Technical support is, in effect, an after-sales service tool , should it be provided. The user comes into contact with the company's staff after purchasing a device or service, or after carrying out a project: it can be the creation of a software program, a website or even the implementation of an entire infrastructure, for example, a complete video surveillance system.
In addition to communicating with customers, helpdesk plays an important role, receiving feedback from users (typically handled by front-line helpdesk managers), that is, providing feedback. information to the business development department, providing suggestions to modify the parameters of existing products, services or projects, as well as to add new functions and options. This communication is especially important in the B2B market, where the seller of the tool (the purchasing department) is not usually the same (the base workers).
As a general rule, technical support is intended to resolve specific and immediate difficulties with the product, rather than to train users.
Technical support features
In the Internet industry , technical support is most often provided through:
• Communication through a hotline.
• Communication with the support specialist via email, chat, or contact forms.
• Communication with those responsible for assistance through social networks.
• Communication with an exclusive specialist or in the way that best suits the client.
Types of technical support
Technical assistance can generally be divided into:
Help desk : it is a customer assistance service, through automated systems (for example, tickets), a simple client> specialist scheme .
Service desk : is the multilevel support department (for example, through the operator service)
The difference between the service desk and the help desk is that the former is a single point of contact (for example, a 24-hour fixed telephone line) for the consumer and the entire support structure (staff, departments and other sections) is is hidden within the organization itself, while the help desk is a simplified contact with a reduced specialist (for example, through a response form from 9 am to 6 pm).
Structure of technical support
To offer the best level of technical support while maintaining a reasonable cost of said department, it is common to assign several lines (dividing the existing responsibilities between them, the mission of taking care of the particular specialists of common problems, as well as the distribution of the load of work between relevant staff) customer service
You can distinguish between the most common lines :
• The first line of support is that of the telephone operators on duty (in fact, this is the technical assistance service mentioned above).
• The second line of technical support is made up of engineers, assistants and technicians.
• The third line is that of administrators or accountants.
• The fourth line is system administrators, engineers, senior technicians, developers.
If necessary, a fifth and sixth line can also be assigned.
Technical support features
Support for commercial and non-commercial products can be free, it can be for a specified period of time (subscription), it can be paid or it can have special conditions. Complex technical assistance can be outsourced by the product manufacturer (outsourcing).
However, an alternative option for non-commercials (it is also common among commercials, but it is rare) is support through user communities, involving the most active through bonuses and rewards. Obviously, this type of support is much inferior to the service desk and help desk systems, but it is more flexible and efficient in terms of debugging the product and collecting errors, thanks to the simplification of feedback (groups, forums, communities ).