LBE Free Help Desk Software Test Results
LBE offers a previous version of their help desk software. The free help desk software is originally designed for Windows 3.1. I've checked it out for you!
The company Leigh Business Enterprises Ltd. (LBE) is a small software firm specialized in the development of help desk software. It is founded in 1991. The following products and versions are available:
- Free help desk software: Early version of LBE's desktop help desk software, at no charge (tested here)
- Desktop and Web Help desk: Current version of LBE's help desk software costs $595 for 5 simultaneous users and 12 months support.
- Help Desk Mail-in Server: Integrates with the help desk software to automatically add incoming mail as a help desk job. Costs $275.
System Requirements
- Windows 3.1/95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP
- A MAPI compliant e-mail system (optional)
My Impressions
I have tested LBE's free help desk software against the following areas, where I grade them with stars, 1 thru 5 (more is better):
- Functionality: I look for useful functions rather than a lot
- Customizability: If you need to align your tool to your business, you'll probably need to customize the tool
- Ease of use: A help desk tool must aid, not hinder, the support process
- Speed: Any customer service rep that had to wait on a system while talking to
a customer, understands the "need for speed"
:-) - Reliability: You need a tool you can trust, with data integrity, and that works when you need to
The Score
FunctionalityLBE's free help desk software is designed in 1995, and feels a little outdated. It contains a minimum of functions, but it has an automatic mail function, which is a plus. *** 3 stars.
Customizability
You can only change call categories, which is a little slim for most businesses. ** 2 stars.
Ease of Use
As the software has a minimum of functions, it's pretty easy to learn how to work with it. **** 4 stars.
Speed
The tool was designed some 8 years ago. PC's were not nearly so powerful as they are today, so
LBE's free help desk software breezes along. Mmh, maybe I'll install WP5.1 again ;-) ***** 5 stars.
Reliability
The system worked fine, but what I found weird was that if I deleted a customer, and then tried to
create that exact customer again, it would say "(customer) has been used before". Even after I
compacted and repaired the (MS-Access) database! Then again, backups are easily made, just save
the database file elsewhere. *** 3 stars.
Conclusion
The LBE free help desk software is better than if you are thinking about designing your own in Access or something like that. But functions are minimal, and the system feels a little outdated. But then again, it's free!*** I give LBE Free Help Desk Software 3 stars out of 5.
Top of Free Help Desk Software
