Launched:self-serve migrations intoSuperhuman Docs (Coda)
Try it now
01Agent-first
Runs where you already work
Plug it into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor. Describe the move in plain English; the agent runs it.
02Engineer-led
Our production engine, unlocked
The pipeline our engineers use on managed enterprise migrations — the same code, now something you can drive yourself.
03Pricing
Try 10 pages free, then $1 a page
Credit-based, pay-as-you-go. No scoping call, no quote — sample it on your own docs before you spend anything.
04Sources
NotionSlabConfluenceSoonGoogle DocsSoon

Migrate to Kayako Seamlessly

A seamless, customizable migration solution for moving your data to Kayako with perfect fidelity and minimal disruption.

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CUSTOM MIGRATION

Supported Platforms for Kayako Migration

We support migrations from all major platforms to Kayako, ensuring a smooth transition with no data loss.

Ada

Seamless Ada to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Desk365

Seamless Desk365 to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Deskpro

Seamless Deskpro to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Dixa

Seamless Dixa to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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eDesk

Seamless eDesk to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Enchant

Seamless Enchant to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Freshchat

Seamless Freshchat to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Freshdesk

Seamless Freshdesk to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Freshservice

Seamless Freshservice to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Front

Seamless Front to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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FuseDesk

Seamless FuseDesk to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Gladly

Seamless Gladly to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Groove

Seamless Groove to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Happyfox

Seamless Happyfox to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Help Scout

Seamless Help Scout to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Helpshift

Seamless Helpshift to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Intercom

Seamless Intercom to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Jira Service Management

Seamless Jira Service Management to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Kustomer

Seamless Kustomer to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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LiveAgent

Seamless LiveAgent to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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LiveChat

Seamless LiveChat to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Missive

Seamless Missive to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Plain

Seamless Plain to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Podium

Seamless Podium to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Puzzel Case Management

Seamless Puzzel Case Management to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Re:amaze

Seamless Re:amaze to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Richpanel

Seamless Richpanel to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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SolarWinds Service Desk

Seamless SolarWinds Service Desk to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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SurveySparrow Ticket Management

Seamless SurveySparrow Ticket Management to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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tawk.to

Seamless tawk.to to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Thena

Seamless Thena to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Tidio

Seamless Tidio to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Trengo

Seamless Trengo to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Unthread

Seamless Unthread to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Zammad

Seamless Zammad to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Zendesk

Seamless Zendesk to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Zoho Desk

Seamless Zoho Desk to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Salesforce Service Cloud

Seamless Salesforce Service Cloud to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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HubSpot Service Hub

Seamless HubSpot Service Hub to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Gmail

Seamless Gmail to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Outlook

Seamless Outlook to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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CSV

Seamless CSV to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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JSON

Seamless JSON to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Google Sheets

Seamless Google Sheets to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Microsoft Excel

Seamless Microsoft Excel to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Kayako

Seamless Kayako to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Crisp

Seamless Crisp to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Pylon

Seamless Pylon to Kayako migration — all records moved with accuracy and care.

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Platform not listed?

We add support in less than 48 hours.

Request Custom Migration
ZERO DOWNTIME

Your timeline. Our engineers.

A dedicated engineer runs your migration, planned around your schedule and your data.

No babysitting a wizard. Avoid debugging errors yourself.

Looking for a more detailed migration timeline?

Contact our team

Speed

The migration timeline depends on both our turnaround time and yours.

We can complete a migration in under a day when the accounts are connected and the sample migration is approved promptly.

Background Sync

We also support migrating the newest records first, so you can go live faster while the rest of the data is synced in the background.

Data Volume Impact

Larger data volumes may require longer migration windows.

Continuous Operation

Weekend migrations minimize disruption to your customer service operations.

MIGRATION TIMELINE

Your Kayako migration, step by step

See how long your migration will take from start to finish. Drag the slider to estimate based on your data volume.

How many records are you migrating?

<10K 50K 100K 250K 500K 1M 2M 5M 10M+
Checklist ~3 days
Sample 1 day
Review ~2 days
Full 2 days
Delta 1 day
Your team ClonePartner

Estimated total

~9 business days

1

Migration Checklist

1 day · ClonePartner ~2 days · Your team

We prepare the optimal data mapping as a shareable spreadsheet. Your team reviews, approves, and adds any customizations.

2

Sample Migration

1 day · ClonePartner

We run a test migration with a representative sample of your data to verify mapping accuracy and identify any potential issues before the full run.

3

Review & Approve

~2 days · Your team

Your team reviews the sample migration results, confirms data accuracy and mapping, and gives the go-ahead for the full migration.

4

Full Migration

2 days · ClonePartner

We execute the complete migration of all your data to your new Helpdesk, with real-time progress tracking and comprehensive logging.

5

Delta Migration

1 day · ClonePartner

We capture and transfer any new data that was added or updated during the main migration to ensure no data is lost. This final sync keeps everything current.

Switching your Helpdesk feels daunting. We get it.

Migrating your Helpdesk isn't just about moving data — it's about protecting your customer relationships.

01  /  Common concerns

Most teams delay the move because they fear…

Losing Customer history
With ClonePartner Preserved Every ticket, note & attachment migrated with 100% fidelity.
Breaking Workflows
With ClonePartner Intact Triggers, tags & automations re-created exactly.
Painful Downtime
With ClonePartner Eliminated Zero agent downtime during cut-over.
Breaking Integrations
With ClonePartner Maintained Every app & integration reconnected seamlessly.
Surprise Costs & Gaps
With ClonePartner Foreseen We audit your data and flag every edge case before migration begins.

And honestly — they're right to worry. Automated tools may promise "1-click migration," but when things go wrong, it's your business that pays the price.

02  /  Cost of waiting

But putting it off comes with an even higher cost.

Agent Productivity Drops
With ClonePartner Sustained Agents stay in flow throughout the migration.
Support Quality Declines
With ClonePartner Protected CSAT stays high — no gap in coverage.
Hidden Costs Stack Up
With ClonePartner Transparent Flat, all-inclusive pricing agreed up front.
Automation Opportunities Vanish
With ClonePartner Unlocked New automations ready on day one.
Data Debt Piles Up
With ClonePartner Resolved Schema cleaned & verified in-flight.

Delaying doesn't just pause progress — it quietly erodes your customer experience and operational efficiency.

That's why ClonePartner exists.

We built our migration service for teams who can't afford to gamble with critical data or delay progress. Every migration is handled by real engineers who design, test, and validate your move — so you can switch systems without losing a single ticket, attachment, or workflow.

What does an Engineer-led migration mean anyway?

Speed & Accuracy: Our Blended Method

We blend automation (smart scripts, bulk APIs) with human expertise for speed without risk. Our engineers manually check every mapping, validation, and exception.

You get:

  1. Speed of automation for bulk record migration
  2. Precision of engineers verifying integrity and business logic
  3. Pilot migrations and sandbox testing to catch issues early
  4. Real-time validation reports and rollback readiness
Result: 50x faster migrations than manual imports — with near-zero error rates.

Handling the Tricky Tech and API Details

Every helpdesk API is different, which is where our engineers shine. We build custom logic to handle the data quirks where generic tools typically break.

We handcraft API logic for:

  1. Field mapping and transformation
  2. Pagination, rate-limit handling, and throttling
  3. Preserving conversation threads, attachments, and internal notes
  4. Syncing custom fields, SLAs, and macros without breaking structure
Our scripts: Natively retry failed calls, re-queue large attachments, and ensure data parity.

No Guesswork

We don't just promise smooth migrations—we measure and prove them. Every client receives a Migration Validation Report with all metrics.

Typical results across projects:

  1. 100% record-count parity between old and new helpdesk
  2. Zero downtime during staged cutovers
  3. 99.9% attachment integrity (verified via checksum)
  4. Full automation and preservation of all business rules
Our standard: Includes full SLA preservation and 30 days of engineer-assigned support post go-live.

We Adapt to Your Setup (Not the Other Way Around)

No two helpdesks are the same, with unique automations and data. We customize every migration script to fit your exact workflow, tags, and triggers.

Our engineers adapt for:

  1. Custom fields, ticket forms, and workflows
  2. Multi-brand or multi-language setups
  3. Historical imports and partial (date-based) migrations
  4. Integration re-mapping for CRMs, chat, or feedback tools
The promise: If your data doesn't fit a standard template, we build one just for you.

Pros and cons of different migration options

Choosing the right approach is key because migrating your helpdesk isn't just about moving data – it's about protecting customer relationships.

Feature / Criteria ClonePartner Automated Tools CSV Import In-house migration
Custom Scripting for complex data ✓ Engineers build & maintain ✗ No ⚠ Manual ✓ Yes – but costly
Sandbox & Pilot Migrations ✓ Full sandbox + pilot plans ⚠ Limited ✗ No ⚠ Often Informal
Manual validation & reconciliation ✓ Automated + manual QA ✗ No ✓ Yes (Manual) ✓ Heavy manual effort
Backup & rollback plan ✓ Robust procedures ✗ No ✗ No ⚠ Often incomplete
Handles automation and integrations ✓ Full support ⚠ Partial ✗ No ⚠ Possible but fragmented
Post-migration engineer support ✓ Dedicated engineers ✗ No ✗ No ⚠ Limited SLA
Adaptable to API changes ✓ Proactive adaptation ✗ No ⚠ Manual fixes ⚠ Slower response
Turnaround / SLA predictability ✓ Predictable SLAs ⚠ Fast but brittle ⚠ Slow and manual ⚠ Often slower
Data Security & Compliance ✓ High – enterprise grade ⚠ Medium (depends) ⚠ Low (manual) ⚠ Hidden gaps common
Pricing predictability ✓ Transparent & fixed ⚠ Low (per-job) ⚠ Low (manual hours) ⚠ High/variable OPEX
End-to-end project management ✓ Full E2E delivery & PM ✗ No ✗ No ⚠ Often partial
Business impact & opportunity cost ✓ No diversion of staff ✗ No ✗ No ⚠ Diverts engineering

Enterprise-Grade Security & Compliance

Your customer data is precious. Our migration process maintains the highest standards of security and regulatory compliance.

SOC 2 Type II

Independently audited compliance with rigorous security standards

ISO 27001

Certified information security management system

GDPR

Full compliance with EU data protection regulations

HIPAA

Certified for handling protected health information

AES-256 Encryption

Bank-grade encryption for all stored credentials

Latest TLS

Secure transfer protocol for all data in transit

Role-Based Access

We follow role-based access control for every migration project

Scheduled Deletion

Automatic data purging after migration completion

Comparing migration approaches? See our Help Desk Migration alternative guide for a side-by-side breakdown of automated tools vs engineer-led services.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about migrating to Kayako. Can't find what you're looking for? Talk to our team.

Still have questions?

Book a free 30-minute consultation with our team.

Contact our team

Before you start

7 questions
Can we see a sample of our data migrated to Kayako before the full migration runs?
Yes. We run a sample migration on your own data first, so you can review how your records look in Kayako before the full migration goes ahead. We run validation scripts to confirm the record counts match your source, and you check the sample against your source records; if a field is missing or mapped wrong, or anything else needs adjusting, we fix it in the migration scripts and re-run the sample as many times as you need. The full migration only runs after you've approved the sample. On projects delivered in phases, each phase gets its own sample migration for you to approve.
Can you migrate data from a custom-built or in-house system into Kayako?
Yes. If your system has an API, we read from it directly. If it doesn't, we work from a database export or flat files that your system can produce. In both cases we confirm the field mapping on a sample migration before the full run.
Do you also set up and configure Kayako, or just move the data?
ClonePartner does the engineering side of the migration: extracting your data from your current system, mapping it to the structure of Kayako and loading it with its relationships intact. Beyond what we agree as part of the migration, your team or your implementation partner configures Kayako and your business processes, and we migrate into the setup they build.
What are the steps to migrate to Kayako, from planning to go-live?
We start by agreeing on a migration checklist with you, covering how each field maps to Kayako. We then run a sample migration of a few hundred records, along with a separate verification report that compares the source and destination records, for you to review. Once you approve the sample, we run the full migration and finish with a delta sync just before cutover, so anything created or changed in the meantime comes across too.
Will you delete the sample tickets in Kayako before the full migration runs?
Yes, if you want them removed. Before the full run, we delete the tickets the sample migration created in Kayako, so the full migration does not duplicate them.
Should we set up Kayako before the migration, or migrate first and clean up afterwards?
Set up Kayako first. It works best to configure it the way you want to work from now on, then we write the migration scripts to translate your old data to match that setup. That is cleaner than migrating everything as it is and reshaping it inside Kayako afterwards.
Do we need to connect our support email to Kayako before the migration starts?
No. Your support email doesn't need to be connected for the historical tickets to migrate. It matters for go-live, and so does its timing: once Kayako is receiving email directly, a sync run after that point can pull in the same tickets a second time, so we line the final delta sync up with your email switchover. Some items, such as rules that depend on your email channel, may need it connected before they can be migrated.

Data & mapping

55 questions
Will the original assignees, message authors and created dates be preserved when we migrate to Kayako?
Yes. Created-time metadata is carried across, and so are assignees and message authors who have a user account in Kayako. Where Kayako cannot store one of them natively, it is kept as embedded metadata on the migrated record.
If Kayako can't natively support an old record type, what are my options?
We handle it case by case. While mapping your data, we identify every record type without a direct counterpart in Kayako, review sample records from it and propose how it can be represented, based on what Kayako supports: map it to the closest native object, create a custom field or object, fold it into the parent record as text or a note, attach it as a file, or keep it in a read-only archive. You choose the approach, we write the migration scripts to place the data there, so it comes across in the form you choose instead of being left behind, and you see how it looks in a sample migration before we run the full set.
What happens to tickets assigned to agents who have left the team or don't have an account in Kayako?
They still come across. Before the migration runs, you decide where they go: to a fallback owner you choose, or left unassigned where Kayako allows it. Either way, each ticket can get a tag with the original agent's name, for example Assigned_to_Jane, so your team can still see and filter who handled it and reassign them later.
Will all our ticket tags carry over to Kayako, and can migrated tickets be marked so we can tell them apart?
The tags on the tickets being migrated carry over. Tags come across as part of each migrated ticket, so a tag that isn't on any migrated ticket isn't created in Kayako, and you can also limit the migration to a list of tags you choose in the migration checklist. Each migration is a custom script, so we can stamp every imported ticket with a tag such as "migrated", or, where Kayako has custom ticket fields, a field value you choose, so they are easy to filter, and if you ask for a change after reviewing migrated tickets, we re-sync those tickets with the update. The sample migration shows exactly how your tags appear before the full run.
Will migrating to Kayako send emails or notifications to customers, our team or anyone else?
No. Before the sample or full migration starts, we confirm with you that nothing in Kayako will send messages about the migrated data: we import with notifications switched off wherever Kayako allows it, and pause any automation that could send them or give it a condition that skips migrated records. We only proceed once you have confirmed it. If you want anyone told about the move, that message is sent separately, once the migrated data has been checked.
Will you migrate our knowledge base articles to Kayako as well as our tickets?
Yes. Knowledge base articles can be part of the same migration as your tickets, and move into your Kayako knowledge base.
Can we migrate only the contacts who have tickets to Kayako, not our whole contact list?
Yes. We pull your tickets first, collect the distinct requesters from them, and migrate only those contact records. Contacts with no ticket history are not added to Kayako.
Can you migrate data that Kayako can't take in through an API?
In many cases, yes. Where something can't be written through an API, we recreate it through the application itself where the interface allows it, and where that work is repetitive we script and automate it. We tell you up front which items are handled this way, because recreating them through the interface can add time to the schedule.
How do you check that our tickets in Kayako match the originals?
We run verification checks that compare each migrated ticket in Kayako with its original in your current help desk. They cover message content, HTML rendering, inline images and attachment checksums.
Will our full ticket conversations come across to Kayako, or only notes on each ticket?
We migrate the full conversation on each ticket, not a summary saved as notes. Where your current help desk's API doesn't expose part of the history, our engineers retrieve it from your current help desk directly and work out a route to load it into Kayako. You check the result in a sample migration before the full run begins.
What happens if Kayako requires fields our current data doesn't have?
We check Kayako for required fields your current data cannot fill and bring each one to you before those records are migrated. Together we agree how each one is handled, such as a mapping from an existing field, a default value, or, where Kayako lets that field be made optional, setting it to not required for the migration so you can make it required again once the migration is complete. The migration then runs with that rule applied, so no records are rejected or left behind.
Do internal notes and system-generated notes migrate to Kayako, or only customer-facing replies?
Internal notes can come across, and so can system-generated notes where your current help desk's API makes them available. During scoping you choose which notes to include, so Kayako holds the history your team will actually use.
Will our custom ticket fields map to the right fields in Kayako?
Yes. Before anything runs, we map each of your custom fields to its destination field in Kayako and confirm the mapping with you. You then review a sample migration so you can check that the values land where you expect, and we make any mapping changes before the full migration.
Can you migrate hundreds of thousands of tickets and contacts to Kayako?
Yes. Every migration is a custom script built for your project, so volume is something we plan for, not a limit on what can move. At large volumes, run time is set mainly by how fast your current help desk's and Kayako's APIs accept requests, and we plan the full run around that. Before the full run, we test the mapping and throughput with a sample migration.
Will our macros keep their formatting in Kayako?
The macros you choose to migrate arrive in the format they have in your current help desk, so their content reads as your team wrote it. If you want them restructured or reformatted on the way over, tell us the layout you prefer or share a CSV with it, and we migrate them in that format.
Will links between our records still work after we migrate to Kayako?
Yes. We move your data in two passes. The first pass creates every record in Kayako and stores its new ID. The second pass goes back and points each reference at the new record, so links between records lead to the right place.
Can you combine data from several support tools into one Kayako account?
Yes. Each tool's data is extracted separately and written into the same Kayako account. How records from the different tools fit together is settled in the data mapping before the build. The sample migration includes data from every source, so you can check the combined result before the full run.
Can you fix tickets that are linked to the wrong company as they move to Kayako?
Yes, where Kayako lets a company be set on each ticket. Each migration runs as custom scripts against the source and destination APIs, so we can set the correct company on each ticket as it is written to Kayako. We agree the assignment rules with you first. The corrected links show up in the sample migration, so you can check them before the full run.
Will our ticket formatting, including HTML content, carry over to Kayako?
Yes. The migration script converts ticket content, including HTML, into the format Kayako expects, and our verification checks compare migrated tickets with the originals, including how the HTML renders. The sample migration lets you compare migrated tickets side by side with the originals before the full run, and if anything renders differently, such as HTML appearing as raw text, we adjust the script and re-run the samples until you sign off.
Will the migration create duplicate tags or custom fields in Kayako?
It shouldn't. We map your data onto the tags and custom fields that already exist in Kayako rather than creating duplicates alongside them, and we can write the scripts so they leave your existing custom field setup unchanged. If any duplicate tags do turn up after a run, we merge them.
What data will be migrated to Kayako, and how will each type of record map?
It depends on your current platform and the scope you choose, but it is usually the core records and everything attached to them. Before anything runs, we send you a migration checklist showing where each type of record lands in Kayako, including anything that won't move, and you confirm the scope.
How do you migrate dependent fields into Kayako, where one field's options depend on another?
We migrate the parent field and its dependent field together, so each record keeps a valid pair of values. For that to work, the same parent and child options need to exist in Kayako, with each child option set up under the right parent value; otherwise the dependent value may not be saved. The sample migration shows whether the pairs land correctly, and if they don't, the options are aligned and we re-sync before the full run.
Are attachments migrated to Kayako, and how do you make sure none are missed?
Yes. Attachments are downloaded from your current platform and uploaded to Kayako as real files on the same records, wherever Kayako accepts files on that type of record and within its file size limit, not left as links back to the old system. To make sure none are missed, your Migration Validation Report checks attachment integrity by checksum alongside the record-count comparison, and we can also run an attachment count check against your source and share the results. You can review attachments in the sample migration before the full run.
Do we need to create our custom fields in Kayako before the migration, or do you create them?
Usually we create them as part of the migration. Where Kayako has no API for creating fields, we set them up through its interface, using admin access you grant us. On some platforms we ask your team to create certain fields and tell us which source field maps to each one, and we confirm which applies to Kayako during scoping.
What happens to custom fields that have no matching field in Kayako?
You choose how each one is kept. We can create a matching custom field in Kayako, map it onto the closest existing field, or write its values onto each migrated record as an internal note laid out as readable field-and-value pairs, so the information stays visible without cluttering your new setup. Every field without a match is listed in the migration checklist, and we agree the approach with you before the sample migration.
Can you migrate our data into Kayako if another team already uses it, and merge it with the records already there?
Yes. Before creating anything, we check each incoming record, such as a company or contact, against the records already in Kayako, using a matching rule we agree with you, such as an email address or an ID. Where a match is found, the migrated data is attached to the existing record. Records with no match are either created as new records or set aside on a list for your team to review, whichever you prefer, and if you already keep a mapping between the two systems' names or IDs, we can apply it in the migration scripts. We also map your data into the fields the other team already uses rather than adding duplicate fields alongside them.
Will inline images still display after we migrate to Kayako, or will their links break?
They keep displaying once they are re-hosted, and we plan for that. Where inline images are stored by your current platform, we can download them, upload them to Kayako and point each image link at its new location, so it no longer depends on your old account. Images embedded directly in email bodies can still be served from your old account, so before you shut it down we can identify the affected records and re-import them with their images re-hosted, and our verification checks on the sample migration include inline images.
Can you set the same value on a field for every record you migrate to Kayako, such as labelling every contact's phone as 'Mobile'?
Yes, as long as Kayako lets that field be set through its API. Each migration is a custom script, so we can apply a fixed value to a field on every migrated record. We first test that Kayako accepts the value, confirm with you, and then apply it across the board, including on records that have already been migrated.
What happens if some of our field values are longer than Kayako allows?
We handle it in the migration scripts. Fields where Kayako's limit is shorter than your data are identified while we map your data, the handling for each one is agreed with you before the migration runs, and you can check the result in the sample migration before the full run.
Can you migrate our workflows and automations into Kayako, or only our data?
Both can be in scope. Your records are the core of the migration, and workflows, rules and automations can be added: we recreate them in Kayako using its own conditions and actions, since automations don't copy across platforms as they are. Where Kayako's API can't create them, they are set up through its interface instead, and we agree during scoping exactly which ones we rebuild and which your team or implementation partner will handle.
Do you migrate our users, or do we need to create them in Kayako before the migration?
Usually your team creates them, but we can do it for you. We recommend setting up your users in Kayako before the full migration, so every record can be attributed and assigned to the right person; the sample migration uses a default user, so it doesn't need them. If you'd rather we create the accounts, send us the list of users and their roles and we provision them for you, where Kayako allows it.
Will the migration delete or overwrite any data that's already in Kayako?
No. The migration adds your records alongside what is already in Kayako, and nothing there is deleted without your confirmation. Where an incoming record matches an existing one, we link to the existing record rather than creating a second copy, and corrections to migrated records are made as updates wherever possible rather than by deleting and recreating them.
What happens if Kayako rejects some of our records during the migration?
We log each rejected record, fix the cause and push it again. Common causes, such as a required field your data doesn't fill or a value in a format Kayako doesn't accept, are agreed with you and handled in the migration scripts, and the scripts can be re-run safely without creating duplicates. When the migration finishes, you get a list of every migrated record and of anything left out, with the reason.
Will the data we migrate count toward Kayako's plan limits or storage charges?
It depends on your Kayako plan. Migrated records arrive as regular records in Kayako, so whether they count toward its record or storage limits is set by Kayako's pricing, and its own team or your implementation partner can confirm how your plan treats them. If limits are a concern, you can reduce what moves, for example by migrating only the last one or two years of history.
Are deleted tickets included when we migrate to Kayako?
Only if you want them. You decide during scoping whether deleted and spam tickets are included, and we apply that choice to every run, including the final delta sync. Some platforms keep deleted tickets as scrubbed records with no remaining content; we flag any we find and migrate them only if you ask.
Do you migrate live chat, SMS and messaging conversations, such as WhatsApp, into Kayako, and do they keep their original channel?
Yes. Chat conversations and messages from channels such as WhatsApp or Instagram are migrated as tickets alongside your email history, where your current platform makes them available through its API or an export. Kayako may not let imported tickets keep every original channel: some platforms take most imported tickets in through a general API channel instead. So we keep the original channel wherever Kayako allows it, and can tag each ticket with its original one, such as chat, SMS or WhatsApp, so your team can still find and filter them. If an export leaves out the message content for some channels, we tell you and agree another way to retrieve it.
If our exported tickets have no status, what status will they get in Kayako?
We set them to closed by default, unless you choose another status. Without a status to map from, migrated tickets are treated as history and kept out of your team's live queues. If you want some of them open, tell us which ones and we set those as open, and if you change your mind after the migration, we can update their statuses in bulk.
Will our tickets end up with duplicate comments after we migrate to Kayako?
Not normally, and we check for it. Our verification checks compare each migrated ticket with its original, including the message content, and each delta round is checked against what earlier rounds already migrated. If a ticket is found with duplicated comments, we can delete and reimport it, and it keeps its original creation time and conversation timestamps.
Will tickets that have no customer email address still be migrated to Kayako?
Yes, if you want them. Some help desks need an email address or telephone number to create the customer a ticket belongs to, so we flag every ticket whose requester has neither, including where your current platform's privacy settings hide the email from its API, and send you the list. You can then give us the right email for each requester, or have the tickets migrated with placeholder email addresses, and we migrate them that way. Before flagging a ticket, we also look for its contact elsewhere in the ticket's data.
If our spam tickets are migrated to Kayako, will they still be marked as spam?
Yes, they can be. If you choose to include spam tickets, we mark them, for example with a spam tag, alongside a migration tag if you use one, so they stay easy to find and filter in Kayako, and we include some in the sample so you can check them. If you'd rather leave spam behind, we agree a filter during scoping and it isn't imported.
Can you migrate our customer satisfaction (CSAT) survey responses into Kayako?
Yes, where Kayako can store them. Where it accepts satisfaction ratings, we migrate them with their tickets, which can need an extra permission on the new account's connection. Where it has no native place for historical ratings, we bring the scores across another way, such as a custom field or a tag on each ticket, agreed with you during scoping.
Can the activity history on each ticket, such as status changes and assignments, be migrated to Kayako?
Usually not as a native timeline. Event history such as status changes and assignment timestamps stays with your old account and generally isn't something a help desk accepts on import, so it is left out of the migration. Each ticket still arrives with its full conversation, status and assignee, and with its original timestamps where Kayako accepts them, and parts of the history that matter to you can be kept another way, such as a tag with the ticket's original status or an internal note.
Can you migrate tickets that belong to private or restricted categories into Kayako?
Yes, once the migration's connection can reach them. If a category or group is private or restricted in your current help desk or in Kayako, the account we connect with may not be able to read or create tickets in it, so we flag every ticket this affects. You can then lift the restriction or give the connection the access it needs, such as an admin-level account, and we migrate the remaining tickets, or tell us to leave them out.
If we have social media messages, such as Facebook and Instagram comments, will they keep the right author and show where they came from when we migrate to Kayako?
Yes, as far as your current platform records it. Each message is attributed to the author your current platform's API reports, and messages from your team show under the right agent as long as that agent's account exists in Kayako before the tickets are migrated; otherwise they fall back to the default agent. We also carry over the message source in as much detail as the API provides, for example telling comments on Instagram posts apart from comments on Instagram ads.
Can you migrate email threads that never became tickets from our email account, such as Gmail, into Kayako?
Yes. Once your email account, such as Gmail, is connected, we can pull selected email threads directly from it, for example for a date range you choose, and migrate them into Kayako as tickets. We share the list of threads with you to confirm before anything moves. Because they were never tickets, some details can look different from tickets migrated from your help desk.
Will tickets that have no messages or comments still be migrated to Kayako?
Yes, if you want them. Some help desks can't create a ticket without at least one message, so we flag every ticket that has none and send you the list rather than skipping them silently. We first check whether the content is stored elsewhere in your current platform, such as a ticket description we can use as the first message. Otherwise we can migrate the ticket with a placeholder message, or leave it out if you prefer.
Can our macros or saved replies keep their folder structure in Kayako?
Usually, in a form Kayako supports. Each macro's folder is captured in the migration checklist, and you can rename folders there before the run. Where Kayako has no folders for macros, we apply a tag named after each original folder, so your team can filter and find them grouped the way they're used to. Where it does have folders, we can place the migrated macros in a folder you choose.
At what stage of the migration to Kayako are our macros moved over?
Usually during the historical migration, before the final delta sync at go-live, though the timing is agreed with you. Macros can also go into the sample migration so your team can review them before the full run. Any you decide you want after go-live can be migrated then.
What happens to a conversation that mixes email and chat messages if Kayako keeps those channels separate?
We agree the approach with you during scoping. One option is to split the conversation into a ticket for each channel, each carrying the same subject, tags and other details, so the two are easy to find together on the same customer. If you'd rather have a single thread, we confirm during scoping whether Kayako can hold it that way, and you check the result in the sample migration.
Why might some of our macros not migrate to Kayako?
Usually because something a macro depends on isn't in Kayako yet. A macro whose actions reference a team, field or other setting that doesn't exist there can't be created until that item is set up, so we list those macros for you to create the missing items or tell us how to adjust them. Others may have been left out by choice in the migration checklist, not returned by your current platform's API, or blocked by a limit on how many macros your Kayako account can hold. Any you want later can still be migrated.
Will a customer with several email addresses or telephone numbers end up as duplicate contacts in Kayako?
Not if we agree the merges with you first. We identify records that share an email address or telephone number and propose merges in the migration checklist, where you confirm each one and choose which address stays primary. Each merged set becomes one contact holding all of that customer's tickets and, where Kayako allows it, all of their email addresses. We don't merge on a guess, so records you don't confirm stay as they are.
If we use a chatbot, do you migrate it and its conversation flows into Kayako, or only the conversations it handled?
We migrate the conversations it handled, not the chatbot itself. Every chat conversation the bot took part in comes across with your ticket history, while the chatbot's own setup isn't migrated as data and is set up again in Kayako where it offers one. Workflows and automation rules are a separate item, and the ones you have today can be recreated in Kayako as agreed during scoping.
Will our customers be able to see their migrated conversations in Kayako, for example in a customer portal?
It depends on Kayako. Migrated tickets are attached to each customer's contact record like any other ticket, so where Kayako has a portal that shows customers their own tickets, the migrated ones can appear there, while internal notes stay private to your agents. Some portals only show tickets or replies set up in a particular way, so we confirm during scoping how imported tickets show to customers in Kayako and check it in the sample migration.
Can our agents reply to customers from migrated tickets in Kayako?
Yes, where Kayako treats migrated tickets as regular tickets and your support email is connected to it. An agent's reply from a migrated ticket then goes out to the customer, and the customer's next reply continues on that same ticket. Some help desks keep imported tickets read-only, so we confirm this for Kayako and test it on your account before your team relies on it.
Will the information that integrations show in our tickets be migrated to Kayako?
Not if that information lives in the integration rather than in your help desk. This information is often drawn live by the integration, and where your current platform doesn't store that data or return it through its API, it can't be migrated with the tickets. The tickets and their conversations migrate as normal, and your team reconnects each integration to Kayako after cutover.

Timeline & downtime

7 questions
How long does a migration to Kayako take?
Most migrations complete within 1–5 business days, depending on data volume and complexity; very large migrations, such as several hundred thousand records, take longer. We provide a detailed timeline after the initial assessment and can often complete small migrations in under 24 hours.
Will there be downtime when we migrate to Kayako?
No. Our migration process is designed for zero downtime. Your current platform stays fully operational throughout: the bulk migration runs in the background and the cutover is fast, so there is no disruption to your live business operations.
Our team has already started working in Kayako. Can we still migrate our history?
Yes. We take the exact date, time and time zone your team went live as the cutoff, and migrate the history up to that point, so the work already done in Kayako is left as it is. That go-live moment separates the two systems' records, so we confirm it with you before anything runs.
What is a delta sync, and when does it run before we switch to Kayako?
Moving tickets through the platforms' APIs takes time, so we migrate the bulk of your history, mainly closed tickets, well before your switchover date. A delta sync then brings across everything created or updated in your current help desk since the previous pass of the migration. The final delta sync runs at your switchover time, so Kayako is current on the day your team starts using it: you share your switchover date, time and time zone, giving us about a week's notice, and we schedule it around that. Timing it to the cutover matters, because a sync run after your team is already working in Kayako can create duplicate records.
How do you avoid duplicate tickets when we switch our support email or another channel over to Kayako?
We agree one cutoff time with you and line each channel's switchover up with it, so every message is captured in one place. Everything received in your current system up to that moment is migrated, and everything after it arrives directly in Kayako. While a channel, such as email, is connected to both systems, new messages land in both, so Kayako creates its own copy of a conversation that the migration also brings across. Your current system and Kayako can stay live side by side after go-live, as long as each channel, such as a support email address, is connected to only one of them. If your support email moves to Kayako, a delta sync run after it is connected and tickets are arriving there directly can pull in the same tickets a second time, so we time the final sync around your email cutover and flag it if a sync you ask for falls after your switchover point. If a conversation was captured both ways, the two tickets sit on the same customer and, where Kayako supports merging tickets, can be merged. The final list of migrated tickets with their new Kayako IDs lets you check the boundary and spot any ticket that came in around the switch.
Can we change fields or settings while migrating to Kayako, and is there anything we should switch off?
Mostly yes, and your team can keep working as normal, but leave the fields being migrated as they are, in your current platform and Kayako, until the migration, including the final delta, is complete. The field mappings are set before the run starts, so hold off on renaming or removing those fields, and changing a migrated field's options, archiving it, or marking it as required or conditional can stop records from migrating. Where needed, and as agreed with you, we set the matching fields in Kayako to active, not required and not conditional for the duration of the migration, wherever Kayako has those settings. Other fields can be added or removed in the meantime. Also pause any AI agents, automations or rules in Kayako that could act on migrated records, so they don't fire on historical records as they arrive; if some must keep running for live work, we can instead agree a condition that makes them skip migrated records. Once the migration is complete, you can switch them back on, restore those field settings and rename fields freely.
If a customer replies to an old ticket after we switch to Kayako, will the reply join the migrated ticket or start a new one?
It depends on who replies first. If the customer replies to an email sent from your old help desk, many help desks open a new ticket on the same customer rather than adding the reply to the migrated one, for example where replies are threaded by the original email's message ID, which migrated messages don't keep. Where Kayako supports merging tickets, your team can then merge the two. If an agent replies from the migrated ticket first and Kayako allows replies from migrated tickets, the customer's next reply continues on that ticket.

After go-live

11 questions
Do you also reconnect our integrations in Kayako?
No, reconnecting integrations is not part of the migration. Your team connects each tool to Kayako after cutover, and if you want a custom integration rebuilt, we scope and quote it as separate work.
Can we get a list that maps each old ticket ID to its new Kayako ID?
Yes. When the migration finishes, we send you a file listing every migrated ticket's original ID, subject, new ID and original creation date. Your team can use it to check the migration against your own records or to look up any ticket in either system.
Will we get a copy of any data that doesn't fit in Kayako?
Yes. Any records that cannot be placed in Kayako are listed for you, and we hand them over as a data export. That way you keep a complete copy of your data, even after you stop using your old platform.
If we've already cleaned up migrated data in Kayako, will a later sync overwrite our changes?
Not without your go-ahead. Delta syncs check incoming records against what is already in Kayako so they don't overwrite your team's changes, and records your team has worked on since the migration are left out of any reimport. If a re-run is needed, for example after a mapping change, it can update records that were already migrated, so we confirm with you first which records it will touch.
If we use an AI agent in Kayako, can our migrated tickets be used to train it?
It depends on how the AI agent learns. Some AI agents draw on your knowledge base and guidance content rather than on historical tickets, so check with Kayako how its AI uses past conversations before deciding how much history to migrate for that reason. Migrated tickets arrive as regular tickets, and we can tag them, for example so the AI agent doesn't respond to them, or so you can include or exclude them.
If we use an AI agent, will it work straight away after we migrate to Kayako, and can its knowledge and guidance come across?
Partly. Knowledge base articles that the AI agent draws on can be migrated, so it has the same content to work from on day one. Some AI-specific settings, such as guidance written for the AI agent, can't be transferred between accounts and have to be set up again in Kayako, and some AI agents also learn from your team's feedback in a way that stays with the old account, so they refine again in the new one. We confirm during scoping which of your AI agent's content can move, so nothing is assumed. Keep the AI agent paused while historical tickets load and switch it back on once the migration is complete, or, if it must keep running for live work, we can agree a condition that makes it skip migrated tickets.
Why don't our ticket counts or open ticket numbers match between our old help desk and Kayako after the migration?
Usually because the two numbers aren't counting the same tickets. A count in Kayako can include tickets created there directly as well as migrated ones, and rules in Kayako can close migrated tickets automatically. Open tickets also keep changing until the final delta sync, which brings their latest status across. We check the counts against the migrated tickets and the list of every ticket we migrated, and if a gap remains, we investigate specific examples with you.
Will migrated historical tickets skew our help desk reports in Kayako, such as resolution time?
Yes, they can, so it's worth planning for. Some timing data, such as when a ticket was assigned, closed or changed status, stays with your old account because the platform's API doesn't provide it, so reports that measure resolution or closed tickets can count old tickets as resolved on the day they were migrated. How fully each platform's reports and analytics count imported historical tickets also varies, so confirm it with Kayako before you rely on those reports for past periods. If you want, every migrated ticket can carry a migration tag, so you can keep it apart from new work in views and, where your reports can filter by tag, in reports. We also recommend exporting your historical reports from the old platform before you close it.
Will all of our historical tickets stay searchable in Kayako after the migration?
Yes. Historical tickets are migrated as regular tickets with their messages, customers and statuses, so your team can search them in Kayako like any other ticket. If you want, each one can also carry a migration tag, so history can be filtered apart from new work, and the original ticket ID is kept in a field and in the ID-mapping file, so any old ticket number can be looked up.
Can you tag the tickets that changed after the first migration run to Kayako, so our team can review them?
Yes. When a follow-up sync adds new comments to tickets that were already migrated, we can put a tag of your choice on those tickets, for example only the ones that are still open, so your team can filter for them and review them. Because each sync runs as a custom script, we can also leave each ticket's current status, assignee and other details unchanged while the new comments are added. We confirm the rule with you first, such as whether "open" means the status in your current platform or in Kayako.
Can a migrated ticket be reopened later in Kayako if a customer or agent needs it?
It depends on Kayako and on the status the ticket arrives with. You choose the status migrated tickets come in with, such as closed for old history, and if you later want tickets set differently we can update them in bulk. Whether an agent can reopen a ticket that arrived closed, or move it from an archive area back into a live one, depends on how Kayako handles closed tickets, so we check that with you during scoping and can test it on a sample ticket before go-live.

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