Technical support services help consumers get support for devices, software and applications. This is done via email, phone or instant messaging.
FAQs and knowledge bases can’t answer everything, so consumers often have to speak with someone from a company. This is called first-line tech support.
Tier 1
Tier 1 technical support is the lowest tier of tech support services and typically handles very basic customer questions. It receives requests from users via channels like phone calls, email, and web forms.
These issues can be as simple as solving usage problems or identifying product information for customers. However, if a customer has a complex problem that requires more in-depth technical help, they will be escalated to Tier 2 support.
They will use their specialized knowledge of your company’s software and hardware to troubleshoot and solve these problems. If the issue cannot be resolved by a Tier 2 specialist, it is escalated to a Tier 3 technician.
A common tier structure for IT support is a three-layered system that handles basic, medium, and advanced customer requests. This layered structure helps technicians resolve incoming tickets quickly and efficiently while also reducing incident queues.
Tier 2
Using a tier support model to solve customer service issues efficiently can help cut down on costs and boost customer loyalty. It also helps your team understand which problems need immediate attention and which can wait a bit.
Tier 1 technical support services involve basic and straightforward tech issues, such as resetting passwords and verifying hardware and software setups. If your team isn’t able to resolve these issues, they’ll classify them and escalate them to Tier 2.
In this category, your company’s technicians provide more sophisticated support than their level 1 counterparts. They’ll troubleshoot more complicated issues and deepen their understanding of diagnostics and protocols.
This group of support specialists often works closely with product engineers and chief architects. They can help determine the root cause of a problem and develop new fixes, either by duplicating the issue or creating a new feature.
Tier 3
Tier 3 technical support services, also known as level 3 tech support, is the highest tier in a three-tiered technical support model responsible for handling the most difficult or complex problems. It is synonymous with L3 support, denoting expert troubleshooting and resolution methods.
In Tier 3, technicians typically work in a lab environment with software and design files to fix the root of the problem. They are experts in a specific product and often have access to company information such as the latest software releases or bug fixes.
They may also be able to use remote control tools to take over the user’s computer and carry out diagnostic tests, repair software, or provide more detailed analysis of data.
Whether your support team is based in the office or remotely, it’s important to be prepared for when they’re tasked with solving complicated problems that are beyond their expertise. Having an effective customer service software that can automatically route tickets to agents who have the knowledge they need, like Freshdesk, is essential for ensuring your support teams can deliver excellent results and keep your customers happy.
Tier 4
Technical support services are an integral part of any IT operation. They help customers with all kinds of issues ranging from password resets to operating system errors. It’s necessary to separate these services into tiers for maximum efficiency.
The first tier of support is generally the level that receives requests from customers via phone calls, email, web forms, and chat. The person in charge of providing assistance should be able to solve these issues efficiently and know when to delegate them to someone in a higher tier.
This is also the tier that first interacts with customer questions, so it’s important to be able to quickly identify and solve them. They also need to be able to track tickets until they are resolved.
