Again at certainly one of my earlier jobs, our workforce was thrown into managing buyer assist for a rising workforce.
We have been scaling quick, however our assist system wasn’t maintaining. All the things was scattered: emails right here, chats there, and no technique to preserve observe of who stated what or what was nonetheless pending. It was chaos, and we felt the strain because the workforce was tasked with discovering a repair.
That’s once I realized how a lot the finest 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 amount however make the entire course of smoother for everybody concerned.
We made errors, too, like choosing one answer that seemed 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 suitable software program can flip a chaotic assist 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. In case you’re feeling overwhelmed attempting to choose the suitable one, let me assist make it simpler.
2025’s finest 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 assist 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 obtainable 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 response to G2 Grid Reviews. I’ve additionally added their month-to-month pricing per consumer to make comparisons simpler.
8 finest assist desk software program I put to the check
Assist desk software program is the center of an excellent buyer assist operation. It organizes all of the chaos: managing tickets, monitoring conversations, and making certain each buyer problem is logged, prioritized, and resolved effectively. A great assist desk answer seems like having a command middle the place the assist workforce 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 numerous assist desk software program, testing the whole lot from ticketing programs to complicated workflow automation. To get a full image, I spoke with trade specialists and on a regular basis customers to learn the way these instruments maintain up underneath real-world calls for. I checked out their most spectacular options, pinpointed the place they may enhance, and used AI to comb by lots of of G2 opinions for deeper insights. I then cross-referenced my findings with G2’s Grid Reviews, evaluating every software on ease of use, performance, and worth for cash. In spite of everything this analysis, I’ve compiled my listing of one of the best assist desk software program you will get.
On a extra technical degree, 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 assist so prospects can attain you through e-mail, chat, social media, or cellphone, multi functional place. You’ll be able to arrange service-level agreements (SLAs) to maintain response occasions on observe, combine the software program with buyer relationship administration instruments or chat platforms, and even use built-in reporting instruments to see how the workforce performs.
My course of for testing and choosing the right assist desk software program
When evaluating assist desk software program, I think about a number of important options and technical components under to make sure it meets enterprise wants.
- Core options: Once 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 assist 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 lowering repetitive duties and dashing up response occasions. A data base is equally essential, permitting prospects to seek out options independently whereas lightening the load on my assist workforce.
- Integration capabilities: Certainly one of my most vital concerns is how effectively the software program integrates with different instruments the workforce already makes use of. A robust CRM integration is crucial as a result of it supplies a whole view of our buyer interactions, making it simpler to supply customized assist. I additionally search for the power to combine with collaboration instruments like Slack or Microsoft Groups and venture administration platforms like Jira, which helps streamline communication between departments. Software programming interface or API entry is one other huge one. It permits me to construct customized integrations or workflows if the out-of-the-box choices aren’t sufficient. A assist desk software that performs properly with others all the time 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 workforce and administrator so I don’t waste priceless time on coaching. Cellular accessibility is one other must-have since our workforce typically works on the go, and having a responsive app ensures we are able to resolve tickets irrespective of the place we’re. Multi-language assist could be a game-changer for companies with international prospects, enabling groups to offer localized assist. I’ve discovered from expertise that software program with a steep studying curve or clunky interface can decelerate productiveness and frustrate even essentially the most tech-savvy brokers.
- Scalability and customization: Selecting a assist desk software 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 workforce expands. I additionally worth customization choices that permit 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 effectively my assist workforce performs. I want software program that gives real-time dashboards displaying ticket statuses, decision occasions, and agent productiveness. Instruments that observe buyer satisfaction metrics, like CSAT and NPS, are additionally essential as a result of they provide me direct suggestions on how prospects understand our service. Customizable reporting is a bonus, permitting me to give attention to the KPIs that matter most to the enterprise. In my expertise, getting access to detailed analytics has been instrumental in figuring out bottlenecks and enhancing workforce effectivity.
- Safety and compliance: With delicate buyer information concerned, safety is all the time a high 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 suitable folks can entry particular data. Compliance with rules 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 progress.
Integration capabilities have been a high precedence, so I seemed for instruments seamlessly related with our CRM, communication platforms, and venture administration software program. Safety and compliance have been non-negotiable, and I reviewed every software program’s encryption strategies and regulatory adherence.
To get a full image, I consulted workforce members for hands-on suggestions and analyzed consumer opinions to know frequent challenges. By balancing real-world testing, technical evaluations, and consumer enter, I used to be in a position to choose these 8 finest assist desk software program options.
To be included within the assist desk software program class, a product should:
- Convert exterior buyer inquiries into assist tickets for brokers
- Centralize buyer inquiries from emails and the client portal into one unified system
- Route tickets to assist brokers to make sure well timed responses
*This information was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some opinions might have been edited for readability.
1. Salesforce Service Cloud
Once I first bought 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.
One of the spectacular options is its omnichannel assist. Salesforce Service Cloud pulls the whole lot from emails to cellphone calls to stay 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 conserving the whole lot on observe. The AI-powered bots are nice for dealing with repetitive queries and liberating up brokers for complicated 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 supplies 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 need to spend hours in a setup wizard.
Whereas the fundamentals are user-friendly, diving into superior options like Apex code customization or constructing Lightning elements can really feel overwhelming. I needed to make investments important time in coaching to take advantage of it.
I anticipated the cellular app to match the desktop expertise, nevertheless it’s not but there. Whereas it’s respectable for fast updates or checking circumstances, it lacks the performance I want for extra complicated 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 for those who’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 assist circumstances a lot simpler with out switching between a number of instruments.
- I admire 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 optimistic. With an easy-to-use answer, customers with little or no expertise in CRM discovered and shortly turned accustomed to the system, extracting and producing worth. We realized scalability is a powerful level, beginning the operation with a small workforce and managing to extend the variety of customers subsequently with out main difficulties.
The software’s speedy deployment additionally stands out as a powerful level, permitting chosen departments emigrate from an email-only service mannequin to a case administration answer. This alteration allowed the usage of automated workflows (flows), streamlining routine duties (approval course of and case routing) and growing workforce effectivity.”
– Salesforce Service Cloud Evaluation, 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 fantastic for fast updates, nevertheless it feels restrictive once I must deal with complicated 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 entire fabric. Do you need to remind a shopper they’ve an open case each few days? Higher be able to work with modules and presumably some code. Need 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 understand a ticket has an replace, that is going to be a template, an alert, and a movement at a minimal; in different ticketing programs, that’d be a tick field ‘notify agent on ticket replace’ kind of choice.”
– Salesforce Service Cloud Evaluation, Seth E.
2. Zoho Desk
Once I began utilizing Zoho Desk, I wasn’t certain 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 allows 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 function is one other win. It helps standardize repetitive processes like approvals or ticket escalations.
The ticket administration system can also be unbelievable. I can observe each ticket’s lifecycle, from when it’s raised to when it’s resolved. You’ve bought instruments like SLAs and ticket tags, so you possibly can type 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 all the time good, it saves time when swamped.
One function 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 movement 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 neglect 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 once I must make fast choices or current information to the workforce.
Ticket administration has its downsides too. I don’t like how spam emails typically sneak into the ticket queue, and there’s no sturdy 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 setting.
Whereas the customization choices have been respectable, they left me wanting extra. For instance, I couldn’t totally tweak the views of my ticket queues past a couple of fundamental settings. I’d love extra flexibility right here. It will assist me tailor the interface to raised match my workflow.
Lastly, there’s assist. When it really works, it’s nice—the workforce is educated and responsive. Nonetheless, the response occasions lag throughout busy occasions, which will be irritating when attempting to resolve essential points shortly.
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 movement 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 shortly. The best way tickets are organized works completely for our workflow. Moreover, the cellular utility is way superior to different ticketing programs we’ve used, providing a significantly better consumer expertise on the go.”
– Zoho Desk Evaluation, Jaco M.
What I dislike about Zoho Desk:
- Generally, spam emails seem as tickets, and there’s no foolproof technique to filter them out. This may be irritating once I’m scanning for vital points.
- I want the ticket views and workflows have been extra customizable. It seems like I can solely tweak issues to a sure extent, which doesn’t all the time match my wants.
What G2 customers dislike about Zoho Desk:
“Whereas Zoho Desk has some helpful options, a couple of downsides have impacted our expertise. The most important problem 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 all the time clear. We had to spend so much of time troubleshooting or contacting assist for assist.”
– Zoho Desk Evaluation, Leocel A.
3. Freshdesk
I really like how Freshdesk strikes a strong stability 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 for those who’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 assist. All the things funnels into one place, whether or not it’s emails, stay 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 neglect Freddy AI, Freshdesk’s sensible 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 complicated 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 supplies actionable insights. I’ve been in a position to monitor workforce efficiency, observe 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 decreased the variety of fundamental queries we obtained. Clients can discover options independently, which frees our workforce to give attention to extra complicated 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 number 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 funds, this could really feel limiting. Customization is one other space the place Freshdesk may do higher.
Whereas it’s versatile with workflows and ticket properties, I typically want there have been extra choices to tweak the interface to suit my workforce’s wants. Efficiency hiccups, although not frequent, are noticeable throughout peak ticket volumes. And whereas the cellular app is helpful, it lacks a number of the performance of the desktop model, which will be irritating when our workforce is on the go.
What I like about Freshdesk:
- The interface is clear, intuitive, and simple to navigate. I didn’t need to spend hours figuring issues out.
- I really like how Freddy AI auto-suggests replies and automates workflows, making our job a lot simpler. Positive, it’s not good and sometimes misses the mark with complicated 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 admire Freshdesk’s interface and highly effective automation options that simplify our work on buyer assist and fee support-related ticket administration and Freddy improves our responses and Canned responses save time. Its Freshdesk’s multi-channel assist permits seamless e-mail, chat, and social media communication, making certain constant customer support. The analytics and reporting instruments are already some reviews are predefined we have to replace them in response to our use. The reviews present priceless insights to optimize workforce efficiency, and CSAT helps enhance buyer satisfaction.”
– Freshdesk Evaluation, 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. Generally, I want I may customise it higher to suit my workforce’s wants.
- I’ve seen that Freshdesk can lag throughout peak ticket volumes or when working detailed reviews. It’s not frequent, nevertheless it’s sufficient to disrupt the movement when it occurs.
What G2 customers dislike about Freshdesk:
“Enhancements to make the interface even quicker and extra versatile would make it a fair higher software for scaling throughout high-demand intervals.”
– Freshdesk Evaluation, Akib S.
4. Zendesk Assist Suite
Once I began utilizing Zendesk Assist Suite, I wasn’t certain what to anticipate. I’d heard it was a top-tier assist desk software, 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 arrange buyer tickets. I may rack buyer interplay historical past throughout all channels, which has been my lifesaver when resolving complicated 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 gives real-time assist with proactive chat triggers to have interaction 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 suitable 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 fast notifications and Shopify for order-related queries. The App Market gives over 1,000 add-ons, like Trello for process administration and Magento for e-commerce.
Zendesk Assist Suite is highly effective, nevertheless 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 all the time create totally customized reviews the best way I wished. I typically 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 further time. It’s purposeful however may use an improve.
With excessive ticket volumes, I seen occasional system lags. Notifications typically got here by late, which isn’t best 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 admire 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 increase its performance.
What G2 customers like about Zendesk Assist Suite:
“Zendesk Assist Suite is well-organized, user-friendly, supplies plenty of instruments to carry out totally different duties relying on the enterprise wants, gives a number of channels of communication to unify each interplay in a single place, and though there are plenty of duties that may be carried out on this platform their system could be very effectively performed 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 software by far.”
– Zendesk Assist Suite Evaluation, 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, nevertheless it requires time to be taught.
- The pre-built dashboards are useful, however I discovered them a bit restrictive. Customizing reviews past fundamental filters typically meant exporting information to Excel, which added further steps to my workflow.
What G2 customers dislike about Zendesk Assist Suite:
“Whereas Zendesk Assist Suite gives a robust and complete set of options, customers typically encounter a couple of drawbacks. One frequent problem 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 funds to completely justify the fee.”
– Zendesk Assist Suite Evaluation, Ian Faulo R.
5. HubSpot Service Hub
In case you’re on the lookout for a buyer assist platform that retains your workflow easy and your workforce organized, HubSpot Service Hub deserves your consideration. I’ve used it for a while, and whereas it’s not good, it’s a useful assist desk software.
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 couple of different platforms, and actually, this function alone makes HubSpot Service Hub stand out.
What I additionally love are the organizational instruments. Ticket pipelines, workforce 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 the cracks.
Let me simply say that their buyer assist workforce is likely one of the finest I’ve handled. Whether or not I had questions on options or wanted assist troubleshooting, they have been quick, pleasant, and educated.
In case you’re a part of a small workforce or on a decent funds, brace your self. Whereas the fundamental options are strong, unlocking superior choices like workflow automation for buyer outreach requires an expensive advertising and marketing add-on.
One other factor that bugged me was function elimination. There have been situations the place HubSpot retired options that have been nonetheless underneath contract. Think about constructing your workflows round a software solely to have it yanked away. It’s irritating and disruptive.
I additionally discovered the customization choices a bit missing in sure areas. Positive, the fundamentals are there, however for those who’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 complicated workflows isn’t a part of the usual plan. It’s essential to put money into further 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 could be a problem. As a lot as I really like the platform, the pricing mannequin makes it onerous for smaller organizations to develop with it. It’s higher fitted 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 change into tickets, updates are logged immediately, and the whole lot feels related.
- The ticket pipelines and automation workflows make it straightforward to watch shopper interactions. I can set priorities, categorize tickets, and guarantee nothing slips by 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 workforce and clearing some doubts. The likelihood to personalize the workspace in response to the wants of the corporate (add or take away properties, the creation of sensible dashboards that offer you a pleasant overview of the created campaigns’ KPIs and the ideas when creating sequences, e-mail templates and workflows could be very useful and far appreciated.”
– HubSpot Service Hub Evaluation, Ana Carolina D.
What I dislike about HubSpot Service Hub:
- One factor that frustrates me is how HubSpot has been recognized to retire options—even ones I’ve been actively utilizing underneath contract. It’s disruptive and leaves me scrambling for alternate options.
- Whereas I admire the power 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 truthful, however it will probably change into annoying; for instance, once I need to bulk cleanup duplicates, I am already on a paid model, and I must improve to get that bulk function. I exploit Hubspot with three shoppers as a digital assistant and incessantly run into these improve requests. I do not love the report options on the fundamental model as a result of the reviews obtainable 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 Evaluation, Claudia U.
6. Intercom
Whether or not you are managing assist tickets, automating workflows, or simply attempting to raised join together 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 a number of channels, like stay chat, e-mail, and even social media, all from a single inbox. Plus, the dialog routing system makes certain the suitable particular person will get the ticket with out us having to manually assign it.
I additionally appreciated the self-serve assist choices. Intercom allows you to construct a data base (Articles), so prospects can resolve frequent points themselves. It integrates seamlessly into the stay chat widget, which is ideal as a result of prospects don’t want to depart the chat to seek out solutions. And don’t get me began on the Customized Bots. These bots can information customers by frequent issues or qualify leads earlier than passing them to a human. It’s automation performed proper.
The automation instruments on the backend are actually highly effective. You’ll be able to create workflows utilizing triggers and actions to ship focused messages or alerts based mostly on buyer habits. For instance, our workforce arrange an automation to inform our gross sales workforce when a lead spends greater than 10 minutes on our pricing web page. Issues like this make Intercom greater than only a assist software.
I felt the cellular app may use some love. It’s purposeful however sluggish, particularly when attaching recordsdata or managing tickets on the go. And customization? Whereas the desktop model is unbelievable, the dearth of drag-and-drop e-mail design or deep customization within the cellular view is irritating. For instance, I couldn’t alter the place the stay chat badge appeared, and it blocked a part of our app’s navigation bar.
A number of the superior options additionally contain a studying curve. Establishing workflows and segmenting customers is extremely highly effective, nevertheless it’s not all the time intuitive. I needed to spend a good bit of time determining the logic behind triggers and filters.
What I like about Intercom:
- Intercom combines stay 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 power to arrange triggers and workflows based mostly on buyer habits. It is a game-changer for participating 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 together with your dialog and stay assist workforce. This then integrates with the Dev workforce’s software program, making it a one-stop store for all sources and events concerned. We’re getting near benefiting from 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 prevailing content material within the system. We all know that the AI options are an excellent software as a result of as a buyer of Intercom, I can see how their assist has already improved. You’ll be able to customise and construct automation as wanted, which is unimaginable and has helped preserve our prospects comfortable. Retention charges, I am certain, 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 Evaluation, Mel M.
What I dislike about Intercom:
- Whereas the app is purposeful, it’s sluggish and lacks customization choices, making it irritating to handle tickets or connect recordsdata on the go.
- Establishing workflows and automation is extremely highly effective, nevertheless it’s not intuitive and took us some time to determine.
What G2 customers dislike about Intercom:
“All the options are nice, very well thought out and simple to make use of. Nonetheless, a few of them are usually not utilised on account of value. The pay-per-send objects, resembling emails and different focused initiatives, can change 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 Evaluation, Ross P.
7. SAP Service Cloud
In case you’re out there for assist desk software program, SAP Service Cloud is value testing. I’ve been utilizing it for some time, and whereas it’s not good, there’s quite a bit to love about it.
I like how SAP Service Cloud helps with buyer interplay administration. It simplifies ticketing, automates routine duties, and retains your assist workforce on their sport. For instance, it gives clever ticket routing powered by AI, so tickets are routinely assigned to the suitable brokers based mostly on ability units, precedence, or workload. There’s additionally embedded machine studying to counsel options, saving brokers priceless time.
I admire 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 screen, and also you’re set as much as ship really customized assist.
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, supplying you with wonderful uptime and dependable international infrastructure. I admire how the system consists of sturdy analytics and reporting instruments, with pre-built dashboards and the power to drill down into metrics like response occasions, ticket decision charges, and buyer satisfaction scores.
The combination with different SAP instruments is seamless, which is an enormous win for those who’re already within the SAP ecosystem. You’ll be able to 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 customized service, all from a single interface. Plus, it helps omni-channel communication, so you possibly can handle emails, stay chats, social media queries, and even cellphone calls in a single unified platform.
The platform is filled with options, which is nice, however studying how one can 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 consumer permissions correctly.
Whereas the integrations inside SAP are unbelievable, it’s a unique story if you must work with third-party instruments. The system helps integrations through APIs, however configuring them isn’t all the time easy 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, notably 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 ideas. It saves us time by routinely assigning tickets to the suitable 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, observe 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 consists of many options like 360-degree buyer view, automation, AI-driven insights, omnichannel assist, Case administration and SLA monitoring, customizability, scalability, and integration with different SAP options. One of the best facets embrace its customer-centric design, seamless integration, and sturdy performance with different SAP instruments.”
– SAP Service Cloud Evaluation, 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 plenty of time to determine all of the options.
- Whereas the system integrates superbly with different SAP instruments, working with third-party functions will be irritating. Establishing these integrations typically requires technical experience, which isn’t all the time 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 incessantly. Easy and higher steerage might 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 bundle as per their want and work.”
– SAP Service Cloud Evaluation, Akshay U.
8. LiveChat
I like how LiveChat’s interface is tremendous clear and intuitive. Whether or not you’re a tech wizard or want easy issues, LiveChat’s dashboard feels approachable. The actual 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 movement into this area, so nothing will get missed.
I additionally admire that LiveChat helps native integrations with over 200 platforms, like Salesforce, Zendesk, and Mailchimp. Want to hook up with a lesser-known software? LiveChat’s API allows you to construct customized options effortlessly. Our workforce 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 function is unbelievable 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 once 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 will be to have a completely built-in CRM system in the identical suite. As an alternative, it’s important to depend on third-party options or handbook workarounds.
Lastly, the trial expertise doesn’t showcase the total potential. In case you’re attempting to determine, you may miss seeing its sturdy 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 will 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. Presently, we combine Livechat with 12 totally different software program instruments in my division. This has enabled us to convey real-time chat engagement which Livechat supplies into our totally different gross sales channels, making certain that we’re all the time obtainable to have interaction with prospects and prospects at crucial gross sales factors and intervals.”
– LiveChat Evaluation, Maria Kemi W.
What I dislike about LiveChat:
- Whereas the integrations are nice, I want LiveChat had its personal built-in CRM. It will make managing buyer information and interactions rather more seamless.
- The trial interval doesn’t adequately showcase a number of the platform’s finest 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 would love to make use of it as effectively.”
– LiveChat Evaluation, Iryna C.
Assist desk software program: Steadily requested questions (FAQs)
1. What’s the finest assist desk software program?
Primarily based 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 finest assist desk software program for ticketing system?
One of the best assist desk software program for ticketing programs consists of Zoho Desk, Zendesk, and Freshdesk. Zoho Desk is praised for its affordability and complete options, best for small companies. Zendesk stands out for its AI-powered automation, whereas Freshdesk gives a user-friendly interface and multichannel assist, making it environment friendly for buyer interactions.
3. What’s the finest 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 finest ticketing system for small companies?
From my expertise, Zoho Desk is a unbelievable selection for small companies. It’s reasonably priced, filled with options, and works seamlessly with different Zoho apps, making it tremendous handy. I’ve additionally had nice outcomes with Freshdesk, which gives a user-friendly, cloud-based system that’s straightforward to customise and scales as what you are promoting grows. In case 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, good for taking customer support to the subsequent degree.
5. What’s assist desk software program used for?
From my expertise, assist desk software program is a lifesaver for managing buyer assist requests and conserving the whole lot organized. It lets us observe, prioritize, and resolve points by a easy ticketing system, so nothing slips by the cracks. I additionally love that many instruments include options like stay chat, data bases, and automation, which make it a lot simpler to remain up to the mark and preserve prospects comfortable. Whether or not it’s troubleshooting technical issues or answering questions, it helps us ship quick and environment friendly assist each time.
Your buyer assist system, simplified.
Discovering one of the best assist desk software program can really feel like a frightening process, however belief me, it’s definitely worth the effort. The precise software transforms the best way your workforce works and the way your prospects really feel about your assist. I’ve been within the chaos, and I understand how a lot of a distinction the suitable 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 assist course of right into a easy, well-oiled machine.
Wish to enhance buyer satisfaction? Learn to look after sad prospects with escalation administration.