Live Chat (Beacon)

Provide real-time customer support and self-service with AI Answers through live chat on your website.

by helpscout · Live Chat & Messaging

Live Chat (Beacon) screenshot

Executive Summary

Help Scout's Live Chat (Beacon) is a powerful tool designed to offer real-time customer support directly on your website. It enables customers to get instant answers to common questions through AI Answers, which leverages your help documentation, or to connect directly with a support agent for personalized assistance. This dual approach enhances customer satisfaction by providing immediate solutions and efficient access to human support when needed. Beyond reactive support, Beacon also serves as a proactive engagement tool, allowing businesses to interact with website visitors and potential customers. It helps guide them through their journey, answer pre-sales questions, and provide information to facilitate conversions. Seamlessly integrated with the broader Help Scout platform, Beacon ensures all customer interactions are unified and accessible for a comprehensive view of customer relationships.

Use Cases

  • Offer instant self-service support with AI Answers for common customer queries.
  • Provide real-time, personalized assistance to customers directly on your website.
  • Engage with website visitors and potential customers to answer questions and guide them.

Features

Intelligence

  • AI Answers: Automatically provides instant responses to common customer questions by leveraging help documentation.

Support

  • Live Chat: Enable real-time conversations with customers directly on your website.
  • Self-Service: Allow customers to find answers themselves through integrated help documentation within the chat widget.

Visibility

  • Customer Profiles: View detailed customer information and past interactions within the chat interface.
  • Conversation History: Access a complete history of customer conversations for context and continuity.

Technical Specifications

Architecture
Client-side JavaScript widget (Beacon) interacting with Help Scout's backend services and APIs (Inbox API, Docs API).
Deployment
SaaS
Authentication
OAuth/OIDC
API Available
Yes

Security & Compliance

Certifications: SOC 2

Encryption: Data is encrypted both at rest and in transit to protect sensitive customer information.

Pricing

Target Customer
SMB,Mid-Market

About helpscout

Help Scout is a global remote SaaS company that provides a customer support platform, including a shared inbox, knowledge base, and multichannel messaging. It offers AI, automation, and reporting tools to help teams deliver human-centered support. The company serves small to mid-market businesses across various industries.

Founded: 2011 · Headquarters: Boston, United States · Employees: 51-200 · Private

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