Worldwide Knowledge Discovery Software Vendor Assessment 2024

This document is an IDC MarketScape vendor assessment focused on worldwide knowledge discovery software for external-facing use cases in 2024. It outlines key trends that have influenced customer needs and the product landscape, emphasizing the importance of vector search as a standard feature in knowledge discovery offerings. The assessment highlights the shift towards conversational search experiences and the necessity for organizations to balance innovation with the fundamentals of search accuracy. It also discusses the growing demand for unified search platforms that can cater to various use cases, including customer support and e-commerce. The document defines critical terms such as keyword search, vector search, semantic search, generative AI, and retrieval-augmented generation, providing clarity on the technologies involved. Additionally, it includes vendor inclusion criteria for assessment, ensuring that only products meeting specific functionality and market presence are evaluated. The document concludes with advice for technology buyers on leveraging AI-powered knowledge discovery solutions effectively.