Introduction to Service Level Agreements

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is a contract between a service provider and a customer that defines the level of service the customer expects from the service provider.

SLAs are based on the response to customer queries, and their purpose is determined explicitly by the kind of support the customer receives.

Types of SLAs

Vtiger CRM allows you to create two SLA types: Customer and Internal.

• Customer SLA: Customer SLAs are used only in the Cases module. You can have different SLAs for every customer you serve. The default Customer SLA is applied every time a new case is created, but you can change this by editing the SLA name in the case record. The value in the Type column is set for customer SLAs to Customer. To learn more about cases, click here.
• Internal SLA: Internal SLAs are used in the Internal Tickets module. Internal SLAs are mainly used to measure the service provided to your company’s employees. Whenever you create a new Internal ticket, the default Internal SLA is applied, which can be changed later by editing the SLA name. For internal SLAs, the value in the Type column is set to Internal.  To learn more about Internal Tickets, click here.

Importance of setting SLA targets

Consider this situation: A VIP customer may expect you to resolve all high-priority issues within 4 hours. 

1. When the customer raises a high-priority case, it is important that the agent knows how much time he has to resolve it.
2. In addition, it will be useful for the agent to get a heads-up when there is only 1 hour left. 
3. There will be cases where these targets will be missed. In such cases, as a heads-up, the concerned stakeholders need to be notified.

Also, it is important to set SLA targets when an SLA is based on business hours. This helps as SLA targets are not included in the case response time calculation during non-business hours, holidays, or when the issue is waiting for input from the 3rd party or the customer. To know more about Business Hours, click here.

Understanding SLA Statuses 

It is very important to understand different SLA statuses in Cases and Internal Tickets. SLA statuses help the service provider to react to the problem efficiently. The SLA status speaks about the current situation of the SLA time clock. Here is an explanation of each status:

• Time left: Displays the time left to resolve a case or an internal ticket since the SLA time clock started. The time is displayed in the Summary View of the case record.
• Fulfilled: The case or an internal ticket was resolved within the specified target time in the SLA. 
• Violated: The case or an internal ticket was not resolved within the specified target time in the SLA. 
• Escalated: After the violation, if escalation rules configured in the SLA are executed, then the case or an internal ticket status will change to escalated

Feature Availability

Benefits

• Prioritize customer issues.
• Trigger alerts when there are any unattended issues.
• Set up an escalation hierarchy to deal with violations.
• Ensure the customer is provided with a solution within a specified time.

Creating an SLA Policy

This section explains how to create an SLA policy. To help you better understand the topic, we have divided it into four sections, each explaining every field and functionality.

Configuring an SLA Policy

Follow the steps to create an SLA Policy:

1. Sign In to your account.
2. Click the User Menu on the top right corner of the screen.
3. Click the Settings button.
4. Look for the Support section.
5. Select SLA Policies.
6. Click either of these two buttons in the List View:
   1. Click the + Add Customer SLA button on the right side of the page to create a customer SLA.
   2. Click the + Add Internal SLA button on the right side of the page to create an internal SLA.

7.  The Configuring SLA Policy window opens. Enter or select information for the following:

1. Policy Name - Provide a name to the SLA policy.
2. Operational Hours - Enter the details of operational hours, either Calendar Hours or Business Hours.
3. Default SLA - Enable the checkbox to set the SLA Policy as default and apply it to all new cases.

Setting SLA targets

In this section, you will learn about setting the response and resolution times. You will also learn to set the priorities that must be implemented for every case or internal ticket.
 

Here is an explanation of the terms mentioned in the screenshot above:

1. Priority - You can categorize the issues as Urgent, High, Medium, and Low.
2. First Response within - You can specify the time (number of minutes, hours, or days) a customer must receive the first response from the customer service agent or customer support.
3. Resolve Within -  Specify the time (number of minutes, hours, or days) within which a customer’s issue must be resolved by the service provider.

Configuring email alerts before a violation

Vtiger CRM gives you the option to configure email alerts that must be sent before an SLA violation happens. Nobody can say no to configuring such a crucial reminder.

When you enable the Alerts checkbox for any priority, you must configure three things:

1. Select the users who must be alerted when the SLA is about to be violated.
2. Enter the time when the email alert has to be sent before the SLA violation.
3. Select an email template to send the alert. These email templates are related to cases or internal tickets based on the type of SLA you create.

You can click the + Add Alert button to add multiple alerts at different time intervals with the same or different users for the SLA policy.

To learn more about Email Templates, click here.

Configuring escalation emails on violation

You can configure escalation emails sent to users who must be notified when an SLA violation occurs. These users are normally sales managers, account managers, or other stakeholders who interact with the customer. 

The CRM allows you to select a priority level to alert stakeholders about escalations.

Enable the Escalation checkbox for a priority level, and configure the following: 

1. Select the users from your company’s hierarchy who should be notified about the SLA violation. 
2. Enter the time when the email alert must be sent after the SLA is violated.
3. Select an email template to send the alert.

You can click the + Add Escalation button to add multiple escalation alerts at different time intervals with the same or different users for the same SLA policy.
 

Set up case status and SLA timer behavior for custom cases

You can set the case status and SLA timer behavior for custom case states in picklist field values.

 

Related articles

• Cases
• Internal Tickets
• Business Hours
• Email Templates​​