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How to Create a DIY IT Helpdesk for Free SmartSuite Tutorial

How to Create a DIY IT Helpdesk for Free SmartSuite Tutorial

10 minutes

October 13, 2023

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the demands of your growing business? One minute you're crafting your product with care, and the next, you're drowning in customer service requests. That's the chaotic journey of "Uncle Chuck," a humble soap maker whose business suddenly skyrocketed, pushing him towards the brink of closing shop. But, as it turns out, there's a way to tame the storm without breaking the bank—a DIY IT helpdesk, and here's how.

The Wake-Up Call

Uncle Chuck's story begins with a relatable struggle: a small business suddenly hit with success, selling over 10,000 pieces of soap in a rush. Picture this: customer inquiries piling up, the need for support ballooning, and the overwhelming sensation of not knowing where to start. Chuck's knee-jerk reaction? "I don't need this. This ain't even worth it. I'm just shutting the business down."

But wait—there's an alternative. Here's where we introduce the idea of a help desk, a tool that might seem like a luxury reserved for the tech-savvy or the well-funded. Yet, the truth of the matter is, at Chuck's scale, fancy software isn't a necessity.

The DIY Revolution

"Imagine this," we say. "A help desk where you can see all your customer issues in one spot and keep track of everything easily. Doesn't that sound like a breath of fresh air?" To which Chuck, who prides himself on his hands-on approach to work, responds with a mix of skepticism and a hint of disbelief about the feasibility and the cost.

Breaking Down the Myths

Here's where we debunk a couple of misconceptions:

  • "You need to be tech-savvy to set up a help desk." Wrong. We're talking about a DIY solution that's as hands-on as making soap but in the digital world.
  • "You need deep pockets to afford help desk software." Nope. What we propose is cost-effective—even free!

Enter SmartSuite - The Game Changer

Let's dive into SmartSuite, the unsung hero and the digital equivalent of that multi-purpose soap bar. It's a versatile tool that lets you build your own helpdesk tailored for your business. Chuck hadn't heard of it—mistaking it for a candy brand called Smarties—but soon realized it's the perfect fit for his dilemma.

Setting Up Shop with a Click

Contrary to what Chuck feared, setting up is a walk in the park. Pick a help desk template, tweak it to perfection by removing unnecessary fields like "importance" or adding relevant ones like "order date." In essence, SmartSuite offers:

  • A central hub for all customer queries
  • Easy ticket creation, manually or through customer submissions via forms
  • Strong connectivity between tickets and customer profiles—ideal for personalized service

And here's the kicker: it's initially free.

Typing Woes Begone

"But I'm no typist," Chuck bemoans, the prospect of transitioning to a digital system raising the specter of endless typing. This brings us to email templates and automation. With SmartSuite, you can:

  • Craft email templates using pre-set fields
  • Personalize them with a few quick edits
  • Send them off with the click of a button, all without typing out each individual word

Meeting AI—Your New Best Friend

Now, let's kick things up a notch. Enter AI. This isn't about sentient robots; think of it as a virtual assistant ready to draft emails in response to certain prompts. Just a simple command, and voila, a cheerful, concise email appears, ready to be turned into yet another time-saving template.

So there you have it—a solution for the Uncle Chucks of the world, the artisans-turned-entrepreneurs who find themselves swamped by their own success. SmartSuite offers a bridge over the troubled waters of customer service, turning chaos into order with a sprinkle of AI magic.

And remember, as you navigate the bustling landscape of business, don't just endure the process—enjoy the process.

To experience SmartSuite's key benefits for yourself, start a free trial today and explore its intuitive work management platform.