Again at one in all my earlier jobs, our crew was thrown into managing buyer help for a rising crew.
We had been scaling quick, however our help system wasn’t maintaining. The whole lot was scattered: emails right here, chats there, and no option to hold monitor of who mentioned what or what was nonetheless pending. It was chaos, and we felt the strain because the crew was tasked with discovering a repair.
That’s after I realized how a lot the greatest assist desk software program could make or break a enterprise. We dove headfirst into researching, testing, and demoing instruments, looking for one thing that wouldn’t simply deal with the quantity however make the entire course of smoother for everybody concerned.
We made errors, too, like choosing one answer that regarded shiny on the floor however was extra of a headache than a assist. However these trial-and-error moments taught me what to search for (and keep away from) in assist desk software program.
I’ve seen firsthand how the appropriate software program can flip a chaotic help course of right into a well-oiled machine. On this listicle, I’m sharing one of the best assist desk software program I’ve come throughout, based mostly on what’s labored, what hasn’t, and what I want I knew again then. When you’re feeling overwhelmed attempting to choose the appropriate one, let me assist make it simpler.
2025’s greatest assist desk software program: My picks
- Salesforce Service Cloud for delivering superior customer support with superior analytics ($25/month)
- Zoho Desk for pulling buyer interactions throughout channels right into a single interface ($7/month)
- Freshdesk for streamlining buyer conversations with 150+ integrations ($15/month)
- Zendesk Assist Suite for offering help throughout channels with customization and reporting ($19/month)
- HubSpot Service Hub for managing buyer interactions inside one platform ($20/month)
- Intercom for enhancing customer support with AI-driven resolutions ($29/month)
- SAP Service Cloud for delivering seamless service experiences throughout buyer journeys (Pricing out there on request)
- LiveChat for constructing a customer support ticketing system on web sites ($20/month)
*These assist desk software program options are top-rated of their class, in keeping with G2 Grid Experiences. I’ve additionally added their month-to-month pricing per person to make comparisons simpler.
8 greatest assist desk software program I put to the take a look at
Assist desk software program is the center of an ideal buyer help operation. It organizes all of the chaos: managing tickets, monitoring conversations, and guaranteeing each buyer challenge is logged, prioritized, and resolved effectively. A very good assist desk answer seems like having a command middle the place the help crew can see the whole lot at a look: ticket statuses, response occasions, buyer histories, and even efficiency metrics.
How did we discover and consider one of the best assist desk software program?
I spent numerous hours exploring varied assist desk software program, testing the whole lot from ticketing methods to advanced workflow automation. To get a full image, I spoke with trade specialists and on a regular basis customers to find out how these instruments maintain up beneath real-world calls for. I checked out their most spectacular options, pinpointed the place they may enhance, and used AI to comb by way of a whole bunch of G2 evaluations for deeper insights. I then cross-referenced my findings with G2’s Grid Experiences, evaluating every instrument on ease of use, performance, and worth for cash. In any case this analysis, I’ve compiled my checklist of one of the best assist desk software program you may get.
On a extra technical stage, one of the best assist desk software program comes with options like automation to deal with repetitive duties, customizable workflows to suit distinctive enterprise processes, and omnichannel help so prospects can attain you through e mail, chat, social media, or cellphone, multi functional place. You possibly can arrange service-level agreements (SLAs) to maintain response occasions on monitor, combine the software program with buyer relationship administration instruments or chat platforms, and even use built-in reporting instruments to see how the crew performs.
My course of for testing and selecting the right assist desk software program
When evaluating assist desk software program, I contemplate a number of important options and technical components under to make sure it meets enterprise wants.
- Core options: After I consider assist desk software program, I first search for a strong basis of core options. On the coronary heart of it’s a ticket administration system that centralizes all buyer inquiries from a number of channels into one easy-to-use dashboard. Omnichannel help is one other must-have. I need to deal with emails, chats, cellphone calls, and even social media messages with out juggling a number of platforms. Automation options like ticket routing and canned responses are lifesavers for decreasing repetitive duties and rushing up response occasions. A data base is equally essential, permitting prospects to seek out options independently whereas lightening the load on my help crew.
- Integration capabilities: One among my most vital issues is how properly the software program integrates with different instruments the crew already makes use of. A powerful CRM integration is crucial as a result of it gives a whole view of our buyer interactions, making it simpler to supply personalised help. I additionally search for the flexibility to combine with collaboration instruments like Slack or Microsoft Groups and challenge administration platforms like Jira, which helps streamline communication between departments. Software programming interface or API entry is one other massive one. It permits me to construct customized integrations or workflows if the out-of-the-box choices aren’t sufficient. A assist desk instrument that performs properly with others at all times saves me time and reduces complications in the long term.
- Usability and accessibility: If the software program isn’t straightforward to make use of, it’s a dealbreaker. I want an intuitive interface for our crew and administrator so I don’t waste beneficial time on coaching. Cellular accessibility is one other must-have since our crew usually works on the go, and having a responsive app ensures we are able to resolve tickets regardless of the place we’re. Multi-language help is usually a game-changer for companies with international prospects, enabling groups to supply localized help. I’ve discovered from expertise that software program with a steep studying curve or clunky interface can decelerate productiveness and frustrate even probably the most tech-savvy brokers.
- Scalability and customization: Selecting a assist desk instrument that may develop with the enterprise is non-negotiable. Scalability ensures the software program can sustain with out compromising efficiency as ticket volumes rise or the crew expands. I additionally worth customization choices that allow me adapt workflows, ticket fields, and reporting to fulfill our wants. For example, I as soon as labored with a system that couldn’t deal with our rising workload, and upgrading to a extra scalable choice saved us from fixed disruptions. Having software program that evolves alongside the enterprise offers me peace of thoughts.
- Reporting and analytics: I rely closely on reporting and analytics to measure how properly my help crew performs. I choose software program that gives real-time dashboards displaying ticket statuses, decision occasions, and agent productiveness. Instruments that monitor buyer satisfaction metrics, like CSAT and NPS, are additionally essential as a result of they offer me direct suggestions on how prospects understand our service. Customizable reporting is a bonus, permitting me to deal with the KPIs that matter most to the enterprise. In my expertise, gaining access to detailed analytics has been instrumental in figuring out bottlenecks and enhancing crew effectivity.
- Safety and compliance: With delicate buyer information concerned, safety is at all times a prime precedence for me. I search for software program with end-to-end encryption to make sure information stays protected. Function-based entry controls are additionally vital, permitting me to outline permissions so solely the appropriate folks can entry particular data. Compliance with laws just like the Basic Information Safety Regulation (GDPR) or the Well being Insurance coverage Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is non-negotiable, particularly when working with prospects in extremely regulated industries. Selecting a platform prioritizing safety and compliance offers me confidence that my prospects’ information is secure.
I attempted to mix all of the essential components right into a structured analysis course of whereas testing 20+ assist desk software program. I began by understanding team-specific wants, resembling managing tickets from a number of channels, automating repetitive duties, and monitoring efficiency metrics. I then examined every platform’s core options, specializing in usability and scalability to make sure it may deal with our present workload and future development.
Integration capabilities had been a prime precedence, so I regarded for instruments seamlessly linked with our CRM, communication platforms, and challenge administration software program. Safety and compliance had been non-negotiable, and I reviewed every software program’s encryption strategies and regulatory adherence.
To get a full image, I consulted crew members for hands-on suggestions and analyzed person evaluations to grasp widespread challenges. By balancing real-world testing, technical evaluations, and person enter, I used to be capable of decide these 8 greatest assist desk software program options.
To be included within the assist desk software program class, a product should:
- Convert exterior buyer inquiries into help tickets for brokers
- Centralize buyer inquiries from emails and the shopper portal into one unified system
- Route tickets to help brokers to make sure well timed responses
*This information was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some evaluations could have been edited for readability.
1. Salesforce Service Cloud
After I first received my palms on Salesforce Service Cloud, I used to be blown away by its sheer depth as a assist desk software program. It’s a strong platform that feels tailored for contemporary companies managing customer support at scale. However as with something, it has its ups and downs.
Some of the spectacular options is its omnichannel help. Salesforce Service Cloud pulls the whole lot from emails to cellphone calls to dwell chat into one dashboard. Groups use this to handle buyer inquiries with out leaping between instruments.
I additionally like how the Einstein AI suggests related data articles for brokers, predicts case outcomes, and prioritizes work. It felt like having a super-intelligent assistant maintaining the whole lot on monitor. The AI-powered bots are nice for dealing with repetitive queries and releasing up brokers for advanced duties.
I additionally discover the automation and macros to be spectacular. I can arrange workflows and approval processes in only a few clicks. Macros let me deal with repetitive duties like closing circumstances or sending follow-ups with a single click on.
Salesforce Service Cloud additionally gives highly effective reporting and analytics options. I may generate detailed dashboards to watch case decision occasions, buyer satisfaction scores (CSAT), and agent productiveness. Customizing these dashboards felt intuitive, an enormous plus for somebody who doesn’t wish to spend hours in a setup wizard.
Whereas the fundamentals are user-friendly, diving into superior options like Apex code customization or constructing Lightning parts can really feel overwhelming. I needed to make investments vital time in coaching to take advantage of it.
I anticipated the cellular app to match the desktop expertise, however it’s not but there. Whereas it’s respectable for fast updates or checking circumstances, it lacks the performance I want for extra advanced workflows.
The customization choices are in depth, however they arrive at the price of time. Establishing automated workflows, case routing guidelines, or customized fields can take some time, particularly if you happen to’re unfamiliar with Salesforce’s ecosystem.
What I like about Salesforce Service Cloud:
- I really like the way it integrates all buyer interactions, resembling emails, chats, social media, and calls, into one unified platform. This makes managing help circumstances a lot simpler with out switching between a number of instruments.
- I recognize its integration with Salesforce CRM and third-party apps like Slack and Microsoft Groups. This ensures all buyer information is accessible throughout departments, giving us a transparent view of buyer interactions.
What G2 customers like about Salesforce Service Cloud:
“The corporate’s use of the Service Cloud platform for customer support has been very constructive. With an easy-to-use answer, customers with little or no expertise in CRM discovered and rapidly turned conversant in the system, extracting and producing worth. We realized scalability is a robust level, beginning the operation with a small crew and managing to extend the variety of customers subsequently with out main difficulties.
The instrument’s fast deployment additionally stands out as a robust level, permitting chosen departments emigrate from an email-only service mannequin to a case administration answer. This transformation allowed the usage of automated workflows (flows), streamlining routine duties (approval course of and case routing) and growing crew effectivity.”
– Salesforce Service Cloud Assessment, Leandro C.
What I dislike about Salesforce Service Cloud:
- I didn’t like how the cellular app doesn’t fairly match the desktop expertise. It’s high quality for fast updates, however it feels restrictive after I have to deal with advanced workflows.
- Whereas the fundamentals are simple, implementing extra superior options, resembling constructing customized workflows or utilizing Apex code, requires appreciable effort and time.
What G2 customers dislike about Salesforce Service Cloud:
“Like most issues attempting to be all issues to all folks requires you to construct the whole lot your self from complete material. Do you wish to remind a consumer they’ve an open case each few days? Higher be able to work with modules and presumably some code. Desire a case to reopen when somebody replies to it? That is going to be a multistep course of to rearrange. In lots of locations, if you would like an e mail letting you recognize a ticket has an replace, that is going to be a template, an alert, and a move at a minimal; in different ticketing methods, that’d be a tick field ‘notify agent on ticket replace’ type of choice.”
– Salesforce Service Cloud Assessment, Seth E.
2. Zoho Desk
After I began utilizing Zoho Desk, I wasn’t positive what to anticipate, however it’s a fairly strong assist desk software program with some standout options and some quirks.
First, the automation blew me away. Zoho Desk permits you to arrange workflows that routinely assign tickets based mostly on standards like precedence or division. For instance, I’ve arrange guidelines to route high-priority tickets on to senior brokers. The blueprints characteristic is one other win. It helps standardize repetitive processes like approvals or ticket escalations.
The ticket administration system can be implausible. I can monitor each ticket’s lifecycle, from when it’s raised to when it’s resolved. You’ve received instruments like SLAs and ticket tags, so you possibly can kind and prioritize effortlessly. However what stands out is the multi-channel functionality. You get tickets from e mail, social media, chat, and even cellphone calls, all routed right into a single dashboard. It’s like having an all-in-one inbox for buyer queries.
There’s additionally a built-in AI assistant, Zia, which helps predict ticket sentiments and suggests responses. Whereas Zia isn’t at all times excellent, it saves time when swamped.
One characteristic I can’t cease raving about is the mixing. Zoho Desk works like a appeal with instruments I already use, like Zoho CRM and Slack. The seamless information move between my CRM and assist desk lets me see buyer histories whereas responding to their tickets. It even integrates with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 for e mail and calendar sync.
Let’s not overlook the reviews and analytics. I’ve used the customizable dashboards to trace metrics like ticket decision time, agent efficiency, and buyer satisfaction scores. They’re a lifesaver after I have to make fast selections or current information to the crew.
Ticket administration has its downsides too. I don’t like how spam emails typically sneak into the ticket queue, and there’s no strong filter to weed them out routinely. It’s annoying, particularly once you’re scanning for pressing points. Oh, and ticket updates can typically lag. These delays can really feel like an eternity in a fast-paced surroundings.
Whereas the customization choices had been respectable, they left me wanting extra. For instance, I couldn’t absolutely tweak the views of my ticket queues past a number of fundamental settings. I’d love extra flexibility right here. It might assist me tailor the interface to raised match my workflow.
Lastly, there’s help. When it really works, it’s nice—the crew is educated and responsive. Nonetheless, the response occasions lag throughout busy occasions, which will be irritating when attempting to resolve essential points rapidly.
What I like about Zoho Desk:
- The power to arrange workflows that routinely assign tickets or escalate points is a big time-saver. It’s like having an additional pair of palms managing my tickets.
- I really like how all buyer queries from e mail, social media, chat, or cellphone move right into a single dashboard. It’s so handy to have the whole lot in a single place.
What G2 customers like about Zoho Desk:
“The notifications are wonderful and guarantee we by no means miss something vital. The search performance makes it straightforward to seek out tickets or data rapidly. The best way tickets are organized works completely for our workflow. Moreover, the cellular utility is way superior to different ticketing methods we’ve used, providing a a lot better person expertise on the go.”
– Zoho Desk Assessment, Jaco M.
What I dislike about Zoho Desk:
- Typically, spam emails seem as tickets, and there’s no foolproof option to filter them out. This may be irritating after I’m scanning for vital points.
- I want the ticket views and workflows had been extra customizable. It seems like I can solely tweak issues to a sure extent, which doesn’t at all times match my wants.
What G2 customers dislike about Zoho Desk:
“Whereas Zoho Desk has some helpful options, a number of downsides have impacted our expertise. The most important challenge for us is the steep studying curve for superior customization. Establishing automation workflows and customizing ticket fields required extra technical data than anticipated, and the documentation wasn’t at all times clear. We had to spend so much of time troubleshooting or contacting help for assist.”
– Zoho Desk Assessment, Leocel A.
3. Freshdesk
I really like how Freshdesk strikes a strong steadiness between being feature-rich and simple to make use of.
The very first thing I seen was how intuitive the interface is. Freshdesk’s clear design makes navigating straightforward, even if you happen to’re new to assist desk software program. The training curve is minimal, so you possibly can dive straight into the motion with out losing time on difficult setups. What’s even higher is its multi-channel help. The whole lot funnels into one place, whether or not it’s emails, dwell chats, cellphone calls, or social media messages.
Freshdesk shines in ticket administration. I can assign, prioritize, and automate duties with minimal effort. Options like SLA insurance policies and canned responses make it extremely environment friendly.
And let’s not overlook Freddy AI, Freshdesk’s good assistant. Freddy is sort of a teammate that handles repetitive duties, suggests replies, and even helps prioritize tickets. It typically misses the nuances of extra advanced queries however is a big assist for on a regular basis duties.
One other spotlight for me has been the analytics and reporting instruments. Freshdesk gives actionable insights. I’ve been capable of monitor crew efficiency, monitor decision occasions, and even construct customized dashboards tailor-made to our targets.
I additionally like Freshdesk’s data base and self-service choices. Establishing FAQs and guides was a breeze, and it drastically lowered the variety of fundamental queries we obtained. Prospects can discover options independently, which frees our crew to deal with extra advanced points. Pair that with seamless integrations with instruments like Slack, Salesforce, and Shopify, and you’ve got a system that matches neatly into present workflows.
A few of the extra superior options, like detailed reporting or superior automation, are locked behind higher-tier pricing plans. For smaller groups or companies on a price range, this will really feel limiting. Customization is one other space the place Freshdesk may do higher.
Whereas it’s versatile with workflows and ticket properties, I usually want there have been extra choices to tweak the interface to suit my crew’s wants. Efficiency hiccups, although not frequent, are noticeable throughout peak ticket volumes. And whereas the cellular app is useful, it lacks a number of the performance of the desktop model, which will be irritating when our crew is on the go.
What I like about Freshdesk:
- The interface is clear, intuitive, and simple to navigate. I didn’t should spend hours figuring issues out.
- I really like how Freddy AI auto-suggests replies and automates workflows, making our job a lot simpler. Certain, it’s not excellent and infrequently misses the mark with advanced conditions, however for the on a regular basis stuff, it seems like having an additional teammate we are able to depend on.
What G2 customers like about Freshdesk:
“I recognize Freshdesk’s interface and highly effective automation options that simplify our work on buyer help and fee support-related ticket administration and Freddy improves our responses and Canned responses save time. Its Freshdesk’s multi-channel help permits seamless e mail, chat, and social media communication, guaranteeing constant customer support. The analytics and reporting instruments are already some reviews are predefined we have to replace them in keeping with our use. The reviews present beneficial insights to optimize crew efficiency, and CSAT helps enhance buyer satisfaction.”
– Freshdesk Assessment, Jenny P.
What I dislike about Freshdesk:
- Whereas Freshdesk lets me tweak workflows and ticket varieties, the customization choices for the interface and layouts really feel restricted. Typically, I want I may customise it higher to suit my crew’s wants.
- I’ve seen that Freshdesk can lag throughout peak ticket volumes or when operating detailed reviews. It’s not frequent, however it’s sufficient to disrupt the move when it occurs.
What G2 customers dislike about Freshdesk:
“Enhancements to make the interface even quicker and extra versatile would make it a good higher instrument for scaling throughout high-demand intervals.”
– Freshdesk Assessment, Akib S.
4. Zendesk Assist Suite
After I began utilizing Zendesk Assist Suite, I wasn’t positive what to anticipate. I’d heard it was a top-tier assist desk instrument, however I wished to see it myself.
I favored how the ticketing system let me merge duplicate tickets to keep away from confusion when prospects contact you throughout a number of channels. Plus, I may add tags to prepare buyer tickets. I may rack buyer interplay historical past throughout all channels, which has been my lifesaver when resolving advanced points. I additionally appreciated the predefined responses or macros for repetitive queries.
What blew me away was how Zendesk brings the whole lot into one dashboard. It affords real-time help with proactive chat triggers to interact prospects earlier than they ask for assist. This assist desk software program has built-in telephony options like interactive voice response (IVR), name recording, and voicemail transcription. The platform additionally brings queries from social media channels like Fb, Twitter, and WhatsApp into the system, so I by no means needed to hop between platforms.
I additionally favored Zendesk’s automation options. Triggers allowed me to routinely assign tickets to the appropriate groups and ship follow-up emails based mostly on particular circumstances. Automation additionally allowed me to remind brokers of overdue tickets or escalate precedence points. The AI-powered reply bot helped me counsel assist articles to prospects or draft responses for brokers.
With the REST API, we may combine Zendesk with Slack for immediate notifications and Shopify for order-related queries. The App Market affords over 1,000 add-ons, like Trello for activity administration and Magento for e-commerce.
Zendesk Assist Suite is highly effective, however it’s not precisely beginner-friendly. Establishing workflows and automation took me a while to determine. For instance, configuring SLAs or creating customized ticket varieties initially wasn’t intuitive. Their documentation and boards helped however anticipate a studying curve.
Whereas I favored the pre-built dashboards in Zendesk Discover, they felt inflexible. I couldn’t at all times create absolutely customized reviews the best way I wished. I usually needed to export information to Excel to use superior filters or create distinctive visualizations.
The default e mail templates are fundamental and lack personalization. I needed to tweak the HTML manually to match my model’s fashion, which took additional time. It’s useful however may use an improve.
With excessive ticket volumes, I seen occasional system lags. Notifications typically got here by way of late, which isn’t splendid when dealing with time-sensitive points.
What I like about Zendesk Assist Suite:
- I really like how Zendesk centralizes all buyer interactions. Whether or not e mail, chat, and even social media, the whole lot is in a single place. Plus, ticket merging, tagging, and buyer historical past monitoring save me a lot time.
- I recognize how versatile Zendesk is. The APIs make it straightforward to combine with instruments I already use, like Salesforce and Slack. Plus, the App Market is filled with choices to broaden its performance.
What G2 customers like about Zendesk Assist Suite:
“Zendesk Assist Suite is well-organized, user-friendly, gives plenty of instruments to carry out completely different duties relying on the enterprise wants, affords a number of channels of communication to unify each interplay in a single place, and although there are a number of duties that may be carried out on this platform their system could be very properly completed and steady. I’ve to make use of this platform day by day because the channels we use to speak with prospects are situated right here and in my years of expertise, that is one of the best instrument by far.”
– Zendesk Assist Suite Assessment, Sara M.
What I dislike about Zendesk Assist Suite:
- Getting began wasn’t straightforward. Establishing workflows, SLA insurance policies, and customized roles took me some time. It’s highly effective, however it requires time to study.
- The pre-built dashboards are useful, however I discovered them a bit restrictive. Customizing reviews past fundamental filters usually meant exporting information to Excel, which added additional steps to my workflow.
What G2 customers dislike about Zendesk Assist Suite:
“Whereas Zendesk Assist Suite affords a strong and complete set of options, customers typically encounter a number of drawbacks. One widespread challenge is the pricing complexity. Zendesk will be costly, particularly for rising companies, as many superior options are locked behind higher-tier plans, making it troublesome for smaller groups on a price range to totally justify the price.”
– Zendesk Assist Suite Assessment, Ian Faulo R.
5. HubSpot Service Hub
When you’re on the lookout for a buyer help platform that retains your workflow clean and your crew organized, HubSpot Service Hub deserves your consideration. I’ve used it for a while, and whereas it’s not excellent, it’s a useful assist desk instrument.
First issues first, the CRM integration is phenomenal. I really like how emails routinely flip into tickets and updates sync in real-time throughout the platform. I’ve labored with a number of different platforms, and actually, this characteristic alone makes HubSpot Service Hub stand out.
What I additionally love are the organizational instruments. Ticket pipelines, crew inboxes, and automatic notifications are designed to make managing buyer inquiries much less chaotic. For instance, you possibly can prioritize tickets based mostly on urgency or set workflows to make sure nothing slips by way of the cracks.
Let me simply say that their buyer help crew is among the greatest I’ve handled. Whether or not I had questions on options or wanted assist troubleshooting, they had been quick, pleasant, and educated.
When you’re a part of a small crew or on a good price range, brace your self. Whereas the fundamental options are strong, unlocking superior choices like workflow automation for buyer outreach requires a dear advertising add-on.
One other factor that bugged me was characteristic elimination. There have been cases the place HubSpot retired options that had been nonetheless beneath contract. Think about constructing your workflows round a instrument solely to have it yanked away. It’s irritating and disruptive.
I additionally discovered the customization choices a bit missing in sure areas. Certain, the fundamentals are there, however if you happen to’re coming from a platform that provides deep customization, HubSpot may really feel a bit inflexible. Superior workflows and reporting capabilities may use extra flexibility.
After which there’s workflow automation. Automating buyer outreach or creating advanced workflows isn’t a part of the usual plan. It’s worthwhile to put money into additional modules. This seems like a letdown for groups that need an all-in-one answer with out breaking the financial institution.
Lastly, scaling for smaller groups is usually a problem. As a lot as I really like the platform, the pricing mannequin makes it exhausting for smaller organizations to develop with it. It’s higher suited to medium to giant groups that may take advantage of its premium options.
What I like about HubSpot Service Hub:
- I really like how effortlessly HubSpot’s Service Hub syncs with its CRM. Emails routinely develop into tickets, updates are logged immediately, and the whole lot feels linked.
- The ticket pipelines and automation workflows make it straightforward to watch consumer interactions. I can set priorities, categorize tickets, and guarantee nothing slips by way of the cracks.
What G2 customers like about HubSpot Service Hub:
“The customer support is effectively reactive and useful, I’ve had nothing however nice experiences chatting with the crew and clearing some doubts. The chance to personalize the workspace in keeping with the wants of the corporate (add or take away properties, the creation of good dashboards that provide you with a pleasant overview of the created campaigns’ KPIs and the strategies when creating sequences, e mail templates and workflows could be very useful and far appreciated.”
– HubSpot Service Hub Assessment, Ana Carolina D.
What I dislike about HubSpot Service Hub:
- One factor that frustrates me is how HubSpot has been identified to retire options—even ones I’ve been actively utilizing beneath contract. It’s disruptive and leaves me scrambling for alternate options.
- Whereas I recognize the flexibility to tweak the fundamentals, the platform lacks the depth I’ve seen in rivals. Some superior reporting and workflow choices don’t go far sufficient for what I want.
What G2 customers dislike about HubSpot Service Hub:
“There are some options that require upgrades to make the most of, I feel it is honest, however it might probably develop into annoying; for instance, after I wish to bulk cleanup duplicates, I am already on a paid model, and I have to improve to get that bulk characteristic. I exploit Hubspot with three shoppers as a digital assistant and often run into these improve requests. I do not love the report options on the fundamental model as a result of the reviews out there are very fundamental and do not present related data. Some fields do not permit me to create property logic that is not supported.”
– HubSpot Service Hub Assessment, Claudia U.
6. Intercom
Whether or not you are managing help tickets, automating workflows, or simply attempting to raised join along with your prospects, Intercom feels prefer it was constructed to make your life simpler.
The assistance desk options actually shine. I may deal with buyer queries by way of a number of channels, like dwell chat, e mail, and even social media, all from a single inbox. Plus, the dialog routing system makes positive the appropriate particular person will get the ticket with out us having to manually assign it.
I additionally appreciated the self-serve help choices. Intercom permits you to construct a data base (Articles), so prospects can remedy widespread points themselves. It integrates seamlessly into the dwell chat widget, which is ideal as a result of prospects don’t want to go away the chat to seek out solutions. And don’t get me began on the Customized Bots. These bots can information customers by way of widespread issues or qualify leads earlier than passing them to a human. It’s automation completed proper.
The automation instruments on the backend are actually highly effective. You possibly can create workflows utilizing triggers and actions to ship focused messages or alerts based mostly on buyer habits. For instance, our crew arrange an automation to inform our gross sales crew when a lead spends greater than 10 minutes on our pricing web page. Issues like this make Intercom greater than only a help instrument.
I felt the cellular app may use some love. It’s useful however gradual, particularly when attaching recordsdata or managing tickets on the go. And customization? Whereas the desktop model is implausible, the dearth of drag-and-drop e mail design or deep customization within the cellular view is irritating. For instance, I couldn’t regulate the place the dwell chat badge appeared, and it blocked a part of our app’s navigation bar.
A few of the superior options additionally contain a studying curve. Establishing workflows and segmenting customers is extremely highly effective, however it’s not at all times intuitive. I needed to spend a good bit of time determining the logic behind triggers and filters.
What I like about Intercom:
- Intercom combines dwell chat, e mail, and social media messaging right into a single, easy-to-use platform. It simplifies the whole lot and retains us organized.
- I like the flexibility to arrange triggers and workflows based mostly on buyer habits. This can be a game-changer for partaking leads and proactively resolving points.
What I like about Intercom:
“Intercom is just about the one software program wanted by our Assist division. The system has a built-in workflow, so your assist middle documentation works along with your dialog and dwell help crew. This then integrates with the Dev crew’s software program, making it a one-stop store for all assets and events concerned. We’re getting near making the most of all the brand new AI options, however know that that will not be such an enormous problem as a result of it feeds off the present content material within the system. We all know that the AI options are an ideal instrument as a result of as a buyer of Intercom, I can see how their help has already improved. You possibly can customise and construct automation as wanted, which is unbelievable and has helped hold our prospects comfortable. Retention charges, I am positive, have improved due to the automated responses and workflow in Intercom. It is a monster system providing the whole lot you want and extra.”
– Intercom Assessment, Mel M.
What I dislike about Intercom:
- Whereas the app is useful, it’s gradual and lacks customization choices, making it irritating to handle tickets or connect recordsdata on the go.
- Establishing workflows and automation is extremely highly effective, however it’s not intuitive and took us some time to determine.
What G2 customers dislike about Intercom:
“All the options are nice, rather well thought out and simple to make use of. Nonetheless, a few of them usually are not utilised as a result of value. The pay-per-send objects, resembling emails and different focused initiatives, can develop into fairly costly given the variety of shoppers uncovered to the messaging. This has led us to depend on much less environment friendly strategies for sending mass emails. I might like to see packages that higher accommodate our wants on this space.”
– Intercom Assessment, Ross P.
7. SAP Service Cloud
When you’re available in the market for assist desk software program, SAP Service Cloud is value testing. I’ve been utilizing it for some time, and whereas it’s not excellent, there’s rather a lot to love about it.
I like how SAP Service Cloud helps with buyer interplay administration. It simplifies ticketing, automates routine duties, and retains your help crew on their recreation. For instance, it affords clever ticket routing powered by AI, so tickets are routinely assigned to the appropriate brokers based mostly on ability units, precedence, or workload. There’s additionally embedded machine studying to counsel options, saving brokers beneficial time.
I recognize the data base module. It’s straightforward to create and replace articles, which brokers and prospects can use to seek out fast solutions. Add to that the 360-degree buyer view, which consolidates buyer histories, interactions, and preferences into one display, and also you’re set as much as ship really personalised help.
For efficiency and safety, SAP Service Cloud leverages cloud scalability and SAP’s enterprise-grade safety protocols. It’s hosted on the SAP Enterprise Know-how Platform, providing you with wonderful uptime and dependable international infrastructure. I recognize how the system contains strong analytics and reporting instruments, with pre-built dashboards and the flexibility to drill down into metrics like response occasions, ticket decision charges, and buyer satisfaction scores.
The mixing with different SAP instruments is seamless, which is an enormous win if you happen to’re already within the SAP ecosystem. You possibly can join it to SAP S/4HANA, SAP CRM, or SAP Commerce Cloud. I really like how this integration lets you pull buyer information, sync order histories, and supply personalised service, all from a single interface. Plus, it helps omni-channel communication, so you possibly can handle emails, dwell chats, social media queries, and even cellphone calls in a single unified platform.
The platform is filled with options, which is nice, however studying the right way to use all of them isn’t simple. I didn’t like that the administration panel, whereas highly effective, has a steep studying curve and requires some technical know-how to configure workflows and arrange person permissions correctly.
Whereas the integrations inside SAP are implausible, it’s a unique story if it is advisable to work with third-party instruments. The system helps integrations through APIs, however configuring them isn’t at all times clean crusing until you’ve got technical experience.
One space the place it may enhance is efficiency optimization. The system can typically really feel sluggish for bigger groups with heavy utilization, significantly throughout peak hours.
What I like about SAP Service Cloud:
- I really like how the system makes use of AI for clever ticket routing and answer strategies. It saves us time by routinely assigning tickets to the appropriate brokers and recommending resolutions based mostly on previous circumstances.
- The way it integrates with different SAP instruments like SAP S/4HANA and SAP CRM is a game-changer. I can pull buyer information, monitor order histories, and handle interactions multi functional place, making the whole lot tremendous streamlined.
What G2 customers like about SAP Service Cloud:
“The SAP service cloud contains many options like 360-degree buyer view, automation, AI-driven insights, omnichannel help, Case administration and SLA monitoring, customizability, scalability, and integration with different SAP options. The most effective facets embrace its customer-centric design, seamless integration, and strong performance with different SAP instruments.”
– SAP Service Cloud Assessment, Jay B.
What I dislike about SAP Service Cloud:
- Getting began with SAP Service Cloud was a problem. The onboarding course of felt overwhelming, and the administration panel wasn’t beginner-friendly. It took us a number of time to determine all of the options.
- Whereas the system integrates fantastically with different SAP instruments, working with third-party functions will be irritating. Establishing these integrations usually requires technical experience, which isn’t at all times handy.
What G2 customers dislike about SAP Service Cloud:
“The onboarding for SAP Service Cloud is troublesome, and one should watch the onboarding tutorials/coaching often. Easy and higher steering will probably be appreciated. It really works excellently on desktops and laptops, however the cellular utility wants a lot enchancment. Costing of SAP service cloud is on the upper facet, although one can choose the package deal as per their want and work.”
– SAP Service Cloud Assessment, Akshay U.
8. LiveChat
I like how LiveChat’s interface is tremendous clear and intuitive. Whether or not you’re a tech wizard or choose easy issues, LiveChat’s dashboard feels approachable. The true magic lies in its common inbox, a central hub the place you possibly can handle all buyer interactions. Emails, chat messages, and even social media DMs move into this house, so nothing will get missed.
I additionally recognize that LiveChat helps native integrations with over 200 platforms, like Salesforce, Zendesk, and Mailchimp. Want to connect with a lesser-known instrument? LiveChat’s API permits you to construct customized options effortlessly. Our crew tried utilizing Zapier integration to automate follow-ups, which saved us hours each week.
The chat widget is light-weight and customizable, becoming proper into your web site with out slowing issues. I used to be additionally impressed with canned responses. They’re a lifesaver for FAQs, letting you deal with excessive chat volumes like a professional. The analytics dashboard is filled with information on buyer satisfaction, chat response occasions, and agent efficiency for deeper insights.
We additionally determined to go together with the LiveChat+HelpDesk+ChatBot combo. The HelpDesk characteristic is implausible for organizing tickets and monitoring resolutions, whereas the AI-powered chatbot can deal with fundamental queries 24/7.
The UI may use a bit extra polish, and there have been moments after we felt nudged into utilizing options like the web site widget we didn’t want.
One other bummer is the dearth of a proprietary CRM. Think about how highly effective it might be to have a completely built-in CRM system in the identical suite. As a substitute, you must depend on third-party options or guide workarounds.
Lastly, the trial expertise doesn’t showcase the complete potential. When you’re attempting to determine, you may miss seeing its strong analytics and safety features.
What I like about LiveChat:
- LiveChat connects seamlessly with instruments we already use, like Salesforce and Mailchimp. The API makes it straightforward to construct customized integrations, so it suits completely into our workflow.
- The chat widget is light-weight, quick, and customizable. When mixed with options like canned responses and real-time analytics, it might probably deal with excessive chat volumes with out breaking a sweat.
What G2 customers like about LiveChat:
“I like the chances it brings with integrations. At present, we combine Livechat with 12 completely different software program instruments in my division. This has enabled us to convey real-time chat engagement which Livechat gives into our completely different gross sales channels, guaranteeing that we’re at all times out there to interact with prospects and prospects at a very powerful gross sales factors and intervals.”
– LiveChat Assessment, Maria Kemi W.
What I dislike about LiveChat:
- Whereas the integrations are nice, I want LiveChat had its personal built-in CRM. It might make managing buyer information and interactions way more seamless.
- The trial interval doesn’t adequately showcase a number of the platform’s greatest options, like superior analytics or safety choices. It’s troublesome to get a whole sense of its capabilities earlier than committing.
What G2 customers dislike about LiveChat:
“Sadly, they do not have their very own CRM product for now. In any other case, we might love to make use of it as properly.”
– LiveChat Assessment, Iryna C.
Assist desk software program: Regularly requested questions (FAQs)
1. What’s the greatest assist desk software program?
Based mostly on my hands-on testing expertise, Salesforce Service Cloud, Zoho Desk, and Freshdesk are the highest three assist desk software program options.
2. What’s the greatest assist desk software program for ticketing system?
The most effective assist desk software program for ticketing methods contains Zoho Desk, Zendesk, and Freshdesk. Zoho Desk is praised for its affordability and complete options, splendid for small companies. Zendesk stands out for its AI-powered automation, whereas Freshdesk affords a user-friendly interface and multichannel help, making it environment friendly for buyer interactions.
3. What’s the greatest free assist desk software program?
Zoho Desk, Zendesk Assist Suite, and Freshdesk are the highest free assist desk software program options.
4. What’s the greatest ticketing system for small companies?
From my expertise, Zoho Desk is a implausible selection for small companies. It’s inexpensive, filled with options, and works seamlessly with different Zoho apps, making it tremendous handy. I’ve additionally had nice outcomes with Freshdesk, which affords a user-friendly, cloud-based system that’s straightforward to customise and scales as your small business grows. When you’re on the lookout for one thing a bit extra superior, Zendesk is a strong choice with its AI-powered ticketing and intuitive design, excellent for taking customer support to the following stage.
5. What’s assist desk software program used for?
From my expertise, assist desk software program is a lifesaver for managing buyer help requests and maintaining the whole lot organized. It lets us monitor, prioritize, and resolve points by way of a easy ticketing system, so nothing slips by way of the cracks. I additionally love that many instruments include options like dwell chat, data bases, and automation, which make it a lot simpler to remain up to the mark and hold prospects comfortable. Whether or not it’s troubleshooting technical issues or answering questions, it helps us ship quick and environment friendly help each time.
Your buyer help system, simplified.
Discovering one of the best assist desk software program can really feel like a frightening activity, however belief me, it’s definitely worth the effort. The appropriate instrument transforms the best way your crew works and the way your prospects really feel about your help. I’ve been within the chaos, and I understand how a lot of a distinction the appropriate system could make. Hopefully, this listicle helps you skip the irritating trial-and-error part and go straight to what works. Right here’s to discovering the software program that turns your help course of right into a clean, well-oiled machine.
Need to enhance buyer satisfaction? Discover ways to take care of sad prospects with escalation administration.