Loss of knowledge in SMEs is more expensive than most people realise. According to the BVMW, the departure of just one experienced employee can easily result in 1.5 to 2.5 annual salaries of implicit knowledge is lost. The result: new colleagues take weeks instead of days, decisions take longer, errors accumulate and entire departments are dependent on a single key person.
The causes are always the same: the really important knowledge - decision logic, exception rules, stumbling blocks - is in people's heads, not in folders. At the same time, what is documented is spread across emails, Teams chats, SharePoint, OneNote and local drives. Employees spend up to 20 % of their time searching instead of working.
The biggest mistakeWait until the notice of termination is on the table. Then it's usually too late. If you are clever, start the knowledge transfer 12-18 months before a planned departure or immediately in the case of spontaneous changes.
A structured transfer of knowledge brings measurable Advantages:
- Onboardings are organised up to 60 % faster
- Decisions are more informed and faster
- Quality increases because less is "passed on orally"
- The company becomes more independent of individuals
Right here comes amaiko into play.
amaiko is the AI buddy that lives directly in Microsoft Teams and makes all company knowledge searchable - without new software or training. The AI automatically reads emails, chats, SharePoint files, OneNote notebooks and other sources, links contexts and provides a precise answer to every question in seconds, including the source.
Want an example? "What was the last complaint from the customer Müller?" "What exception did Mr Schmidt approve for release XY?" "How did the project with supplier Meier go two years ago?"
amaiko responds immediately - and the knowledge is retained, even if people leave at some point.
Conclusion: Loss of knowledge in SMEs is not destiny. With the right strategy and a smart digital assistant like amaiko, one of the biggest risks can be turned into a real competitive advantage. Knowledge doesn't just stay - it finally works for you.