Table of contents
Subscribe to our newsletter
This article is a comprehensive Guru review taking you through the benefits of this knowledge management software.
What is Guru?
Guru is a knowledge management solution , similar to Spekit , that utilizes AI to help deliver information and other helpful prompts when and where you need them.
Their tagline is, “Spend less time searching & more time doing whatever it was you were actually hired to do.”
That’s a statement we can get on board with.
There is a lot of depth to this software, and its use of AI is both interesting and innovative. In this Guru review, we’re going to take a deep dive into the uses, pros, features, and pricing of this knowledge base platform .
Guru Review
From handbooks, to FAQs and internal wikis, companies have been trying to find ways to better manage and use their knowledge for years.
There always seems to be a hole, a flaw, or some reason why these solutions have never been good enough.
Knowledge platforms like Guru and Spekit are trying to solve this problem by providing a smart platform that collects and categorizes data, then makes the data easily available to users.
If you need help determining which pieces of content are performing best and need the ability to tie them to opportunities, Guru might be the tool for you.
If you are looking for a tool that has out of the box content, is easy to update and easy to search, we suggest Spekit. It works where you work to meet all of your initial and ongoing learning and training needs. But, don’t take our word for it, see for yourself by scheduling a demo .
Guru has developed intelligent AI that actually makes sure the knowledge you need finds you.
You can capture knowledge from workflow tools like Slack and Gsuite, and Guru will store and categorize the data for you.
The AI working in the background then starts analyzing what you’re doing, and you can either delve into your knowledge via the browser extension or look at the suggestions it’s making.
You can look at Guru as a kind of assistant that’s always there watching over your shoulder. Through a combination of asking questions and going with its suggestions, you and your team will have an improved workflow.
It may sound complicated on the surface if you’re new to knowledge software, but it’s really not. Guru does all the heavy lifting for you, here’s how simple it is to use:
How to use Guru
To start with Guru, sign up for an account and install the browser extension. You’ll see your dashboard where you can view and edit all of your knowledge cards.
To use Guru while you work, activate the browser extension. You’ll then see a Guru embedded button on the top right of your screen while you work.
You can click that button at any time, and it’ll open a small interface within the extension. It’s not invasive at all, and you’ll see a row of icons for creating and accessing cards, looking at your tasks, and suggestions.
If we take sending an email as an example; If you open Guru while composing an email in Gmail, its AI will make suggestions based on the contents of the email you’re replying to, as well as reading past engagements.
Let’s say you’re talking about setting up Google Analytics with someone via email. Guru will popup a card giving you step-by-step instructions on how to set up Google Analytics.
You can then simply copy and paste this information into the email. No need to go off searching for this knowledge, no need to leave your workflow, just a few simple clicks with the help of Guru and you’re on to the next task.
Another example, and this is a huge time-saver for any organization using tools like Zendesk or Slack to answer questions frequently, is adding answers to Guru’s knowledge base.
Slack is a great communication tool, but let’s be honest. You can lose answers easily, and you probably see the same questions popping up.
Next time you – or any member of your team – answers a question in Slack (or any other tool) while Guru is connected, save the answer as a knowledge card.
Next time the same question is asked, you can simply click the Guru button, and you’ll see a card with the suggested answer pop up. Click the card, copy the answer, paste it into Slack, and you’re good to go.
Obviously, the tool runs a lot deeper as you get more comfortable with using it. You can assign permissions and experts to different cards, you have a lot of control over how your data is categorized, and more.
Guru Alternatives
If you’re looking for alternatives to compare against Guru, we recommend checking out:
Spekit
Why use Spekit?
1. No need to search: Answers surface contextually
Spekit offers the ability to access answers across any application using the Spekit Chrome Extension . It’s your knowledge base, available anywhere. But, the platform takes it a step further by automatically displaying small help bubbles beside the terms, fields, picklist values and more you’ve defined.
This means if you’re filling out a field in Salesforce and aren’t sure about the process, a simple hover on the Spekit icon will reveal quick answers so you can get along with your day.
Suddenly, your team is getting answers and learning at work the same way they learn outside of work: when they want to and how they want to.
– Todd Tribble, Vice President, Sales Operations and Enablement Hobsons
2. Never have outdated training: Updates and notifications in real-time
It’s not enough to have the answers to questions documented, they need to be updated as changes happen so that information is always relevant. Spekit allows for real-time updates and notifications to users AS changes happen. This way companies can be sure the information they’re consuming is the most up to date and accurate information.
3. Next-level support for your team in Salesforce
Spekit integrates with your Salesforce instance at a metadata level. What does this mean? Salesforce is like a snowflake, no two instances are the same. Spekit understands that and pulls in your information at the metadata level to capture your custom objects and unique process flows. You can easily see what terms aren’t defined, update directly within Salesforce and fill any learning gaps.
4. Out of the box customizable training content
Getting started with the best knowledge management software, or any new tools for that matter can be overwhelming. But, it’s especially taxing if it means creating all your documentation and content from scratch. Spekit comes with out of the box content that gets you up and running right away. This means faster installation which allows you to focus your time on where you need and start maximizing the platform instantly. It still has room however to customize it and tailor it to your unique business needs. No two organizations are the same and changes are inevitable. Spekit is easy to customize and update to accommodate whatever changes you need to make.
Spekit Features:
- Unlimited Users
- Unlimited Content
- Content Transfer
- Premium onboarding
- Premium Support
- Dedicated Success Manager
- and more!
Spekit Price:
Spekit Lite – FREE for up to 10 users
Spekit Pro – $10/user/month
Bottom Line on Spekit:
Spekit is easy to use, easy to set up and helps you get on track to see ROI fast. If you are looking for the best knowledge management software or a knowledge management tool that has customizable out of the box content that doesn’t take weeks (or even months) to set up this is the tool for you. As a bonus, it does not have a cap or limit on users or access to content. They will even provide you with a dedicated success manager to help you maximize your use of the platform.
Other Guru Alternatives
Lessonly – One of the simplest learning platforms to pick up and use, Lessonly is great as a simple solution for small teams. It’s lacking some of the features other tools have, such as integrating with Slack and Salesforce.
Whatfix – Whatfix is a digital adoption and microlearning platform that specializes in helping you create fluid processes. It has a wide range of features and is great for creating onboarding and training materials .
Walkme – A digital adoption platform and knowledge management system that enables users to create what they call “walk-thrus”. Walk-thrus are step-by-step guides you can create with your data to help team members.
Read our Walkme review or our comparison of Guru vs WalkMe vs Lessonly vs Whatfix vs Spekit
Guru Pricing
Guru has a simple pricing structure, a generous freemium plan, and 30-day free trial periods – so there’s really no excuse not to try out the platform!
Their Starter Plan is free for teams of 1-10 users, then there’s a charge of $7 per user, per month.
This is a great way to get started and put Guru to the test. With this plan, you can access their browser extension, Slack integration, Microsoft Teams integration, a G suite add-on, and some other features.
It’s not one of those freemium plans that hold back all the best features. You can really get to grips with the software for free and make an informed decision whether or not Guru is going to improve workflows within your organization.
Their paid plans are priced at $14 per user, per month for their Builder Plan. Then $24 per user, per month for their Expert Plan.
With their Builder Plan, you also can access knowledge triggers, API access, Analytics, and Intelligent Duplicate Detection. While the Expert Plan – which is their top plan – unlocks all their features.
Guru Pros
- Chrome extension: Admittedly, you have to use Chrome to appreciate this pro, but it’s worth it. You can pull up information at a click of a button, and it seamlessly integrates while you work.
- Wide range of integrations: Guru integrates with a long list of tools and software. From Slack to Gsuite, it’s likely you’ll find your existing tools on their integrations page. If not, drop them an email – they’re open to adding new tools.
- No technical knowledge needed: It’s incredibly easy to get to grips with the platform, Chrome extension, and other tools. No technical skills or previous experience using knowledge software required.
- Single source of truth: Let’s be honest. What we’re all after when managing multiple applications is a single, seamless workflow. Guru’s objective is to create a “single source of truth,” and they come close to achieving it.
Guru Cons
- Some content isn’t contextual: This is the main issue with Guru, and it’s a problem shared with a lot of similar software. Your team will still need to go searching outside of their workflow for some of the resources they need. This is why some business prefer to use Spekit .
- AI can be frustrating: The AI behind Guru is its USP, but it’s not perfect. Sometimes it can – and will – be frustrating. This is something that will be improved on in the future as technology advances, we’re sure.
- Clunky in places: Many users shared that the UI could be better. It’s hard or slow to edit data in the dashboard and doesn’t feel intuitive to navigate at times.
Who Is Guru For?
The best thing about Guru is that it saves everyone time. It’s software for everyone.
From a busy entrepreneur to a large organization, Guru can automate or shorten those tasks for you if you’re making keystrokes and performing repetitive tasks.
The larger your organization and the more users connected with Guru, the larger the time-saving potential is.
The way they’ve priced the product is perfect, too. Their pricing scales up with the number of users, meaning you’re paying per team member.
Conclusion
Conventional wisdom is that there is no one-size-fits-all for software, which applies to knowledge software in particular.
While we have to agree, Guru does come close. It provides a simple knowledge solution that transcends all industries and sizes of organizations.
With a simple browser extension, anyone in your team can save, organize, and call on knowledge from your central repository.
While there is always room for improvement and refinement, there’s no question that Guru saves time.
You might be interested in learning more about Spekit .
