To choose the best open source knowledge base software, it can be useful to learn about the programs being used by successful businesses in your field. Trade publications and informational websites often provide articles and reviews about software that is preferred by professionals and features included in these programs. Once you have narrowed down your choices of open source knowledge base software, it is advisable then to look at factors such as operating system compatibilities and specific features offered by available programs. Many managers and executives might choose to meet with different department leaders to learn about their needs. Consulting representatives from different areas of an organization can provide you with a better idea of which system might most benefit your company before you implement a system.
Knowledge base software is any kind of program that allows professionals greater access to intelligence that can help them to make smarter business decisions. In most cases, this software has access to databases that contain articles, reviews, and data related to a specific industry. Some kinds of knowledge base software also might allow users to generate text documents, spreadsheets, and charts that allow analysts to organize data. When software is open source, its source code is available to the public, often free of charge.
A common benefit of open source knowledge base software is that it often is free to access. For this reason, a professional might download several programs and test each of them to learn which program might be most effective. When testing software, consider factors such as user friendliness, speed, and quality and relevance of retrieved information.
For many professionals, security is a key concern when it comes to choosing the best open source knowledge base software. Professionals who believe that they might access and store extremely sensitive information with their software can benefit from features such as host blocking, passwords, and other security features. If you plan on incorporating your knowledge base software with internal email, you might benefit from a feature such as email encryption.
It also can be a good idea to consider features that might pertain specifically to your organization’s operations. For example, if you work in an organization with global interests, you might want to be sure that the open source knowledge base software you choose can access data that is written in languages relevant to your interests. Professionals who want to keep track of cutting edge data and market trends sometimes can access software that allows them to view statistics regarding which articles and data have been most valuable to other users.