Tools for Small to Mid-Sized Support Centers
KR Consulting does not recommend one vendor’s tool over another, but provides a list of tools that are appropriately priced and featured for the small to mid-sized support center. This list accompanies the Support Tools chapter in Kristin Robertson’s book, Spectacular Support Centers.
Service Management Systems:
Licensed Software:
- Track-It! by BMC, www.bmc.com/products/track-it-help-desk-software/help-desk-management.html
- FootPrints by BMC, www.bmc.com/products/footprints/bmc-footprints.html
- Service Desk Express Suite (formerly Magic Service Desk Suite) by BMC Software, www.bmc.com/products/product-listing/service-desk-express-suite.html
- HEAT by Front Range Systems, www.frontrange.com/ProductsSolutions/SubCategory.aspx?id=35&ccid=6
- C2 Enterprise by CPL Technologies, www.c2enterprise.com
- Tracker by PhaseWare, www.phaseware.com/products
Hosted software:
- RightNow Service by RightNow Technologies, www.rightnowtechnologies.com
- SalesForce Service and Support by SalesForce.com, www.salesforce.com
- ServiceNow Service Desk, www.servicenow.com/service-desk.do
Phone systems:
Voice over Internet Protocol systems:
- Internet Protocol Call Center (IPCC) by Front Range Systems, www.frontrange.com
- Five9, www.five9.com
- Contactual, www.contactual.com
- Syntellect’s Apropos platform, www.syntellect.com/products/voice.asp
- Telephony@Work www.oracle.com/telephonyatwork/index.html
Call recording solutions:
- Sound Snooper by Soft Cab, www.sound-snooper.com/en/features.php
- RecOnPhone, www.pcworld.com/product/968065/reconphone.html
- RadioShack (for analog recording devices and adaptors), www.radioshack.com
- Headsets.com – Personal Call Recorder and Logger www.headsets.com/headsets/corded/headsets/call_logger/description.html
Surveying Tools:
Email/web survey tools:
- Zoomerang, www.zoomerang.com
- Survey Monkey, www.surveymonkey.com
- Many service management systems have integrated survey tools
Knowledge bases:
Most stand-alone knowledge bases are too expensive for smaller support centers. Fortunately, many service management systems have integrated knowledge bases.
Instant Messaging/Chat Tools
- AOL Instant Messaging, www.aim.com
- Instant Service, www.instantservice.com
Staffing and Scheduling Tools:
Free tools:
- Merlang demo, www.pipkins.com/merlform.asp
- Online Erlang Traffic Calculators, www.erlang.com
Low-cost tools:
- cc-Modeler, www.kooltoolz.com
- AgentTime Scheduler, www.portagecommunications.com
- Call Center Designer, www.portagecommunications.com
Remote Control:
- Landesk, www.landesk.com
- Novell ZENworks Suite, www.novell.com/products/zenworks
- GoToAssist, www.gotoassist.com
- Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), www.microsoft.com/smserver/default.mspx
- Bomgar B200 www.bomgar.com/remotedesktopaccess/b200.htm