Like many startups, there are many different service desk systems. The market is full of tools, and picking one can be challenging. As a startup, you need to tread carefully, as each move can mean a difference. Thus, to help you understand better what kind of customer service startup you might need, we analyzed five of the best help desks for startups.
In this analysis, we'll cover several things, ranging from price, key features, and usability, and ending in communication, advertising possibilities, etc. So, sit tight, and grab yourself a cup of coffee (or tea) cause we are to start.
Grasping the Free Price Systems
Before proceeding to the analysis, you must understand how each subscription plan works. So, first things first, there is the ever-so-compelling free plan that might solve several problems. However, remember that not all free plans are made equally, as some can eliminate some issues. On the other hand, some will also create an artificial need for an upgrade.
The first plans are usually called"Freemium." These plans can deliver great startup customer service features in a limited quantity. Yes, for instance, with a"Freemium" plan, you can encounter limitations such as 5 reports per month or only one automation slot.
The second variant is usually referred to as just" Fre." The key idea behind this plan is to show the customer a few basic features that will solve a few problems. Unfortunately, these tools aren't ideal for startup customer service systems as you cannot access most of their functionality, and there's very little you can do.
Lastly, there are trial plans. These are feature-rich tariffs that have a slew of cool features. But all of this becomes unavailable once the trial period passes. Some companies set it to 30 days, while others put it on 7 days. So, your mileage may vary.
Ranking the Best Help Desk Systems
Instead of discussing all the popular options, we've decided to pick those we think are the best in their class. We will also focus heavily on their free plans as they are generally trendy among startup companies due to accessibility. So, here are the five best help desks for startups.
Zoho Desk
Few companies offer such a high level of joint solutions as Zoho. Zoho Desk is home to almost 40 different software platforms and has solidified itself as one of the fair's most reliable and functional service desk tools. So, you might be wondering what makes Zoho Desk a good choice for startups, and the answer is quite simple: its ability to adapt to any kind of business model.
Zoho Desk can be configured for any commerce, unlike other third-party help desk systems. For instance, if your business sells televisions, you can adapt each function to your needs. You don't have to be limited to just one form of distribution and can add all kinds of channels that aren't exactly conventional.
Another vital feature of Zoho is its price-to-performance ratio. The company offers one free plan (that supports up to 10 agents) and two paid plans, but we'll touch on the free one as it's pretty interesting. You get web reports, work styles, knowledge base, domain mapping, team provisions, and even manager dashboards. You've heard us right; all this is in the free plan. If you operate on a small scale with select few agents, this startup help desk is for you.
Kayako
Next on our list is Kayako. Famous for its easy-to-use help desk system, this tool for modern businesses is also a good fit for customer service startups. The main features of these help desk tools revolve around live chats, self-service, and emails. Also, as part of the feature set, Kayako generates performance reports and industry insights using consumer requests. These queries on their own include trends, performance metrics, and data on potential bottlenecks.
Aside from reports and analytics, startups can automate several things with Kayako. This can help save money in the long run as much mundane work will be removed. Speaking of everyday work, thanks to the included rerouting options, you can aggregate vast amounts of data into one easy-to-read place. This hub will be constantly updated, and thanks to the Live Feed system, you don't have to worry that you've missed something.
As for the pricing, Kayako comes in five cheap service plans. These plans will perfectly fit both small and large organizations, and in case you were wondering, Kayako has a free plan, but it's bare bones in terms of features. We suggest you go with the starter plan that includes over 650 integrations with Zapier, live chats, real-time collab tools, a knowledge base, and automation.
Freshdesk
The third on our list is Freshdesk; suffice, this is a very compelling package. Serving more than 150,000 businesses, Freshdesk is a potent mix of good design and a great feature set. With Freshdesk on board, you can automate many tasks, cooperate with other agents, and set up self-service portals.
Although what really sets this help desk for startups apart is the ability to scale the price range to your needs. Essentially, you get five paid plans with their own set of features and a free one with a knowledge base, simple phone functionality, and social media channel features. But returning to the scalability, Freshdesk provides you with an infinite volume of agents in the free edition.
This allows you to test things in a way impossible on other platforms. For instance, if you have a lot of people on board, you can see how well the tool can perform under load and how certain features work (i.e., live collaboration). Also, under the right circumstances, you can use this in a small team with no problem. It has all the means to get you going; the significant point is that you can move all your data to the new tariff effortlessly.
Freshservice
This seemingly simple help desk platform packs a huge punch when it comes to tools for reporting, analyzing, and accelerating work. Designed with modern IT companies in mind, Freshservice is a perfect fit for startups that sell software as a service. The reason why it's so good is the fact that it has one of the best ticket systems and an asset development tool.
Those who opted for Freshservice can expect good merchant supervision, problem control, bug tracking capabilities, and asset assignment systems. It's a well-rounded mechanism, and each operation is carried out fast and accurately. Never did it bug out or hang on us. Aside from good stability, users can set up several self-service portals for customers and rely on an excellent notification system.
And the good thing about all this is that the price range is pretty compelling. The vendor offers up to five different plans. And, if you need to test things out, you can always use the free trial. But you won't need to spend a fortune to get the most out of the tool. Even if you don't look for paid options, you can access canned responses, SLA administration and programmed ticket distribution using the company's free offerings. Also, as a bonus, you can download the iOS or Android app. They are feature-rich and offer a few extra platform-specific things (push notifications, banners).
SolarWinds Web Help Desk Free Edition
The last on our list is a newcomer - SolarWinds. But don't mistake it for being new and inexperienced, as this tool has good people behind it. So, for those in doubt, SolarWinds is the next logical step for SolarWinds Web Help Desk. Yes, SolarWinds bought SolarWinds, and this is their newest product. Suffice it to say it's pretty good for something still actively developing.
Alright, now that we know this, it's time to talk about the features and features they have. You see, SolarWinds took the best that was in SolarWinds and brought it to the next level. Companies that opt to use SolarWinds can expect a wide range of solutions for all IT-related things. Be it networks, apps, cloud, virtualization, or outright hardware development, SolarWinds got you covered. Thanks to the included automation system, users can forget about rerouting tickets, assigning agents, responding to messages, etc. The knowledge base editor is also quite good, whereas the live chat functionality is spot on.
Now keep in mind, as the name suggests, this is the tool's free version. Those who want more options can opt to use the $700 plan. It includes several superb additions, such as LDAP authentication, collision detection, prevention, and omnichannel branding. On a final note, we'd like to stress that, as of right now, the company does not provide a mobile application. This can undoubtedly be a deal breaker for some of you.
Conclusion
So that wraps up our best help desk for startups article. Of course, we understand that there are many more things we haven't covered and many more service desks for startups. But in our defense, we did cover the most popular options. And hopefully, we managed to help you pick the right tool for your emerging business. But that's all for now. See you in our next article.
