Seems like most hosts are facing an issue where clients have 2-3 logins:

1. Billing System
2. Control Panel
3. Helpdesk (optional)

If you have a forum and someone uses it, that could be a 4th.

I don't think any of the current billing scripts support helpdesk integration except for their own internal helpdesk. Same goes for forums.

I've been thinking about going the custom development route, but this is an issue that most every host faces, why hasn't there been a solution yet? In an ideal solution, a client would be able to have 1 common login for all services on our website's - billing, helpdesk, control panel, and the customer forum.

I've done some planning for a custom solution and I think it's only a matter of time before that happens.

Well it depends on what Helpdesk script you are using. Lots of billing scripts integrate with Kayako either it be a login share or full integration. The same goes with a forum, Vbulletin has login shares for both Kayako and billing systems.

I however have not seen a login share with a hosting control panel like Cpanel.

Which scripts do this? Modernbill v4 does, but not v5 as far as I know.

I'm willing to switch from Cerberus to Kayako if it can integrate properly with a billing solution. I like WHMCS the most of the current billing scripts, Clientexec isn't bad either, but none of them support helpdesk integration.

I have no idea although I did find this - http://www.modernsupport.net/docs/modernbill/v5co/index.php?article=5

You should check out the custom mod section of WHMCS.com's forums. There actually IS a way to make Kayako and WHMCS play nice together, it seems:

http://forums.whmcs.com/viewtopic.php?t=2947

--Tina

Wow, Tina, thanks for posting that... it just sold me, I'm switching to WHM CS and getting this stuff going.

Thanks! :)

...why hasn't there been a solution yet?

I'm sure it will come along eventually, but I wouldn't want it, personally. If you are using the same solution as every other host it is hard to differentiate yourself.

Wow, Tina, thanks for posting that... it just sold me, I'm switching to WHM CS and getting this stuff going.

Thanks! :)

Cool. If you look at their forums, it looks like someone else actually posted a newer way of integrating them as well.

--Tina

I've been thinking about this lately, about how nice it would be to have 1 login for your client, to do everything. That login is their control panel for managing their domain/s, and they can also manage billing and get support etc. That would be kinda nice, but obviously only possible with an inhouse system.

I've been thinking about this lately, about how nice it would be to have 1 login for your client, to do everything. That login is their control panel for managing their domain/s, and they can also manage billing and get support etc. That would be kinda nice, but obviously only possible with an inhouse system.

Yes, Bob, it would! :mad:

--Tina (happy dotable customer)

It's a very good point about the multiple logins, never thought about it.

It's a very good point about the multiple logins, never thought about it.

Sure, but having a single login also opens you up to nasty sorts of exploitation. I'm all for separate logins. It may add another level of complexity to the client but most are a-okay with how it is.

(Now I'm all for minimizing logins when it comes to forums & helpdesks, sharing users or 'linking' usernames in that case makes sense. But for account & billing access? Complexity all the way!)

Yes, Bob, it would! :mad:

--Tina (happy dotable customer)
lol, I hear that. :D

It's a huge task though, creating your own CP (which I believe you did many moons back?) billing and support system, all in the one interface. Would be great though, but only really feasible for the larger hosts, who could have at least 1 programmer fulltime onstaff.

*waits for layer0 to say, "that's what h-sphere does". ;)

Although I do see some protection in different apps for CP, billing and helpdesk etc.

lol, I hear that. :D

It's a huge task though, creating your own CP (which I believe you did many moons back?) billing and support system, all in the one interface. Would be great though, but only really feasible for the larger hosts, who could have at least 1 programmer fulltime onstaff.

*waits for layer0 to say, "that's what h-sphere does". ;)

Although I do see some protection in different apps for CP, billing and helpdesk etc.


WHMCS can do all of that. ;)

--Tina

From what I've heard, WHMCS IS pretty good. It is probably the next best thing, and much less work.

Hsphere has only 1 login for billing, support and control panel. You don't need to integrate multiple pieces of software to do this either.