiki that nobody maintains or a drive full of disorganized documents does not create any added value. This is where modern AI solutions for companies come into play. They do not act as a passive repository, but as an active catalyst for knowledge.

Imagine a central "brain" for your company that...

1. automatically identifies who is the expert for which topic by analyzing internal communication (e.g. in teams, emails, project chats).
2. Content is intelligently indexed and linked so that connections between projects, documents and discussions become visible.
3. proactively suggests relevant information to employees before they even have to search for it.
4. can answer complex queries in natural language (similar to ChatGPT in the company) by drawing on a verified, internal knowledge base.

This is no longer a dream of the future. The use of technologies such as natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning enables AI process optimization in the flow of knowledge, which was previously unthinkable. The aim is not just to archive knowledge, but to make it available to the right person at the right time.

The path to a learning organization: a clear AI strategy is crucial

The introduction of artificial intelligence in a company is not just an IT project, but a strategic change that affects culture, processes and people. Without a clear roadmap, the potential will fizzle out. Sound AI consulting is often the key to success here.

The path to intelligent knowledge utilization can be divided into three phases:

Phase 1: Positioning - Where do you really stand?

Before you invest in expensive technologies, you need to know the status quo. How digital are your processes? How willing are your employees to embrace new technologies? What knowledge is particularly critical for your company?

In order to answer precisely these questions in an empirically sound manner, we at CorpIn have developed the CorpIn Hexagon Model developed. This framework analyzes the six central dimensions of a company's AI maturity. With our CorpIn Hexagon platform you can carry out a free and anonymous self-assessment. You will receive an immediate evaluation that shows you where your strengths and areas for action lie - the perfect basis for your AI strategy.

Phase 2: Empowerment - get your employees on board

The best technology is useless if people don't understand it or mistrust it. The shift towards a data-driven culture requires acceptance at all levels. Targeted training is essential here.

In our practice-oriented AI workshops for companies we not only impart technical knowledge, but also create a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges of AI. We enable your teams to understand AI as a tool that does not replace their own expertise, but expands it and makes it more valuable. Topics such as the safe use of generative AI solutions or the potential of AI in manufacturing become tangible and understandable.

Phase 3: Implementation - finding and integrating the right AI solutions

With a clear strategy and an empowered team, you can select the right AI solutions. Whether it's the introduction of an intelligent internal company search, the automation of routine tasks(intelligent automation) or the implementation of predictive maintenance in production - the technology must fit the company, not the other way around.

As your partner for AI consulting, CorpIn accompanies you throughout the entire process. We help you to evaluate the right tools, manage the implementation and make success measurable. Our goal is to create sustainable AI solutions that generate real added value and take your enterprise AI to the next level.

Use case: AI in knowledge management in Industry 4.0

Let's take a manufacturing company. An experienced machine technician often knows from the sound of a system when maintenance is due. This implicit knowledge is worth its weight in gold, but is difficult to transfer.

This is where a modern, AI-supported system can come in:

• Sensor data from the machine is continuously analyzed(predictive maintenance).
• The AI system learns to recognize patterns that indicate a future failure.
• At the same time, the technician's maintenance logs and notes are recorded using voice recognition or text analysis and linked to the sensor data.

The result: the expert's implicit knowledge is transferred into a predictive model. If the expert fails, the system can continue to provide precise maintenance recommendations. New technicians learn faster because the system visualizes the machine's "experience" for them. This is a prime example of a successful data-driven digital transformation.

Conclusion: act now before your most valuable asset disappears

The hidden knowledge of your employees is the sleeping giant in your company. In an increasingly complex and competitive world, especially in the DACH market (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the ability to activate this knowledge is becoming a decisive competitive advantage.

Artificial intelligence is the key to unearthing this treasure. It breaks down silos, democratizes access to information and creates a culture of continuous learning and AI process optimization.

The first step is often the hardest, but also the most important. Don't wait until your experts have left the company. Start developing a sustainable AI strategy now.

Your next step: From knowledge to action

At CorpIn, we are convinced that the path to an AI-supported future is feasible for every company. We offer you two concrete ways to get started right away:

1. for the strategists and doers - the personal meeting: Have you recognized the urgency and would like to talk directly about your specific challenges and potential? Book a non-binding introductory meeting with us. We will take the time to understand your situation and outline initial solutions. ► Book a non-binding introductory meeting now

2. for analysts and explorers - The well-founded self-assessment: Would you like to start with a clear, data-supported assessment? Use our free CorpIn Hexagon platform to assess your company's AI maturity level. In just a few minutes, you can gain valuable insights and compare yourself with over 1,300 companies. ► Test AI maturity on the Hexagon platform

Additional resources for those thirsty for knowledge:

• Deepen your knowledge: Download our comprehensive Swiss AI Report 2025 download.
• Listen in: Discover exciting insights in our CorpIn Podcast.

Take the first step. Turn hidden knowledge into visible success. CorpIn is your partner on this path.