What is our primary use case?
We needed a centralized, user-friendly, and admin-friendly system for our help desk. We had multiple systems and teams that needed to be deployed for this system. For example, we had a development system, a first-line help desk team that was available 24/7, and an escalation process. The first line, second line, and third line might be a local partner or so. We even automated the process for the external partner of our company. So when our first line escalated to the second line of support and the second line couldn't resolve the issue according to the process, it went to the partner. And the partner saw all the history on the tickets. It was a really nice solution.
How has it helped my organization?
It has improved our work in a number of ways. First, it has made everything much faster. Before Jira Service Management, it could take weeks to resolve a ticket. But with the notifications and reminders that Jira Service Management provides, we have reduced the time spent on tickets from a couple of weeks to just two to three days.
It has definitely saved us time for really usual stuff, for example, a laptop that doesn't work properly and you require the first-line service desk to address the problem. Previously, it could take up to a week to get it resolved because we didn't have a centralized, automated system for control, monitoring, and reminders, particularly for the first-line managers. Also, there was no escalation process in place. We were using a basic, free, open system without any escalation features, and we received notifications through email, but those were only generated upon ticket creation.
What needs improvement?
There is room for improvement in support. We had one or two cases of not really nice responses from the partner.
So, there is room for improvement in terms of response time.
For how long have I used the solution?
In the end of 2021, I implemented a Jira help desk solution in an aviation company.
I worked with a user and a project manager who implemented this solution for about a year. We had a project, then about a year of usage only as a user.
I used it last seven months ago because then I switched jobs. And before that, if we are talking about Jira Service Management, it was implemented at the end of 2021. So it was, like, four months of projects.
It was really easy to set up, and it was really clear for the help desk managers and for the end-users to set the workflow and the business process of the tickets for the help desk. Like, from the box, we used the box solution. It was perfect. I used it six months ago.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution. It is an online solution so it is easy to maintain.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In terms of scalability, Jira covered all our demands. I would rate the scalability a nine out of ten.
We didn't use all the possible settings for the solution, but it still scaled well to our 1200 users. We didn't have any stability problems with Jira, so it gets a ten out of ten from me.
How are customer service and support?
We had some problems with our partner's tech support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
How was the initial setup?
I would rate my experience with the initial setup an eight out of ten, where one being difficult and ten being easy to set up. It took a bit longer than we planned because of the partner.
What about the implementation team?
I had a project manager, a business analyst, and four other people on my team for deploying and maintaining the solution. We also had the head of support and the first-line support manager who tested everything for us.
Overall, the project took about four months, but that included deploying all the processes, levels of escalation, and other things. So it was super easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It wasn't the cheapest solution out there. It could have been a bit cheaper, but the user experience and overall capabilities of Jira make it worth the price.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We have another team working on those tools, for example, Trellix and Symantec Data Loss Prevention. We have a range of information solutions used in an ongoing project, and it's only in the planning and feasibility stage for DLP. So, I have worked with a bunch of them.
What other advice do I have?
I would definitely recommend Jira. It's a great solution, but like any other IT tool, it's important to have well-defined processes in place before you implement it. If your processes are not well-defined, Jira won't be able to help you as much.
Overall, I would rate the solution a ten out of ten. It was a great experience for both our first-line help desk managers and our end users. The interface is super easy to use, and the analytics features are really helpful. We were also able to deploy Symantec Data Protection 2 in Jira, which was a great addition.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.