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Knowledge as a Service
Hello there! Thank you for your request to summarize trends related to Knowledge as a Service (KaaS) platforms. As you requested, I’ve summarized the growth of the trend, provided an overview of the players in the space (including venture databases), and listed companies engaged in linking experts to consumers. The short answer is KaaS platforms are trending, largely due to the success of Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms, cloud-based business booms, and newer technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence) that allow expert-to-consumer connections across several scenarios in real time. I’ve identified the following 13 startups driven by KaaS platforms:
My methodology, summary, and the list of KaaS startups are presented below.
METHODOLOGY
After a thorough review of technology websites, startup industry news, corporate websites and trusted media sources, I’ve located information for 13 startups that operate Knowledge as a Service (KaaS) platforms. For each startup listed, I’ve provided the company name, website and brief description of how the platform works to link consumers and experts. I've also reviewed several articles within the KaaS industry that help to highlight its history and growth.
SUMMARY
The KaaS market was kicked off by the success of SaaS startups. In 2010, Cisco reported that “…over the next five years, the business analytics software-as-a-service (SaaS) market will grow more than three times as fast as the total business analytics software market.” Cisco also predicted that KaaS would “extend the SaaS delivery model by adding intellectual property related to a particular horizontal process or industry to the SaaS offering.” SaaS also rooted cloud-based business dynamics to itself as a model of success for many startups interacting in global markets. Today, as the SaaS industry has begun to consolidate (e.g., Oracle buying NetSuite N and Microsoft acquiring LinkedIn), the KaaS market continues to pick up steam and develop itself around the structures used by SaaS (e.g., cloud-based dynamics). Another sign of the continued growth of the KaaS market is the evolution of its basic name. For instance, the KaaS market now includes terms like GKaaS (Global Knowledge as a Service), iKaaS (intelligent Knowledge as a Service), and AKaaS (Actionable Knowledge as a Service). KaaS platforms can be found across multiple scenarios including medical settings, retailers, cloud-based businesses, the aerospace industry, and human resources (training). Owing to their young and growing populations, and highly-trained English-speaking engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs; India, Japan, and China are the countries projected to be the leading countries for the KaaS market. “Some of the key players in the GKaaS market are Quora, Stack Overflow, Ask Metafilter, Yahoo! Answers, Windows Live QnA, Wikipedia's Reference Desk, 3form Free Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge iN, ChaCha.com, and Answerly.com.” For more information about startups and venture capital, the following databases may be helpful: CrunchBase and AngelList.
KNOWLEDGE AS A SERVICE STARTUPS
I’ve listed 13 KaaS platform startups which include the original three you listed in your request.
Directly uses a customer engagement platform that combines humans with machine learning that brings automated answers, power users, and agents into a single conversational flow.
Clarity offers startup advice by experts in various fields that users can search for by topic. Once the user finds an expert, they request a call and connect directly.
ExcelChat is built off of the Got It platform. It connects Excel users with Excel experts that can help them with charts, pivots tables, formulas, macros, and other tips and tricks.
Fieldbit uses an interactive field service collaboration platform. The software enables remote experts to send precise visual instructions to field technicians in real-time through augmented reality, live video, messaging, and voice.
Welcome focuses on helping businesses acquire customers. The software facilitates the conversation between customers and experts for the purpose of sales and customer activation.
Got It developers say the product "organizes the world's brainpower by using artificial intelligence to allow access to the "to millions of knowledgeable experts...on-demand, in a well-defined unit, at an affordable price, anytime."
Brainsy links experts to consumers by forming a knowledge exchange through calling networks and online communities. They focus on associations, professional societies and membership organizations that promote mentors, advisers, or subject matter experts.
Teladoc allows its members to speak with a licensed doctor via the web, phone, or mobile app in 10 minutes or less. They also have offerings tailored to businesses.
All Roads links experts to consumers by extracting, transforming, and curating the knowledge of subject matter experts into engaging learning materials for employees.
Experticity says it connects consumers with real-world experts, those that are "walking the walk" and not just "influencers."
Genome Medical guides the exploration of genetic information by connecting patients and physicians to genetic experts for DNA analysis and insights.
RightAnswers uses peer-to-peer support and engagement. They promote the idea of turning "customers into a virtual support team."
MindTouch is a content focused KaaS startup. MindTouch "turns user manuals and help documentation into well-structured, Google-friendly, internet of things-ready, 'smart' micro-content."
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, after conducting a comprehensive search for KaaS startups, and a review of news sources and company information, I’ve identified 13 startups that focus on connecting experts and consumers. The KaaS platforms are trending due to the success of SaaS platforms, cloud functionality, and newer technologies that allow expert-to-consumer connections across several scenarios in real time. Scenarios where KaaS platforms have been valuable and successful include medical settings, retailers, cloud-based businesses, the aerospace industry, and human resources.
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