RAG vs GraphRAG: Architectural Evolution
Standard RAG: Document Retrieval
User Query
↓
Embedding Model
↓
Vector Search
No multi-hop reasoning
↓
📄 Document Corpus
Flat, disconnected documents
No strategic asset created
↓
Retrieved Documents
↓
Augmented Prompt
↓
🧠 LLM
↓
Response
VS
GraphRAG: Graph + Document Hybrid
User Query
↓
Query Router
graph vs document?
Graph Path
Cypher Query
Relationship reasoning
↓
🕸️ Knowledge Graph
Multi-hop traversal
Corporate Nervous System
↓
Structured Results
Document Path
Embedding + Vector Search
↓
📄 Document Corpus
↓
Retrieved Documents
↓
Hybrid Augmented Prompt
Best of both: structure + context
↓
🧠 LLM
↓
Response with structured citations
Capability
Standard RAG
GraphRAG
Simple Q&A
✓ Excellent
✓ Excellent
Multi-hop reasoning
✗ Poor
✓ Excellent
Relationship queries
✗ Very Poor
✓ Excellent
Strategic asset
✗ None
✓ Knowledge Graph
Maintenance
Documents decay
Graph improves with curation
For tactical queries, both work.
For strategic intelligence, only GraphRAG scales.