
Patterns
Patterns in the helpdesk
Recognisable structures for common situations
What is a pattern?
A pattern describes:
- Situation — When does this apply?
- Approach — What do we do?
- Response structure — How do we formulate?
- Next steps — When to escalate or close?
Common patterns
1. Password reset
Situation: Customer cannot log in, asks to reset password.
Approach:
- Verify identity (no passwords by email)
- Send reset link via secure channel
- Confirm that the link has been sent
Response structure:
- Acknowledgment of the problem
- Verification step (if needed)
- Action taken
- Follow-up if problems persist
2. Invoice question
Situation: Customer has a question about invoice (payment, correction, explanation).
Approach:
- Identify type of question (payment, correction, explanation)
- Collect invoice number and relevant data
- Answer or escalate to billing
Response structure:
- Confirmation of receipt
- Answer to the question
- For corrections: deadline and next steps
3. Technical problem
Situation: Customer reports bug, error message or non-working functionality.
Approach:
- Collect: steps to reproduce, error message, environment
- Check knowledge base for known issues
- Resolve or forward to technical team
Response structure:
- Thanks for the report
- What we will investigate
- Expected timeframe for response
4. Complaint
Situation: Customer is dissatisfied with product, service or previous interaction.
Approach:
- Acknowledge the frustration
- Ask for specifics (what went wrong?)
- Offer solution or escalate to manager
Response structure:
- Empathy and acknowledgment
- No defence or excuses
- Concrete offer for solution
5. Information request
Situation: Customer asks for information (prices, specifications, documentation).
Approach:
- Refer to the right source (website, knowledge base, document)
- Or give the answer directly if it is short
Response structure:
- Direct answer or link
- Offer for further questions
Applying a pattern
- Recognise — Which pattern fits this ticket?
- Adapt — Every ticket is unique; adapt the structure to the situation
- Document — Note deviations for future improvement
New patterns
Missing a pattern for a common situation? Document it and share it with the team. Patterns grow with our experience.