Setting up Zendesk is a smart step toward improving your customer support experience. And in many cases, it is. Still, plenty of teams hit unexpected bumps in the road during their Zendesk implementation journey. Why? Because while the tool itself is powerful, the way you configure it makes all the difference. Think of it like moving into a new house: the structure is ready, but how you arrange the furniture determines whether you are comfortable or tripping over your coffee table every morning.

The good news is, you can learn from the mistakes others have already made. In this blog post, we will explore common pitfalls during Zendesk setup, show you how to sidestep them, and share real-world examples that prove these lessons are not just theory. By the end, you will feel more confident in building a help desk that works seamlessly for both your agents and your customers.

Jumping in Without a Plan

One of the biggest mistakes is diving into Zendesk setup without a clear plan. Companies often rush, thinking speed will solve everything. Instead, they end up creating confusion for both customers and agents.

A small e-commerce brand I worked with rushed their rollout before the holidays. They skipped planning, created ticket fields on the fly, and ended up with a messy queue. Agents spent more time figuring out where tickets belonged than answering customer questions.

To avoid this, define your goals before touching the system. If your aim is faster response times, design workflows with that in mind. If customer self-service is the priority, start by shaping a strong Help Center.

Making Workflows Too Complicated

Zendesk has plenty of options: triggers, automations, macros, and SLAs. It is tempting to use them all at once, but that usually backfires.

For instance, a SaaS company created 50 triggers before launch. Within weeks, tickets were bouncing between agents because rules overlapped. Customers noticed delays, and frustration grew. After reducing automations to about a dozen, things started running smoothly.

The key is to keep it simple at first. Automate the basics, then add complexity only as your team grows comfortable.

Forgetting Agent Training

Even the best Zendesk implementation will flop if your team is not trained. Agents need to know how to use macros, views, and shortcuts. Without training, they fall back on slow, manual processes.

At a travel agency I visited, agents typed every reply by hand because no one had explained macros. Productivity plummeted until proper training was introduced. Afterward, response times dropped by nearly 40 percent.

Training does not have to be overwhelming. Start with short workshops, then back it up with an internal guide agents can revisit anytime.

Ignoring Reporting and Metrics

Data is what keeps your support team on track, yet many companies ignore it during Zendesk set up. They assume that if customers are not shouting, everything must be fine.

A retail company learned this the hard way. They ignored Zendesk Explore reports for six months. When they finally looked, they saw doubled response times and weekend backlogs. By then, CSAT had already dropped significantly.

From the start, identify which metrics matter most. Use dashboards to track them and review results regularly. A few numbers can reveal problems before they grow out of control.

Neglecting the Customer Experience

Zendesk is designed for agents, but customers are the ones who feel the impact. If your system is clunky, they will not care how smooth your backend workflows are.

A subscription box company made this mistake. Their ticket forms were long and complicated, with endless dropdowns. Customers gave up and vented on social media instead. After simplifying forms and adding a Help Center with FAQs, ticket volume dropped by 25 percent.

When setting up Zendesk, keep the customer’s view in mind. Submit a ticket yourself, test live chat, and browse your Help Center. If it feels clunky, customers will notice.

Key Mistakes to Avoid

Here are the five most common mistakes during Zendesk setup:

• Jumping in without a clear plan
• Overcomplicating workflows
• Forgetting to train agents
• Ignoring reporting and data
• Neglecting the customer experience

Best Practices for a Smooth Zendesk Implementation

To make your Zendesk implementation successful, keep these best practices in mind:

• Start with clear goals and map the customer journey before configuring.
• Keep workflows simple, adding complexity only when necessary.
• Train agents early and provide ongoing resources.
• Monitor data from day one to spot issues quickly.
• Always test the system as if you were the customer.

Wrapping It All Up

Launching Zendesk can be exciting, but it is also a delicate process. The most common mistakes, rushing in without a plan, overcomplicating workflows, skipping agent training, ignoring data, and neglecting the customer experience, are all avoidable if you take a thoughtful approach.

Think of your Zendesk implementation as planting a garden. You cannot just throw seeds into the ground and hope for the best. You need to prepare the soil, water regularly, and pull out weeds before they take over. Do it right, and you will cultivate a thriving support system that benefits both customers and agents.

So, before you finalize your Zendesk setup, pause and ask yourself: Am I setting my team up for long-term success, or am I rushing toward a quick launch? With the lessons shared here, you will be far better equipped to make Zendesk a powerful ally instead of a daily headache.

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he would impose a 100 percent tariff on all foreign-made films, an unprecedented move that extends his protectionist trade agenda into cultural industries and risks disrupting the global movie business.

The announcement, made in a post on Trump’s Truth Social platform, claimed that America’s moviemaking industry was being stolen by international rivals.

“Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other countries, just like stealing candy from a baby,” he wrote.

The measure, if enforced, would directly threaten Hollywood’s reliance on international co-productions and box office revenue while also striking at foreign film industries that depend on exporting movies to the lucrative US market. Netflix shares dropped 1.5 percent in early trading following the announcement.

It remains unclear what legal authority Trump would use to apply a tariff on films. But trade lawyers point out that films are often categorized as intellectual property or services rather than goods, which complicates the use of tariffs. Studio executives have expressed confusion about how the measure could be enforced in an era where movies are funded, shot, and edited across multiple borders.

The president had first floated the idea in May without offering details, leaving the industry “flummoxed,” especially over how co-productions would be classified. Modern blockbusters often combine American financing with European post-production, Asian special effects, and international talent, raising questions about how the line between foreign and domestic films would be drawn.

Shockwaves Beyond Hollywood

While the policy has alarmed Hollywood studios, its ripple effects would extend far beyond the United States. Foreign film industries that have steadily grown their footprint in the US market now face the prospect of losing access or watching ticket prices double under tariffs.

• China, now the world’s second-largest movie market, has long used cultural exports as soft power. Big-budget titles such as The Wandering Earth and Wolf Warrior 2 have found audiences abroad, while Chinese studios increasingly partner with American distributors. A 100 percent tariff would make these imports far more expensive, eroding their competitiveness and possibly pushing Beijing to retaliate against US films seeking entry into Chinese theaters.
• India, home to Bollywood, Tollywood, and a sprawling regional film ecosystem, would also be affected. Indian films like RRR and Pathaan have enjoyed breakthrough success with US audiences in recent years, boosting the global profile of the industry. A tariff would blunt that momentum, especially for mid-budget productions that rely on the diaspora market in North America. For Indian studios, which already operate on thinner margins than Hollywood, doubling the cost of entry into the US market could prove prohibitive.
• Nigeria’s Nollywood, the world’s second-largest film industry by volume, has built an expanding audience base in the United States through streaming platforms and theatrical releases targeting African diaspora communities. Films like The Wedding Party and King of Boys have gained international traction. With a 100 percent tariff, Nigerian films could lose affordability and exposure in US cinemas, slowing Nollywood’s global expansion at a critical moment when it is beginning to gain wider recognition.
• Europe has long been a steady exporter of prestige cinema, with French, British, Italian, and Spanish films regularly securing US theatrical releases, awards recognition, and festival distribution. Co-productions between Europe and Hollywood are also a pillar of the industry, from arthouse dramas to streaming hits. A tariff would complicate financing structures and undermine cultural exchange, potentially reducing the flow of European films into the US while inviting retaliatory measures from Brussels.

Hollywood’s Global Dependence

The irony is that Hollywood itself depends heavily on foreign markets. Overseas audiences account for the majority of box office receipts for many blockbusters, while production is often outsourced abroad for cost and tax benefits. Trade analysts warn that targeting foreign films could spark retaliation from China, India, or Europe, making it harder for American studios to distribute their own films internationally.

Trump has introduced uncertainty into one of America’s most successful export sectors by venturing into cultural industries. Films and related services have traditionally delivered a trade surplus for the US, with Hollywood productions dominating global markets. Tariffs, analysts argue, risk undermining that advantage.