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Implementation Best Practices

Get the most out of Resly by following these proven best practices from successful customers.

Knowledge Base Content

Do

Start with your top 20 most-asked support questionsWrite in clear, simple language customers understand ✓ Include specific examples and step-by-step instructions ✓ Keep articles focused on one topic each ✓ Update content when policies or products change

Don’t

✗ Upload technical jargon or internal documentation ✗ Include outdated or contradictory information ✗ Write 5000-word articles when 500 will do ✗ Forget to include common variations of questions ✗ Leave gaps in critical workflows

Quality over quantity: 10 well-written articles covering common questions outperform 100 poorly organized docs.


AI Tone and Guidance

Do

Match your brand voice (friendly, professional, casual, empathetic) ✓ Give specific examples of how to respond to edge cases ✓ Set clear boundaries (what the AI should/shouldn’t do) ✓ Test different tones with real customer questions ✓ Iterate based on how customers respond

Don’t

✗ Use generic “be helpful” guidance ✗ Contradict your knowledge base content ✗ Tell the AI to do things it can’t (e.g., access accounts it can’t see) ✗ Change tone drastically after customers are used to it

Example good guidance:

“Always mention our 30-day guarantee when discussing returns. Never promise refunds over $500 without manager approval. Escalate billing questions about enterprise contracts.”


Widget Placement

Do

Put chat widget in bottom-right (standard for most sites) ✓ Put search launcher in bottom-left if using both ✓ Test on mobile to ensure launchers don’t overlap content ✓ Make sure both are visible above fold ✓ Use contrasting colors so they’re easy to spot

Don’t

✗ Hide widgets behind other page elements ✗ Use accent colors that clash with your brand ✗ Position launchers where they cover critical content ✗ Forget to test on tablets and mobile devices


Testing Before Launch

Do

Test with at least 20 real customer questionsReview the event log to see what knowledge the AI retrieves ✓ Try edge cases and off-topic questions ✓ Have multiple team members test independently ✓ Check on different browsers and devices

Don’t

✗ Launch without testing in preview mode first ✗ Assume it’ll work perfectly on day one ✗ Skip testing on mobile ✗ Test only happy-path scenarios

Always test in preview mode before deploying to production. Verify the AI retrieves the right content and provides accurate answers.


Monitoring and Iteration

Do

Check the Analyze tab weekly for common questions ✓ Look for patterns in what customers ask ✓ Add knowledge base content for frequently asked questions ✓ Monitor ticket escalations to see what the AI can’t handle ✓ Refine AI guidance based on real interactions

Don’t

✗ Set it and forget it ✗ Ignore customer feedback about AI responses ✗ Let knowledge base get stale ✗ Keep content that’s no longer accurate

Weekly review checklist:

  1. Check top 10 most-asked questions
  2. Identify content gaps (questions AI can’t answer)
  3. Review escalated tickets for patterns
  4. Add/update 2-3 articles based on findings
  5. Test improvements in preview mode

Escalation Strategy

Do

Set clear criteria for when to escalate to humans ✓ Make escalation easy (one-click ticket creation) ✓ Include conversation context in escalated tickets ✓ Respond to escalated tickets promptlyUse ticket feedback to improve knowledge base

Don’t

✗ Make customers ask three times before escalating ✗ Lose conversation context during handoff ✗ Let escalated tickets sit unread ✗ Escalate everything (defeats the purpose)

Good escalation triggers:

  • Customer explicitly requests human support
  • AI confidence is low (<0.7 relevance)
  • Question is outside knowledge base
  • High-value transaction needs approval
  • Customer is frustrated or angry

Measuring Success

Key Metrics to Track

  1. Resolution Rate - % of questions answered without escalation
  2. Average Response Time - Should be <2 seconds
  3. Customer Satisfaction - From feedback buttons
  4. Time Saved - Hours not spent on repetitive questions
  5. Knowledge Base Coverage - % of questions AI can answer

Expected Performance

TimeframeResolution RateResponse TimeSatisfaction
First month40-60%<2s75%+
After 3 months70-85%<2s85%+
After 6 months80-94%<2s90%+

Performance improves over time as you add content and refine based on customer interactions.


Content Organization

Article Structure

Good article structure:

# Clear Title (matches how customers phrase it) Brief intro explaining what this article covers. ## Step 1: First Action Specific instructions with examples. ## Step 2: Next Action More details. ## Common Issues - Problem: Solution - Problem: Solution ## Need More Help? Link to related articles or escalation option.

Topic Coverage

Priority 1 (create first):

  • Top 20 support questions
  • Getting started guides
  • Common troubleshooting
  • Policy information (returns, shipping, etc.)

Priority 2 (add next):

  • Product/service details
  • Account management
  • Advanced features
  • Integration guides

Priority 3 (nice to have):

  • Best practices
  • Tips and tricks
  • Industry-specific guides
  • Edge cases

Continuous Improvement

The best Resly implementations improve over time:

Monthly Review Process

Week 1: Analyze performance

  • Review resolution rate trends
  • Check customer satisfaction scores
  • Identify top unanswered questions

Week 2: Plan improvements

  • Prioritize content gaps
  • Draft new articles
  • Update outdated content

Week 3: Implement changes

  • Add/update knowledge base
  • Refine AI guidance
  • Test in preview mode

Week 4: Monitor impact

  • Check if resolution rate improved
  • Review new escalation patterns
  • Adjust as needed

Consistency is key: Small, regular improvements outperform occasional large updates.


Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Insufficient Knowledge Base

Problem: Deploying with too little content Solution: Start with minimum 20 articles covering common questions

2. Unclear AI Guidance

Problem: Generic instructions like “be helpful” Solution: Provide specific examples and boundaries

3. No Testing

Problem: Deploying without thorough testing Solution: Test with 20+ real questions before launch

4. Set and Forget

Problem: Not monitoring or improving after launch Solution: Weekly reviews and continuous iteration

5. Wrong Tone

Problem: AI voice doesn’t match brand Solution: Test different tones, use specific guidance


Advanced Tips

For E-commerce

  • Upload return and shipping policies first
  • Configure order lookup integration early
  • Set maximum refund amounts for safety
  • Add product FAQs by category

For SaaS

  • Start with onboarding documentation
  • Add API reference for developers
  • Create troubleshooting guides by feature
  • Include billing and account management

For Documentation Sites

  • Organize content by topic hierarchy
  • Use instant search mode for speed
  • Include code examples in articles
  • Link related documentation

Next Steps

Remember: The best implementations start simple and improve continuously based on real customer interactions.

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