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What is a Cloud Helpdesk? What You Need To Know

by | Aug 23, 2024

A cloud-based helpdesk system is revolutionizing how businesses handle customer service and support. With a cloud helpdesk system, organizations can quickly respond to customer inquiries with real-time answers, resolution tracking, and automated processes—all without needing to manage onsite hardware or IT complexity. These powerful tools offer an easy-to-use, cost-effective way to handle customer inquiries and ensure that your customers receive the help they need quickly.

With cloud helpdesk systems, you can provide round-the-clock support and take advantage of features like self-service portals, ticketing systems, analytics dashboards, and automation tools to improve customer service and maximize efficiency.

This is an image of the definition of cloud helpdesk.

What is a Cloud Helpdesk? 

A cloud helpdesk is a cloud-based system that provides businesses with the tools and services they need to manage customer service operations from anywhere efficiently. It is an IT-managed process that helps organizations offer timely service and assistance to customers whenever they require it, regardless of location or time zone.

A cloud helpdesk can streamline communication between customers and teams, track customer requests and issues, automate responses, and share company knowledge. For business owners, having a cloud helpdesk in place can reduce customer service costs and increase efficiency.

5 Benefits of Using a Cloud Helpdesk

There are many perks to using this system:

1. Easy to Set Up and Use

A cloud helpdesk is easy to set up, configure, and use. It requires no additional hardware or software installation, making it highly convenient for businesses. These systems are designed with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and access the necessary tools and services.

2. Accessibility

Cloud helpdesks can be accessed anytime, anywhere, with an internet connection, making it easier for businesses to offer prompt customer service. Accessibility is an essential feature of the system. With cloud-based systems, customer service operations can be managed remotely, regardless of where employees are located or their time zone. This increases availability and reduces response times, ensuring customers get the assistance they need as quickly as possible.

3. Scalability

Since cloud helpdesks are hosted in the cloud, they are easily scalable depending on the size of your business and its customer service requirements. Scaling your team with a cloud-based helpdesk can be accomplished quickly and easily. With the ability to deploy, manage, monitor, and scale teams all hosted in the cloud, businesses no longer have to worry about server capacity or software upgrades.

Cloud-based helpdesks also allow for easy scaling of customer service operations by enabling you to add more agents, expand customer service channels and create multiple helpdesk views for various teams, making it simple for businesses to adjust their operations as the customer base grows.

4. Automate Key Tasks

Automation in a cloud helpdesk allows businesses to automate their customer service operations by creating automated rules and responses. This reduces the manual labor needed to respond to customer queries, allowing agents to quickly and accurately answer customer questions without manually typing a reply. Support agents save time, and customers get instant answers – talk about a win-win!

Automation also helps businesses maintain consistency with their customer service operations, as automated responses guarantee that customers are given the same answer each time they ask a question. Automation technology can significantly streamline the customer service process, helping businesses improve their customer experience and reduce operational costs.

5. Real-Time Insights

With cloud helpdesks, you can access real-time insights into customer satisfaction levels, track requests, and issues, and understand how customers interact with your company. This data helps businesses make informed decisions about their customer service operations and how to meet customer needs better.

Image explaining the benefits of cloud helpdesks.

Features of Cloud Helpdesks

A cloud helpdesk system offers a range of features that make it an invaluable tool for businesses. Here are some of the top features:

Ticketing System: A cloud helpdesk typically includes a ticketing system that can be used to track customer requests and issues. It allows businesses to prioritize, assign and manage tickets efficiently.

AI-Powered Knowledge Base: A cloud helpdesk includes a knowledge base that can store product details and troubleshooting instructions. This helps agents provide customers with faster resolution times and reduces customer service costs.

Multilingual Support: Cloud helpdesks can be configured to provide multilingual support, allowing businesses to serve customers in different languages, which helps them reach more customers and offer better customer service.

Integration with Other Systems: Cloud helpdesks integrate with other systems such as CRM, ticketing, and billing systems, allowing businesses to manage their customer service operations more efficiently and gain deeper insights into customer interactions.

Security: Cloud helpdesks are secure, reliable, and backed up regularly. This ensures that businesses’ data is always recovered and can be restored.

Image explaining three steps to set up a cloud helpdesk.

3 Steps to Set Up a Cloud Helpdesk

Setting up a cloud helpdesk is a simple process and can be done in three easy steps:

1. Choose a Provider

The first step to setting up a cloud helpdesk is selecting the right provider. Do your research and ensure that they provide all the features you need, such as a ticketing system, AI-powered knowledge base, multilingual support, and integration with other systems in your tech stack.

2. Set Up Account & Integrations

Once you’ve chosen your provider, the next step is to set up your account and configure integrations with other systems. This will ensure that all customer data is synced across platforms for a seamless customer service experience. Work with your chosen provider for a smooth transition. You can also customize the look of your helpdesk by adding logos, custom backgrounds, and more.

3. Train Agents

The last step is to train agents on using the cloud helpdesk system. This will ensure that agents are familiar with the platform and can provide customers with fast, efficient service. Training should include topics such as creating and managing tickets, using the AI-powered knowledge base, and accessing customer data. Agents should also be trained on any integrations.

By following these three steps, businesses can quickly and easily set up a cloud helpdesk and start providing their customers with a superior customer experience.

Best Cloud Helpdesk Solution Companies

There are many cloud helpdesk solutions on the market today. Here’s a look at the best cloud-based helpdesks you can implement:

Capacity

Capacity is an AI-powered cloud helpdesk solution that automates customer support tasks, allows agents to provide faster resolution times, and offers real-time insights into customer satisfaction levels. It integrates with other solutions in your tech stack and can be used to build custom solutions to any business challenge. With Capacity, you can offer customers a superior customer service experience and ensure that all their needs are met quickly and efficiently.

Image showing a traditional cloud helpdesk compared to Capacity's cloud helpdesk.

Zendesk

Zendesk is a cloud-based help desk software that enables organizations to provide customer service and support across multiple channels. It includes ticketing, multi-channel support, a knowledge base, and more. The main downside of Zendesk is that it can be expensive for businesses with limited budgets. It only offers some of the features of other cloud helpdesk solutions, such as custom integrations and automation.

Helpshift

Helpshift is a cloud-based customer service and support solution for businesses of all sizes. It provides a ticketing system, multi-channel support, an AI-powered knowledge base, live chat, and more. Helpshift has some limitations, such as not being able to customize integrations with other systems and not having a built-in automation feature.

Desk

Desk is a cloud help desk software designed for small businesses and teams. It offers ticketing, customer service analytics, self-service portals, integration with other systems, and more. Even though Desk is designed for small businesses and teams, its pricing plans may be too expensive for some orgs. Furthermore, the customer service tools are limited, and the platform lacks features such as automated customer surveys or AI-powered chatbots to help streamline customer service processes.

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