Virtual service desk: From the user’s point of view, the response they receive from a virtual service desk (Figure 24.3) will be the same as the one they receive from a
centralised service desk. However, the persons who operate a virtual service desk can be in a number of different locations. By utilising a single universal tool, users are able to obtain a service which is the same regardless of their location or the location of the responding service desk staff.
One advantage of such a structure is that it allows far greater staff flexibility. Staff may be able to work from home or organisations may be able to be more
efficient by using offshore working by some or all of the service desk staff. There is, however, a risk that service quality lacks consistency and this is something that needs to be managed via metrics designed to measure the quality of service from the various locations.