One question. Relevant answers from the systems your staff use.

Your team may know the question without knowing which database, application or document contains the answer. A connected assistant can search the approved sources, bring the useful information together and show the records behind its response.

Illustrative example, not a client case study

A salesperson asks one question

The answer draws on three kinds of source, each with a reference to the record it came from (a link in a live system) and a marker showing how current it is:

  • A live business record: available stock, read from the stock system when asked.
  • An approved document: the current product sheet, from the document library.
  • A project application: the notes attached to an authorised project.

Switch to Warehouse to see a colleague receive a narrower answer to the same question. Make the stock system unreachable to see how a gap is shown instead of guessed.

Ask as

“Is the oak sit-stand desk available for the studio project?”

Available now
9 desks Not available to this role Not shown to website visitors Unreachable Last known: 9 at 08:15, may be out of date Stock system · checked 10:42
Approved product sheet
Rev C · 1400 × 800 mm · 650–1300 mm Not available to this role Not shown to website visitors Document library · approved
Bin location
Aisle B, bay 14 Not available to this role Not shown to website visitors Warehouse system · checked 10:40
Trade price
R 12 480 per desk Not available to this role Not shown to website visitors Price list v7 · current
Project notes
Client prefers one delivery before month end Not available to this role Not shown to website visitors Project application · 2 days ago

Illustrative, synthetic records

Conversation is one way in, not the only one

  • The same connected sources can power direct search, filters and comparison views. For many lookups those are quicker than asking in sentences.
  • Every answer is assembled from what the person asking is allowed to see. A colleague in another role can ask the same question and correctly receive less.
  • Searching never grants permission to change the underlying records. Updates go through the systems that own them, or through a separately approved workflow.
Less time hunting between tools, with answers tied to the information each person is allowed to use.

Related: Company knowledge and search, Systems integration and the Porthera platform.

Discuss your company knowledge and systems.

Tell us which sources your staff search today and who should see what.

Discuss your company knowledge and systems