Help Desk Support: February 2008

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Benefits of Help Desk Software

Help desk software should be used in any organization whether it's a large corporation or a small startup company. Why should my company implement a helpdesk software solution? Some of the benefits of helpdesk software are improved customer service, faster response times and lower information technology costs. Lets outline these three areas in greater detail.

When a user contacts the computer support professional in your organization, what steps are taken? Does it depend on who answered the phone? Do the immediately drop any task and visit your desk? Do they jot your information down on a note pad? Do they attempt to resolve the issue on the phone at great length? What criteria merits the call be moved to another member of the IT staff, or merits a call the software vendor? All these questions can be answered in some way within the use of help desk software. Helpdesk software forces your IT staff to handle help desk calls in a structured manner that can be counted on each time. When a helpdesk call is received, it should be immediately be entered into the help desk software database, even if it is easily answered. At this point there is now a record of the call, and this allows other IT staff to view the contents of the problem and makes it a simple task for other IT staff members to offer solutions. This also prevents the call from being lost in the shuffle if staff is busy when the call is received. Your general staff will have much more confidence that when they place that call to your help desk staff, their call will be handled in a structured method to ensure their satisfaction. If they can continue to work, they will not feel the need to keep calling or checking with IT staff on the progress, or worry that their call will not be answered in a reasonable amount of time. This allows them to focus on their tasks, and not be concerned with the status of their call.

Many help desk software solutions offer a self-help method, allowing the staff members in your company to submit a helpdesk request directly into the help desk system. (granted their computer is functioning enough for this) This feature greatly streamlines the process, and can increase response time for all users. Help desk support staff will not be interrupted by the phone call and have to stop working on another issue to record the call information. In fact, it should be encouraged by the IT staff to submit all request possible with this method. When a request is entered into the system, it allows any available support personnel to respond to the request. It also allows support personnel to diversify calls, so if a calls is shown to be about a particular problem that a staff member has greater expertise with, that staff member will likely be able to solve the problem much quicker. Once each calls is resolved, the solution will then become available for future reference. This is one of the greatest benefits an organization will receive from using a help desk system. This allows newer support staff to be able to answer many questions by simply searching the database for other calls. Also prevent 2 support staff from having to research for the same solution, this benefits in much faster response time for the end user.

Everything mentioned above will contribute to the overall quality of service in your organization, happier staff and faster response time will mean lower costs and higher productivity for your organization.

Free Help Desk Software

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

How To break Free of the Help Desk

In today's saturated IT industry, there are many capable employees who find themselves stuck in a help desk position. Many of these people have college degrees and even some more advanced certifications to their credit. Still, for many of these people, they are unable to find a way to break out of this entry-level IT position and avoid career stagnation.

I am going to share with you five key strategies that have allowed me to stand out in this sea of similarly qualified IT candidates and further my career. Like many of you, my first job was supporting software for customers in my company's help desk. I knew from day 1 that I could not let myself become complacent in that job. Here are five things I did to work towards getting out of that help desk:

1. DO work towards the more popular industry certifications.

Computer certifications such as Microsoft's MCSE and Cisco's CCNA may be more popular and widespread than ever, but that doesn't mean you should dismiss working towards and obtaining them. In fact, it should be the exact reason you WANT to obtain them. They've almost become prerequisites in many IT positions beyond the help desk. Employers EXPECT to see that you've taken the time to earn these popular industry certifications. There may be many candidates out there with them, but be certain you're not one of the candidates without them.

2. DO make your current employer aware of your desire to advance.

Don't wait for your boss to talk with you about more specialized positions in the company. You need to take the initiative and let them know that you're eager to be considered for positions that open up. If you don't show them that, then they will most likely be happy letting you stay at the help desk. After all, if you're doing a good job there and seem to be content...they have no reason to consider you. Make them consider you.

3. DO create an account and resume on the major IT job sites.

Tech job employers put many of their job openings on the major job search sites, such as Monster.com and Dice.com. Both of these sites allow you to create an account and resume that includes your skills and certifications. Often, just having your resume on those sites will draw employers to YOU if they are looking for certain skills. They may be looking to fill a position for a junior network admin and putting in "CCNA" as a keyword search. If your profile/resume contains "CCNA"...they may contact you to interview.

4. DON'T make yourself into something you aren't.

The IT industry is the wrong field to try and fake your way through an interview. If a job posting puts emphasis on SQL Server database administration for example, don't assume you can read a book on it and you're suddenly qualified. If you were to squeak by in an interview, you would certainly be found out while on the job. Shoot straight with employers. Let them know what you're really strong in and that you're willing to learn quickly in areas you're less qualified in. Honesty and enthusiasm in an interview are a much better policy than fluffing yourself up.

5. DO build up your skill set

The most important thing to employers in the IT industry is EXPERIENCE. They want to see that you have verifiable experience in the skills they're looking for. Education is important and can help in advancing, but an impressive skill set is worth so much more. Do you have experience administering Microsoft Exchange Server? How many years experience can you show them that you were a network administrator? Emphasize your skills and experience above everything.

Chris Baker is a systems administrator for a Hispanic Business 500 company in central Florida. Reviews and news about affiliate marketing programs - http://www.affiliatereviewblog.com

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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Help Desk Outsourcing

Help desk outsourcing for customer service or technical support is an option for many businesses, including internet businesses, which have a limited staff or wish to provide service and support twenty-four hours a day.

Small businesses or home-based businesses that have a limited number of employees or no employees at all have special challenges when it comes to meeting their customers' needs and expectations.

The complications are compounded when the nature of the business is one in which customers expect immediate service and sometimes even twenty-four hour service including weekends and holidays.

A small business operator can literally run him or herself ragged trying to meet the demand with limited resources. For businesses such as these, help desk outsourcing can be a lifesaver.

Large businesses can also benefit from help desk outsourcing by outsourcing sales, service and technical support.

Outsourcing such functions to call centers is a growing trend among big businesses.

The main advantage for them is significantly reduced overhead expenses since they pay the outsourcing company a contracted amount and are not responsible for personnel expenses such as payroll taxes, workers' compensation insurance and employee benefits for the employees of the call center that provide their sales, service and support functions.

Businesses also save on the cost of equipment, software and ongoing maintenance expenses associated with help desk services.

As the call center industry grows there is increasing competition which is good for both large and small businesses because competition drives costs down for the consumer of the standardized services offered through call centers.

Advanced technologies have also improved the quality of service that can be realized through help desk outsourcing.

As with any up and coming service option that has great benefits for small and large companies, there are some disadvantages to outsourcing sales, service and support activities.

For instance, when a company out sources their service functions, the service that is provided is out of their hands; they entrust the service provider with their sales, service and support functions which directly impact their customers' level of satisfaction and relatively, the company's reputation.

As a result, the quality of service can diminish making outsourcing more of a burden than a benefit.

When contracting for outsourced services, executives should be certain that there are clauses in the contract that enable them to terminate the contract is the service provided to their customers is substandard.

Consideration should also be given to the policies and procedures concerning the training of help desk staff.

The company that is outsourcing their service functions should take care to ensure that representatives for the outsource service provider are properly trained to meet service expectations and that the training provided to those representatives is effectively passed on to the help desk staff that is actually providing the outsourced sales, service and support to customers.

Before making the critical decision regarding whether or not to outsource help desk activities, an upfront analysis of help desk support processes, expected service levels, customer expectations and costs of outsourcing should be conducted.

Training systems should be developed to ensure that your company's expectations in regard to service quality, policies and procedures are clearly conveyed to the outsource provider.

Ongoing monitoring of customer satisfaction is also necessary so that you can determine whether or not the outsource provider you have selected is meeting the needs of your customers in line with their expectations and your quality service standards.

With adequate attention given to these variables, you are likely to find that help desk outsourcing is a viable option for your business. Truly, the decision to outsource can be either the best or the worst decision you ever make.

Copyright Christopher J. Enders. Are you at the end of your rope, fed up and confused by all the scrambled internet marketing advice you're getting? Whether you are new to internet marketing, or a website owner who wants to make more money from your website, learn the proven strategies that will sky-rocket your internet business at http://BiznessTips.com.

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Help Desk Software and Customer Satisfaction

Improving Your Customer Service By Using Help Desk Software

In today’s increasingly competitive global marketplace it is more important than ever for organizations to pay attention to customer service. Good customer service starts from within, by attending to the needs of an organizations internal customers. Customer service enhancement builds loyalty and enables an organization to withstand changes whether due to external or internal turbulence. In a rapidly changing and often turbulent environment organizations can’t survive if this important element of success is overlooked. Good customer service will ensure that organizations can continue to remain competitive in a more dynamic and turbulent work environment.

One of the best ways to provide optimal customers service is to ensure that you can respond quickly and efficiently to customer inquiries and problems. Help desk software provides an organization the opportunity to do just that. Most provide comprehensive problem resolution and tracking that is usually web based and adaptable. That means you can use the help desk software to help customers anywhere in the world and adapt the software to meet the needs of your unique industry.

Help desk software is easily configured to help centralize help desk control issues, track and generate tickets, respond to requests, and provide automated communications via various outlets including through calls or via email. Many can also provide instant reporting and step-by-step solutions to resolve common customer complaint issues. If you are looking for an effective solution and method for resolving customer problems and complaints efficiently and effectively, you have to considers today’s top of the line help desk applications.

Article by Frank Owen, visit his web site on help desk software for more on help desk software. http://www.softwareforbusiness.net/help-desk-software/

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Thursday, February 14, 2008

Help Desk Support to the Rescue

Think what the world would be without modern technologies. Everything would be simple, you can say. But with all its simplicity comes things in complexity. Tasks that can be done in short minutes today can be doubled or even tripled. Think also about the hassles of getting and sharing information. That would be too hard and the process long and difficult. What about if communications are not developed? There would be something close to a chaos, for sure. What would it be like being able to pick up your telephone or going online to ask for the speedy assistance that you need? Imagine not having help desk support to help in basic services that people require in a push of the button.

It cannot be denied that together with the innovations of the modern world came the need for people to rely on other people to do the work for them. With time, many companies have turned their minds into being of service to the people while marketing what they have to offer in the process. Help desk support are not only there to answer queries that people may have. They are also there to document data and statistics that may be difficult if they are not in existence. Receiving and answering a call in a day is not the main purpose for this help desk support companies. There are other more comprehensive functions that these calls give to these support systems. Things like the content of the call, how many received for the day and the usefulness that people find within their system. Sometimes quotas are put up with these personnel to better maximize the time spent per day. Talk about pressure.

It all boils down to giving customer satisfaction. Embedding into the mind that the customer is the one always right and therefore should be given what they deserve. It would be an ordinary setting for these help desk support staff to be shouted upon and blamed on something that they have no idea about. That is how it works. This is the field where doing your best is not doing it better enough. As long as you satisfy what the clients wants from you, then you can call it successful, no matter how the process went about.

The documents that help desk support can acquire for the company is one of the most accurate and efficient these companies can have. With these people basically being on the front line of servicing for the company, there are the most reliable source of good information and statistics that the company may need on its records. Since records are the one that help in the future dealings and strategies that help desk support company needs in advancing, the accurateness of the documents would make up for the service it lacks in the present. There is always the need for growth and advancement in the world today. The proper information and data to go about it becomes as vital and important in a company to stay as successful as it wanted to be.

Fulfilling the needs of its customers. That is the basis for help desk support system. Even though there are other reasons why these support systems are put up, the main thing is that they give customer satisfaction the best they can. However this process is done, the customer is the one who will decide if their needs have been satisfied or not.

Online entrepreneur Sara Jenkins, is dedicated to helping others and their needs to succeed in life by offering free tips everyday. To learn more about her free tips program, and to sign up for her FREE how-to articles and FREE bonus how-to books and resources, visit http://www.HelpDesksWare.com

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Using Help Desk Software to Improve and Boost Efficiency

The computer age has broken many barriers and has a finger in almost every aspect in our daily lives. It has made life easier for so many businesses and has eliminated the need for countless hours of manual labor. In the world of customer service, computers have provided efficient and expeditious service in catering to all the customers needs. The assistance computers have provided has been irreplaceable and with the development of newer software with more features has provided companies the opportunity to increase their affectivity and their productivity. Such in the case of providing information and assistance to many clients, help desks have been provided a tremendous boost with help desk softwares.

Help desk softwares provide lots of benefits, they can: reduce customer downtime, reduce support call numbers, improve efficiency, increase customer satisfaction, improve communications and identify problems in your products and services to name a few. These help desk softwares are easy to install, very simple to use, compatible with most operating systems and an employee doesn’t need a degree in computer programming or have to be an expert in computer software to operate it. Only minimal training is required and anyone can use it. They can also provide reports on the performance of your help desk and your products and services. This is a great convenience for any company.

There are many help desk software available in the market. The internet has many sites that offer help desks software that presents the features stated above and much more. Technical teams from these sites will help you in setting up the system and provide training on how to use them. Managing your help desk for your customers or for your employees has never been easier. This is an investment that can pay for itself in just a short time.

But just what is a help desk? A help desk is the term called for a team wherein they provide information, assistance and solutions to problems that may concern anything. They can be for in-house where employees can ask for assistance regarding their computers or such, or they can be for outbound and inbound calls, where services may range from marketing to providing information and assistance. Many companies know have help desks in their structure, they can be accessed via a toll-free number where their customers may call for assistance or via the internet where they can email their issues and concerns. These help desks usually consists of levels wherein the first level is the front line wherein they receive the frequently asked questions or common problems. If issues are not resolved or a solution is not brought in, they are transferred to a higher level until the issue has been cleared.

To help facilitate these help desks, help desk softwares are needed. These help desks softwares manage all the calls and operations done electronically to automatically divide the calls and make the delivery of service efficient. The help desk software also records all the transactions and keeps a record for future reference like reports or as a precedent for similar problems. Aside from that, many help desk softwares are coming up with more features to make help desks more efficient and productive.

Make your company a competitive force and use help desk software to boost your help desks efficiency. Watch your sales grow and your productivity soar, help desk software are here to help you.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Justifying a Help Desk

It seems that every time businesses decide to cut down on expenses, they always seem to focus on the Help Desk/IT department. IT Managers are very often asked to work with outdated software, understaffing and an ever- increasing backlog of calls and angry customers.

What the people upstairs seem to forget is that without proper equipment, software and competent support staff, the back bone of the company could very well crumble.

It’s a vicious downward spiral; The IT/support budget is cut, we have to service our customers with outdated software, the support staff is unmotivated and leaves, there’s not enough money to hire competent people so novices will do, we therefore offer a shocking service, the word climbs up the ladder, our budget is cut some more because the service is poor anyway, and here we go again!

The reality is that while a company is spending thousands of dollars on computers and printers and everything else they need, they’re cutting back on the one department that takes care of assuring every system works and that every employee/customer gets his/her problem fixed quickly.

It costs money when a program stops working and an employee stares at that blank screen for half an hour. It’ll cost even more if no one knows how to fix it. It’s very frustrating for people to wait hours on end to get someone to look at their problem. What a waste of time, money and productivity!

No matter how good the warranty is, at some point, the equipment needs replacing or fixing and at one point – which lets face it happens more often then not – you need competent people to come and help. That alone should justify the cost of your help desk.

What it really costs

Take a moment to analyse what your company is already spending for the following items – the ones that you won’t see on any statement:

o Time spent figuring out where to go for help.

o Time lost waiting on-hold for a customer support officer. o Time spent reading the product manual.

o Time wasted through poor practices & procedures.

o Lost productivity of those called away to assist.

o Duplication of support efforts, re-learning the same lessons over and over.

If you think that all these items only occur once in a while and that your staff are resourceful enough to find a solution on their own, think again. The same problem could reoccur time and time again and be fixed time and time again by different people not knowing that it’s happened before. If your staff member can’t fix his/her problem on his/her own, they call someone else to help him or her. That someone else stops what they’re doing and takes an hour trying to fix the problem but can’t. They call another one, and another one. See where I’m going?

Every office has a knowledgeable person that learnt a particular software application or is naturally inclined to technology. That person is often called to help out in the situation mentioned above. And every time this person stops what they’re doing to go and help, they stop being productive at their job. Even worse, if this employee happens to be a high-paid specialist, then the company is throwing away dollars out the window when they could employ a cheaper and trained resource to deliver support.

Worse still, in some instances, when your help desk department is so short staffed that your customers are by-passing the official support people and asking the specialist for help, the company is still losing money!

How to Calculate The Costs of Your Help Desk

Start with the obvious: The salaries, cost of training your support staff, computer hardware and software, phones, copiers, office space etc. The accountants should be able to provide all of this, and tell you how your company for such assets is booking depreciation. Include in the software category the cost for the help-desk automation tools (help desk system). If you don’t have a help desk software that keeps track of the length of your calls, the level of urgency of the calls, what type of problems are logged and how long it takes to resolve the problems, then you need to seriously consider such a purchase.

This is the most efficient way to track what your department is doing, how it spends its budget and what resources need to be considered when the next budget comes around. This software must have the ability to create analysis reports on, the level of urgency of the calls, what type of problems are logged and how long it takes to resolve the problems. If you present this important information to the accountants you’ll show them what your department does and why it needs a bigger chunk of the budget!

Final Note

Basically, when it comes time to determine if you need a support department, think of how you couldn’t afford not to. Computers will crash, people will need support on different software programs, and your employees/customers will need someone to help them with their problems. Having properly trained support staff makes a big difference when we think of a company’s productivity. Without them, so much time and money would be wasted.

Paul Smith is the manager of Auratech Software, a company that specialises in Help Desk Software to help businesses with their customer support. If you would like to read more articles on improving your support or would like to check out Auratech’s range of Help Desk Software, please visit: http://www.helpdesk-support.com/better-support.htm

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A Review of Popular Help Desk Software Programs

Variations between help desk software programs include pricing, the numbers users accepted and ticket management options. As a result, determining the needs of your company is critical.

One popular program is Support Wizard. In consumer reviews, this product received ten out of ten stars. Support Wizard offers everything your business needs to provide world-class customer and technical support. Customer self-service, live help and outstanding ticket management tools can streamline your business’ management and help you to maintain a loyal customer base.

Another help desk software program, Parature, offers many of the same benefits. Consumer reviews are outstanding for this program and many business owners recommend it to their associates. Parature is a comprehensive program that is fully customizable and user-friendly. Live assistance and award winning ticket management are a couple of the most praised features of this system.

FootPrints is also an award winning help desk software program. FootPrints is 100% web-based, meaning that your technical and customer support teams can access the database from anywhere on Earth. It is completely customizable and the company offers outstanding support. FootPrints offers an excellent ticket management tool and is one of the more affordable options in help desk software programs.

Researching and deciding on a help desk software program can be a daunting task. You should first decide what specific issues your company needs help with and then consider what will best support your customers accordingly. If you own a small business, a free help desk software package might be a good option. Make sure you understand the limitations on users and on the number of trouble tickets available with free programs. If you have a large or expanding business, take a look at the many online help desk software reviews that are available. Reading consumer reviews of the various products can give you a better idea of whether the particular program will be a good fit with your company’s and your customers’ needs.

Help Desk Software Info provides detailed information on help desk software solutions, including IT help desk software, web-based help desk software, free help desk software, help desk tracking, help desk support software, and reviews of help desk software programs. Help Desk Software Info is the sister site of Recruiting Software Web

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Monday, February 11, 2008

The Advantages of Help Desk Support Software

Help desk support software is a must-have for any new or existing online business. Even if the majority of your business is off-line, many people prefer online product and service support. Customers want their questions answered quickly and personnel need a way to effectively manage their work. Help desk software is an affordable, easy-to-use and useful tool for the growth of your business.

Some of the benefits of help desk support software may include an increase in customer satisfaction, few calls to call centers, more productivity of personnel, and the ability to determine and better manage issues with your service or products. Consistent feedback can help the growth of your company by keeping you informed on what works and was does not.

Both customers and personnel will benefit from a productive help desk program. Most help desk support software programs allow the end-user to compile a list of FAQ’s to better serve the client base. In cases such as this, many companies choose to automate their help desks. This can save the company both time and money by letting customers find the answers to their own questions. Of course there will be occasions when the FAQ’s do not cover every conceivable troubleshooting issue. Although help desks can be automated, this type of software also allows for more advanced technical support to be offered. Customers can simply submit an inquiry to the appropriate department and expect a timely response. With help desk support software packages, customer and technical support staff are better able to manage and track trouble tickets.

Purchasing a help desk software package can increase your customers’ satisfaction and their desire to continue business with you. Without such a management program, staff can be easily overwhelmed with support calls and emails. Customer support should be the top priority on any business’ agenda. Without a loyal customer base, a company simply will not thrive.

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The Need for Help Desk Tracking Software

Companies that use help desk software note the many benefits of having it. Flexibility in web-based programs and the ability to effectively organize and manage trouble tickets are two of the most prominently praised features. Many businesses are now realizing the importance of help desk tracking software. They’ve learned that effectively managing consumer issues can create a loyal customer base. Help desk tracking software is a vital component in help desk technology. Your competitors know the benefits of help desk programs. In order to stay abreast of current trends and customer expectations, you should too.

Help desk tracking software allows your company to deliver effective and timely responses to customer trouble tickets. By using a ticket-tracking program, you can prioritize and manage all incoming and outgoing responses. Tracking software also allows customer and technical support personnel to check the status of queries they have already submitted.

The ticket categorization feature of many help desk tracking software programs is also very helpful. Most programs allow the user to organize incoming tickets on the basis of category, channel and priority. Instead of having technicians spend countless hours sifting through emails, tracking software successfully manages the tickets. This means more time for your personnel to spend working tickets, and a more productive workday.

Effectively managing trouble tickets can set your company at a higher standard than your competitors. Customers in today’s world want instant access to their questions and many expect and rely upon 24 hour support 7 days a week. Help desk software can also compile a list of the most frequently asked questions so that your customers can find solutions to their problems without contacting a technician. Quality customer and technical support is valuable to your business strategy, and ignoring this need can mean loss of business. Help desk tracking software is one among many ways to better manage your inbound service inquiries.

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Saturday, February 9, 2008

The Benefits of Web-Based Help Desk Software

Web-based help desk software has become the most popular way to manage technical inquiries and issues. The ability to access your help desk from any PC in the world is a very convenient tool. These programs offer flexibility and accessibility that was unavailable in former product versions.

Like other help desk software products, web based products offer the ability for customers to create their own trouble tickets. Effectively managing trouble tickets can save your business both time and money. In some cases, having an informative F.A.Q. menu allows the customer to troubleshoot his or her problem without contacting the technical support department. Customers enjoy finding the answers to their problems quickly, without the traditional wait times.

Companies waste valuable resources when they do not effectively manage their customer issues. Web-based help desk software is much more productive than having multiple email addresses for customer messages. By offering a web based help desk, companies can manage their tickets by directing them to the appropriately trained personnel. Using this type of product can save thousands of dollars every month and prevent employees from becoming overworked and burnt out. Many companies also praise the flexibility of working with a web-based system. Customer and technical support can be managed from anywhere in the world. The web-based option overall is much more flexible than stationary help desk programs.

When researching your options for web based help desk software, please be aware that some companies may have hidden charges. Constant updates can become troublesome and costly – it is wise to know what updates are expected and how frequently prior to purchasing a software package. Some software providers require additional purchases of database software components, web-servers and/or middleware. Know exactly what you are buying and what the future expectations are to ensure your satisfaction with your software.

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Thursday, February 7, 2008

A Look at IT Help Desk Software

IT help desk software can be a valuable resource for technicians to manage and resolve troubleshooting tickets. Most companies realize the benefits of purchasing help desk software since it is a reliable way to manage customer inquiries and complaints. IT help desk software is preferred by both companies and clients over a traditional call center.

In traditional call centers, customers often complain of long hold times and unreturned voicemails. Other times, the less-than-technically-savvy customer may become frustrated in his or her attempt to explain the problem. Help desk software allows an IT department to effectively manage and direct certain issues to the appropriate personnel.

Many IT help desk software programs offer the convenience of a user-friendly menu and easy-to-manage files. Customers can choose from a variety of help topics and even copy and paste error messages to send to IT. For those customers who are not technically advanced, menus can be set up to offer a variety of common questions.

HelpDesks.com is an excellent resource for extensive IT help desk software reviews and information. This site allows you to compare the leading providers of the products to find the right program for your needs. Convenient charts allow you to see various amenities offered such as whether or not the program is web-based, costs associated with purchase and upgrades and the number of users allowed for each program.

One of the most popular IT help desk software programs, according to consumer reviews, is FootPrints. On a scale of one to ten, it has a rating of 9.2 and has multiple consumer reviews. This is a web-based program, and the initial cost is around $6,000. FootPrints offers unlimited user capabilities and free upgrades with their annual maintenance contract. This program is compatible with Linux, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Unix operating systems. It also offers searchable databases, assignment of reference numb

ers, F.A.Q databases, billing databases and much, much more.

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Finding Free Help Desk Software

Many companies recognize the benefits of help desk software. From streamlining technical inquiries to responding quickly to customer issues, help desk software has become a basic part of most company’s business strategies. Pricing can vary and some businesses, especially small businesses or start-ups, may be interested in free help desk software.

For small companies, downloading free help desk software may be ideal. Many companies do not offer free software for more than 100 computers, so if you have a larger business, it is like that you will need to purchase a larger version.

Many online companies offer free help desk software. Most of these programs are downloadable, easy to install and relatively easy to use. One company, HelpDeskReloaded.com, offers an excellent free help desk program with almost daily updates.

As a business owner, you may have questions regarding the use of free help desk software. For instance, how can companies turn a profit while offering a free product like this? Many help desk software providers offer limitations on the number of computers that can access the software, some have limitations on the number of tickets supported and some programs are supported by advertising frames. For a small start up business, these limitations may not hinder the purposeful use of the program. For others, it may be necessary to upgrade the account in order to obtain full access to the particular program.

Free help desk software programs usually offer the same features and functions as purchased programs. Some of the features may include the ability to share trouble tickets with the entire support team, tracking the status of the trouble tickets to ensure their resolution and the ability to manage tickets to ensure they are directed to the appropriate personnel. Most free help desk software programs are fully functional and offer businesses a comprehensive solution for their needs.

Labels: help_desk_applications, help_desk_jobs, university_help_desk

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

The Need for Help Desk Software

Any company that does business online needs help desk software. In many cases, help desk software is a vital component to a good business strategy that can help both the company and the client. Researching, locating and comparing the options available can be an intimidating undertaking, but it helps to be informed about your options.

In general, a help desk software solution provides a centralized way to manage problems and issues in website management. With any e-commerce business, technical issues will undoubtedly occur. Being prepared to handle unexpected situations can reduce pressure and frustration by effectively managing the technical difficulties.

Many companies had call center support long before the widespread use of the Internet. Customers were frequently dismayed by long hold times, under-trained staff, and un-returned phone messages. Some customers may not be prepared to give a full and accurate description of the problem, which only further added to the frustration. Considering the fact that most companies have clients in various regions in the world and in varying time zones, help desk software has assisted many companies with effectively managing customer issues or complaints.

Help desk software solutions are available to manage many tasks within a business. Many programs allow customers to directly approach the appropriate department to handle their needs. For instance, many help desk software programs allow technical inquiries to be sent directly to the technical support department and billing questions sent to the billing department. Compared to traditional call center functions, help desk software can streamline and better manage queries and offer a better response time.

With the mainstream usage of the Internet came a need for faster, more reliable and, more accessible customer support. Customers desire and expect immediate help and solutions to their problems. Because of this, help desk software solutions have quickly become the most used type of customer support programs around the world. Unlike traditional call centers, help desk software has made it possible to offer virtually unlimited support. In a growing world market, help desk software solutions are quickly becoming a necessity, and can save a company thousands of dollars every year.

Labels: help_desk_calls, help_desk_tech, helpdesk_video, outsource_help_desk, university_help_desk

Monday, February 4, 2008

Computer Help Desk Stupid Questions

Here is some proof from the help desk stupid questions archives at CSN:

A customer was enraged because his computer had told him he was "Bad and an invalid." The tech explained that the computer's "bad command" and "invalid" responses shouldn't be taken personally.

Another customer called tech support to say her brand new computer wouldn't work. She said she unpacked the unit, plugged it in and sat there for 20 minutes waiting for something to happen. When asked what happened when she pressed the power switch, she asked, "What power switch?"

Computer companies have change the text to their manuals from "Press Any Key" to "Press Return Key" because of the question where is the "Any Key"?

A confused caller was having trouble printing documents. He told the technician that the computer had said it "couldn't find the printer." The user had also tried turning the computer screen to face the printer-but that his computer still couldn't "see" the printer.

A woman called with a problem with her printer. The tech asked her if she was "running it under windows." The woman responded, "No, my desk is next to the door. But that is a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window and his printer is working fine."

And last but not least: TECH SUPPORT: "O.K. Bob, let's press the control and escape keys at the same time. That brings up a task list in the middle of the screen. Now type the letter "P" to bring up the Program Manager."

CUSTOMER: "I don't have a 'P'".
TECH SUPPORT: "On your keyboard, Bob."
CUSTOMER: "What do you mean?"
TECH SUPPORT: " 'P' on your keyboard, Bob."
CUSTOMER: "I'm not going to do that!

A nationwide business to business computer service company, Computer Service Now, the CSN website can be found at http://ComputerServiceNow.com/ or toll free at 877-422-1907. CSN specializes in nationwide multi-location computer support.

John Beagle is president of Xponex Web and Media Services and can be reached at 513-422-1907x222. Xponex.com/

Labels: help_desk_support_software, open_source_help_desk_software, sharepoint_helpdesk, windows_help_desk

Automating Your Help Desk Workflow

Do you know you can open, answer, close and report help desk information without human intervention?

Automation is a powerful feature provided by most enterprise level help desk products; however, most organizations rarely take advantage of these features. Based on a survey conducted by RightStar Systems, only 5% of the help desk managers interviewed were using automation to its fullest capacity. Most use it to some degree while others do not use it at all. Tom Jud, Emerging Growth Manager for BMC Software, has observed “…that the Business Rules Engine provided by the Magic Help Desk product, is the key feature that organizations should leverage to drive support efficiency and cost savings.” He explains that the two main reasons for organizations not deploying workflow automation are 1) the perceived level of difficulty in implementing these functions and 2) The lack of workflow planning used in developing the helpdesk program. Once organizations learn the importance of workflow automation and the benefit gained, they embrace the feature and drive added value from their help desk product.

After having conducted over 600 site visits and product demonstrations, I have identified 4-main focus areas where organizations can benefit from deploying workflow automation.

• Enforcing best practices through automation.

Companies looking to provided better and less expensive support services have adopted any number of help desk “best practices” guidelines. Automating workflow to enforce a help desk’s best practices deployment can drive even more value and efficiency. By pairing certain best practice areas with automated workflow, a help desk can provide a consistent and predictable level of support.

• Improving incident response time through automation.

Incident response time is how most service support organizations are judged. According to Beverly Wells, Help Desk and Groupwise Manager for CarMax, “Of all the statistics gathered by the CarMax Help Desk, the one area reviewed with the most scrutiny, is how fast we responded to and resolve calls.” Workflow automation can drastically improve incident response, problem resolution, and change requests, by incorporating predetermined “if, then” capabilities. For example, if a call for a printer problem is received at the help desk, workflow automation can determine the type of call and direct that call to the right person or provide an automated answer to the requestor. In other words, “if” you receive a request like this, “then” do this specific task.

• Increase Reporting Accuracy

Automating workflow provides the ability to capture accurate help desk statistics by removing the various inconsistencies injected through human error. I know help desk managers that spend hours each month collecting, editing and refining help desk statistical reports. They spend most of there time correcting errors and adjusting the numbers that tell the real story of the help desk. Automating workflow is one primary way to assist help desk managers prepare and create accurate reporting.

• Create Consistency while Reducing Call Volume

Have you ever called a help desk and received two or three different answers for the same problem, or worse, no answer at all? It’s frustrating and it reflects poorly on the help desk. Several help desk tools provide the capability to deliver answers on various issues in a consistent automated manner. This provides the requestor with confidence that they received the right answer while taking the guesswork away from the help desk analyst when answering questions. In many cases, the answer can be provided without human intervention. There are various ways of deploying these capabilities; collectively they can provide a tremendous reduction in call volume and a higher degree of customer satisfaction.

Incorporating automation in your help desk workflow provides many benefits. As with any undertaking, it takes forethought and planning, but with the right help desk tool and the desire to provide timely, accurate answers with little or no human intervention, the effort will off-load pressure from the help desk staff and integrate an atmosphere of help desk brilliance.

Dan Wilson currently works for RightStar Systems, a leader in Help Desk Service and Supprot Consulting; including problem, asset, change and desktop management.

Dan has over 15 years of experience in support consulting.

You can reach Dan at dan.wilson@rightstarsystems

Labels: help_desk_application, help_desk_specialist, helpdesk_solution, open_source_help_desk_software

Help Desk Support