This page provides details about @Zendesk (organization) which was ranked #2 out of 175 in the list of brands (55 mentions (42.4% share)) in answers from AI models (Perplexity Sonar (with search) (latest), Anthropic Claude Sonnet (latest), OpenAI ChatGPT Latest, Google Gemini Flash (latest), X.AI Grok (latest)) when they were asked the following 3 questions: "What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.", "If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.", "What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry." on Dec 30, 2025 by AI Chat Watch.
What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] og/best-customer-support-apps/)[What Are the Best Customer Support Tools for Businesses in 2025 ...](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/customer-service-software)[Top 10 Customer Service Chatbots for 2025 - ProProfs Chat](https://www.proprofschat.com/blog/best-customer-service-chatbots/).
Official sites: [Zendesk](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/), [Intercom](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/), [HubSpot Service Hub](https://zapier.com/blog/best-customer-support-apps/), [Pylon](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/customer-service-software), [Freshdesk](https://zapier.com/blog/b [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] dard](https://www.textmagic.com/blog/best-customer-service-companies/)[50+ Customer Support Statistics & Trends for 2025 - Pylon](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/50-customer-support-statistics-trends-for-2025)
Convin: [Convin](https://convin.ai/)
Pylon: [Pylon](https://www.usepylon.com/)
Zendesk: [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/) (cited in trends via [Pylon stats](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/50-customer-support-statistics-trends-for-2025)).
Trends emphasize **live chat** (preferred by 41% of consumers), **AI autonomy** (resolving 80% of issues), and **voice AI** for call centers.[50+ Customer S [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] stomer-support-statistics-trends-for-2025)
- Convin's AI feedback systems for agent improvement.[Best and Worst Customer Service Companies in 2025 - Convin](https://convin.ai/blog/worst-customer-service)
### Important Events and Conferences
Sources lack specific 2025 events; monitor CX leaders like Zendesk for announcements on AI/automation summits.[50+ Customer Support Statistics & Trends for 2025 - Pylon](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/50-customer-support-statistics-trends-for-2025)
### Notable Startups Disrupting the Space
**Hugo** and **Convin** lead as growth-focused AI/omnichannel disruptors fo [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] nds for 2025 - Pylon](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/50-customer-support-statistics-trends-for-2025)[Customer Service Trends for 2025 and 2026: What to Expect](https://theofficegurus.com/customer-service-trends-for-2025-and-2026-what-to-expect/)[92 customer service statistics you need to know in 2025 - Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/customer-service-statistics/)[8 Key Customer Service trends for 2025 - DevRev](https://devrev.ai/blog/customer-service-trends)[50+ Customer Support Trends to Watch in 2025 - Helply](https://helply.com/blog/customer-support-trends-2025)
### Dominant Market Leaders and [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] ders and Brands
Key leaders include established platforms heavily investing in AI and CX tools:
- **Zendesk**: Frequently cited for benchmarks, AI copilots, and voice AI leadership; 90% of CX trendsetters see their tools as key for AI adoption.[92 customer service statistics you need to know in 2025 - Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/customer-service-statistics/) (https://www.zendesk.com)
- **Salesforce**: Noted for self-service solutions, with 80% of high-performers offering them vs. 56% of low-performers.[50+ Customer Support Statistics & Trends for 2025 - Pylon](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/50- [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] nd CX tools:
- **Zendesk**: Frequently cited for benchmarks, AI copilots, and voice AI leadership; 90% of CX trendsetters see their tools as key for AI adoption.[92 customer service statistics you need to know in 2025 - Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/customer-service-statistics/) (https://www.zendesk.com)
- **Salesforce**: Noted for self-service solutions, with 80% of high-performers offering them vs. 56% of low-performers.[50+ Customer Support Statistics & Trends for 2025 - Pylon](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/50-customer-support-statistics-trends-for-2025) (https://www.salesforce.com)
- **Kay [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] Service Industry Statistics & Benchmarks in 2025](https://www.answerconnect.com/blog/business-tips/customer-service-statistics-benchmarks/)
- **Voice AI and copilots**: 60% of consumers want adoption; agents using them feel 20% more empowered.[92 customer service statistics you need to know in 2025 - Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/customer-service-statistics/)
- **Self-service portals**: Essential for deflection and instant resolutions.[50+ Customer Support Statistics & Trends for 2025 - Pylon](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/50-customer-support-statistics-trends-for-2025)[Customer Service Trends [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] officegurus.com/customer-service-trends-for-2025-and-2026-what-to-expect/)
### Influential Figures and Thought Leaders
Search results emphasize organizational leaders rather than individuals:
- **CX leaders and CEOs**: 70% see generative AI transforming value delivery (PwC); 80% plan CX investments (Zendesk).[50+ Customer Support Statistics & Trends for 2025 - Pylon](https://www.usepylon.com/blog/50-customer-support-statistics-trends-for-2025)[92 customer service statistics you need to know in 2025 - Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/customer-service-statistics/)
- **Gartner**, **McKinsey**, **PwC [...]
December 30, 2025
What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
# Comprehensive Guide to Customer Support Solutions
## Leading Platforms and Software
### Enterprise Solutions
1. **Zendesk** - [https://www.zendesk.com](https://www.zendesk.com)
- Industry-leading omnichannel support platform with ticketing, live chat, and knowledge base
2. **Salesforce Service Cloud** - [https://www.salesforce.com/service-cloud/](https://www.salesforce.com/service-cloud/)
- AI-powered customer service platform integ [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] Service Summit** - [https://customersummit.co](https://customersummit.co)
- Annual customer service and experience event
43. **SupportDriven Expo** - [https://supportdriven.com](https://supportdriven.com)
- Community-driven customer support conference
44. **Zendesk Relate** - [https://www.zendesk.com/relate/](https://www.zendesk.com/relate/)
- Annual CX conference by Zendesk
45. **Intercom World Tour** - [https://www.intercom.com/events](https://www.intercom.com/events)
- Customer engagement events
46. **Customer Response Summit** - [https://www.customerresponsesummit.com](https:/ [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] ual customer service and experience event
43. **SupportDriven Expo** - [https://supportdriven.com](https://supportdriven.com)
- Community-driven customer support conference
44. **Zendesk Relate** - [https://www.zendesk.com/relate/](https://www.zendesk.com/relate/)
- Annual CX conference by Zendesk
45. **Intercom World Tour** - [https://www.intercom.com/events](https://www.intercom.com/events)
- Customer engagement events
46. **Customer Response Summit** - [https://www.customerresponsesummit.com](https://www.customerresponsesummit.com)
- Annual North American customer service confer [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] g)
- Global non-profit for CX professionals
56. **Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals (SOCAP)** - [https://www.socap.org](https://www.socap.org)
- Association for customer care professionals
## Publications & Media
### Blogs & Online Publications
57. **Zendesk Blog** - [https://www.zendesk.com/blog/](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/)
- Customer service insights and best practices
58. **Intercom Blog** - [https://www.intercom.com/blog](https://www.intercom.com/blog)
- Customer engagement and support content
59. **Help Scout Blog** - [https://www.helpscout.com/blog/](https://www [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] www.cxnetwork.com/cx-experience/)** - CX insights and trends
- **[MyCustomer](https://www.mycustomer.com/)** - Customer experience and engagement resource
- **[Contact Center Pipeline](https://www.contactcenterpipeline.com/)** - Contact center industry magazine
### Blogs & Online Resources
- **[The Zendesk Blog](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/)** - Customer service trends and tips
- **[Intercom Blog](https://www.intercom.com/blog/)** - Customer communication insights
- **[Help Scout Blog](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/)** - Customer service content
- **[HubSpot Service Blog](https://blog.hubspot.com/s [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] 1. **Join Support Driven Slack community** for networking
2. **Set up Google Alerts** for "customer support trends" and "customer service news"
3. **Subscribe to 2-3 newsletters** from the list above
4. **Follow top 10 experts** on LinkedIn and Twitter
5. **Take a free certification course** (like Zendesk's free training)
6. **Read at least one book** from the recommended list
7. **Attend a virtual conference or webinar** to understand industry trends
8. **Experiment with free tiers** of platforms like Zendesk, Freshdesk, or Help Scout
This comprehensive guide should give you a solid foundation for [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] llow top 10 experts** on LinkedIn and Twitter
5. **Take a free certification course** (like Zendesk's free training)
6. **Read at least one book** from the recommended list
7. **Attend a virtual conference or webinar** to understand industry trends
8. **Experiment with free tiers** of platforms like Zendesk, Freshdesk, or Help Scout
This comprehensive guide should give you a solid foundation for entering the customer support field. The industry is evolving rapidly with AI and automation, so staying connected to these communities and resources will be crucial for your success! [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
# Customer Support Industry Overview 2024
## Market Leaders & Dominant Brands
### **Zendesk** - [https://www.zendesk.com](https://www.zendesk.com)
One of the largest customer service platforms, publicly traded, serving over 100,000 customers globally. Offers omnichannel support, AI-powered automation, and comprehensive ticketing systems.
### **Salesforce Service Cloud** - [https://www.salesforce.com/service-clou [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] ummit** - [https://www.customersuccesassummit.com](https://www.customersuccesssummit.com)
By Gainsight, focusing on customer success and support alignment.
### **CXNext** - [https://cxnext.com](https://cxnext.com)
Customer experience conference by ICMI.
### **Zendesk Showcase** - [https://showcase.zendesk.com](https://showcase.zendesk.com)
Annual user conference by Zendesk.
### **Intercom's Conversations** - [https://www.intercom.com/conversations](https://www.intercom.com/conversations)
Annual conference focused on modern customer communication.
## Professional Communities
### **Support Driven** [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] ersuccesssummit.com)
By Gainsight, focusing on customer success and support alignment.
### **CXNext** - [https://cxnext.com](https://cxnext.com)
Customer experience conference by ICMI.
### **Zendesk Showcase** - [https://showcase.zendesk.com](https://showcase.zendesk.com)
Annual user conference by Zendesk.
### **Intercom's Conversations** - [https://www.intercom.com/conversations](https://www.intercom.com/conversations)
Annual conference focused on modern customer communication.
## Professional Communities
### **Support Driven** - [https://supportdriven.com](https://supportdriven.com)
The largest [...]
December 30, 2025
What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_centre).
Below is a comprehensive map of the main options, with leading vendors, providers, experts, events, communities, and media.
---
## 1) Leading software brands & products (by common use case)
### A) Help desk / ticketing + omnichannel service (core system of record)
- [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com) – broad help desk + messaging + knowledge + marketplace ecosystem
- [Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/) – enterprise service platform tightly tied to Salesforce
- [ServiceNow Customer Service Management](https://www.s [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] e, often overlaps with support/experience operations)
---
## 6) Active communities & forums (where practitioners share playbooks)
- [Support Driven](https://supportdriven.com) (membership community for support leaders/practitioners)
- Product communities (useful for implementation and operations):
- [Zendesk Community](https://support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/topics)
- [Salesforce Trailblazer Community](https://trailblazercommunitygroups.com)
- [ServiceNow Community](https://www.servicenow.com/community/)
- [Freshworks Community](https://community.freshworks.com)
- [HubSpot Commun [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] esources)
- [CMSWire](https://www.cmswire.com) (often covers customer experience, service, and related tech)
- [CustomerThink](https://customerthink.com)
- [CX Network](https://www.cxnetwork.com)
- Research + practitioner content from vendors (useful but biased; still high-signal for tactics):
- [Zendesk Blog](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/)
- [Intercom Blog](https://www.intercom.com/blog)
- [Help Scout Blog](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/)
---
## Picking the “best” option for your situation (fast heuristic)
- **SMB wanting quick setup:** [Freshdesk](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/) [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
## 1) Core concepts (the “language” of Customer Support)
- **Customer support / customer service** basics and workflows (tickets, triage, escalation): [Zendesk – Customer service](https://www.zendesk.com/service/customer-service/)
- Key metrics you’ll hear constantly:
- **CSAT** (Customer Satisfaction): [Zendesk – CSAT](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/customer-satisfaction-score-csat/)
- **NPS** (Net Promoter Score): [Bain & Company – NPS](https://ww [...]
[...] operations & service management foundations (useful especially for B2B/IT-style support):
- **ITIL**: [AXELOS – ITIL](https://www.axelos.com/best-practice-solutions/itil)
## 2) Most-used tools & platforms to know (by category)
### Help desk / customer service platforms (ticketing + omnichannel)
- [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/)
- [Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)
- [ServiceNow Customer Service Management](https://www.servicenow.com/products/customer-service-management.html)
- [Freshdesk (Freshworks)](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] Connect](https://aws.amazon.com/connect/)
- [Twilio Flex](https://www.twilio.com/flex)
- SMB-friendly voice:
- [Aircall](https://aircall.io/)
- [RingCentral](https://www.ringcentral.com/)
- [Dialpad](https://www.dialpad.com/)
### Knowledge base / help center (deflection + self-serve)
- [Zendesk Help Center](https://www.zendesk.com/service/help-center/)
- [Intercom Help Center](https://www.intercom.com/help-center)
- [Help Scout Docs](https://www.helpscout.com/knowledge-base/)
- Standalone options:
- [Document360](https://document360.com/)
- [Atlassian Confluence](https://www.a [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] ps://supportdriven.com/) (community + resources for support pros)
- [CXPA](https://www.cxpa.org/) (CX community; useful as you move into CX/VoC leadership)
- [HDI](https://www.thinkhdi.com/) (support/service management community)
- Hands-on playbooks & blogs (tactical and widely referenced):
- [Zendesk Blog](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/)
- [Intercom Blog](https://www.intercom.com/blog)
- [Help Scout Blog](https://www.helpscout.com/blog/)
- [Freshworks Blog](https://www.freshworks.com/blog/)
- [Atlassian – Jira Service Management resources](https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/ [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] ificial intelligence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generative_artificial_intelligence)
---
## Dominant market leaders & major brands (by category)
### 1) Helpdesk / Customer support platforms (ticketing + omnichannel + self‑service)
These are the most common “systems of record” for support teams:
- [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/)
- [Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/) (part of [Salesforce](https://www.salesforce.com/))
- [ServiceNow Customer Service Management (CSM)](https://www.servicenow.com/products/customer-service-management.html) (part o [...]
What are the best Customer Support options available today? Please provide a comprehensive overview including: the leading brands and products, top companies and service providers, recognized experts and thought leaders, promising startups and new market entrants, major industry events and conferences, active communities and forums, and influential publications and media covering this space.
[...] * **[Ada](https://www.ada.cx):** An AI-native platform designed to automate complex customer service interactions.
* **[Fin (by Intercom)](https://www.intercom.com/fin):** A specific mention for this new AI bot that resolves queries using a company's own knowledge base.
* **[Klaus (acquired by Zendesk)](https://www.klausapp.com):** A quality assurance platform that uses AI to grade support conversations.
* **[Gorgias](https://www.gorgias.com):** A specialized helpdesk built specifically for e-commerce and Shopify merchants.
### 5. Major Industry Events and Conferences
These gatherings are the [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] esk](https://www.zendesk.com/)**: The industry standard for enterprise-level ticketing systems.
* **[Intercom](https://www.intercom.com/)**: A leader in AI-driven chat and proactive customer engagement.
* **[Freshdesk](https://freshworks.com/freshdesk/)**: A popular, user-friendly alternative to Zendesk for small-to-medium businesses.
* **[Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service/)**: The go-to for massive corporations requiring deep CRM integration.
* **[Gorgias](https://www.gorgias.com/)**: The primary helpdesk for E-commerce brands (specifically Shopify stores). [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] and changing how support is provided through AI.
* **[Lately](https://www.lately.ai/)**: Uses AI to learn what content customers respond to.
* **[Fin (by Intercom)](https://www.intercom.com/fin)**: An AI bot designed to resolve complex issues without human intervention.
* **[Klaus (now part of Zendesk)](https://www.klausapp.com/)**: A quality assurance platform that helps managers grade support agent performance.
* **[Ada](https://www.ada.cx/)**: An automated brand interaction platform focused on high-level AI automation.
### 6. Key Publications & Media Channels
To stay informed about trends [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] tion driven by Generative AI and a shift toward proactive, rather than reactive, service.
### 1. Dominant Market Leaders and Brands
The market is divided between traditional CRM giants and legacy helpdesk providers.
* **Zendesk**: The market leader for mid-market and enterprise helpdesk solutions. [Zendesk Official Site](https://www.zendesk.com)
* **Salesforce Service Cloud**: The dominant force for large enterprises requiring deep CRM integration. [Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)
* **Freshworks (Freshdesk)**: A primary competitor to Zendesk, [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] [Zendesk Official Site](https://www.zendesk.com)
* **Salesforce Service Cloud**: The dominant force for large enterprises requiring deep CRM integration. [Salesforce Service Cloud](https://www.salesforce.com/products/service-cloud/overview/)
* **Freshworks (Freshdesk)**: A primary competitor to Zendesk, known for ease of use. [Freshdesk](https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/)
* **Intercom**: Pioneered the use of messenger-based support and AI bots. [Intercom](https://www.intercom.com)
* **HubSpot Service Hub**: Best for companies already using HubSpot for marketing and sales. [HubSpot Service [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] ww.hubspot.com/products/service)
### 2. Best Products and Services
Modern support teams utilize a "tech stack" that goes beyond just a ticketing system.
* **Knowledge Management:** [Guru](https://www.getguru.com), [Notion](https://www.notion.so)
* **Quality Assurance (QA):** [Klaus (acquired by Zendesk)](https://www.klausapp.com), [MaestroQA](https://www.maestroqa.com)
* **Workforce Management (WFM):** [Assembled](https://www.assembled.com), [InflowCX](https://inflowcx.com)
* **Customer Feedback/NPS:** [Delighted (by Qualtrics)](https://delighted.com), [Typeform](https://www.typeform.com)
## [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] rson on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathewpatterson/)
### 5. Major Conferences and Events
* **Customer Contact Week (CCW):** The world’s largest customer contact event series. [CCW Digital](https://www.customercontactweek.com)
* **Zendesk Relate:** Zendesk’s annual flagship conference. [Zendesk Relate](https://relate.zendesk.com)
* **Gartner Customer Service & Support Expo:** Focused on high-level enterprise strategy. [Gartner Events](https://www.gartner.com/en/conferences/hub/customer-service-support-conferences)
* **Support Driven Expo:** A community-focused event for frontline mana [...]
December 30, 2025
If I'm looking to get into Customer Support, who and what should I know about? Include the most trusted brands, recommended products and services, reputable companies and providers, influential experts and reviewers to follow, helpful communities and resources, important events and conferences, notable startups disrupting the space, and key publications and media channels to stay informed.
[...] known for reliability, scalability, and positive reviews on sites like G2 [G2 Crowd](https://www.g2.com/categories/customer-service) and Capterra [Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/customer-service-software/):
- **Zendesk**: A leader in omnichannel support with ticketing, AI bots, and self-service. [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/)
- **Freshworks (Freshdesk)**: Affordable, user-friendly ticketing and automation for SMBs. [Freshworks Customer Service](https://www.freshworks.com/customer-service-software/)
- **Intercom**: Focuses on conversational support with chatbots and targeted messaging. [Interco [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] Quadrant for CRM Customer Engagement Center](https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/4023565).
### Recommended Products and Services
Essential tools for customer support pros include helpdesk software, knowledge bases, and productivity add-ons:
- **Ticketing Systems**: Zendesk Sunshine (API platform) [Zendesk Sunshine](https://www.zendesk.com/platform/sunshine-platform/), Front [Front](https://front.com/).
- **AI/Chatbots**: Ada [Ada](https://www.ada.cx/), Drift [Drift](https://www.drift.com/).
- **Knowledge Base Builders**: Document360 [Document360](https://document360.com/), Bloomfire [Bloomfire](http [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] stomer Experience Professionals." [LinkedIn Search](https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/groups/?keywords=customer%20support)
- **Free Resources**: HubSpot Academy Customer Service Course [HubSpot Academy](https://academy.hubspot.com/courses/customer-service), Zendesk's Customer Service Institute [Zendesk CSI](https://www.zendesk.com/customer-service-institute/).
Certifications: HDI Support Center Analyst [HDI](https://www.thinkhdi.com/training/certification/sca-hdi.aspx).
### Important Events and Conferences
Attend these for learning, networking, and job opportunities:
- **ICMI Global Contact C [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] nformed
Subscribe for news, case studies, and benchmarks:
- **CMSWire**: CX, digital experience coverage. [CMSWire](https://www.cmswire.com/)
- **CustomerThink**: Blogs from industry leaders. [CustomerThink](https://customerthink.com/)
- **Zendesk Blog**: Trends, benchmarks (e.g., CX Trends Report) [Zendesk Blog](https://www.zendesk.com/blog/)
- **Intercom Blog**: Product innovation insights. [Intercom Blog](https://www.intercom.com/blog/)
- **Forrester Blogs/Reports**: Research on CX (e.g., Customer Experience Index). [Forrester CX](https://www.forrester.com/customer-experience/)
- **Podcasts**: "The [...]
December 30, 2025
What does the Customer Support industry look like right now? Identify the dominant market leaders and brands, best products and services, key companies and providers, influential figures and thought leaders, emerging startups and trends, major conferences and events, active professional communities, and the top publications and media that cover this industry.
[...] and Brands, Key Companies, and Providers
The industry is led by established SaaS platforms offering ticketing, CRM integration, analytics, and AI features. Leaders dominate based on market share, user adoption, and analyst quadrants:
- **Zendesk**: Market leader in helpdesk and omnichannel support. [Zendesk](https://www.zendesk.com/).
- **Freshworks (Freshdesk)**: Strong in SMBs with affordable ticketing and AI bots. [Freshworks Customer Service](https://www.freshworks.com/customer-service/).
- **Salesforce Service Cloud**: Enterprise-grade CRM with AI (Einstein) for case management. [Salesforce Servi [...]
December 30, 2025
[...] m/research/customer-service-startups/).
### Major Conferences and Events
Annual events for networking and trends:
- **Customer Contact Week (CCW)**: Largest contact center event. [CCW Las Vegas 2024](https://lasvegas.customercontactweek.com/).
- **Zendesk Showcase**: Product updates and CX keynotes. [Zendesk Events](https://www.zendesk.com/events/).
- **Forrester CX Summit**: North America flagship. [Forrester CX North America](https://www.forrester.com/events/cx/?lang=en-us).
- **ICMI Global Contact Center Forum**: Operations-focused. [ICMI Events](https://www.icmi.com/events/).
- **CX Network Confere [...]