Apertur Photo Collection for Freshdesk

At a glance

Architecture

The app is fully serverless. There is no backend to deploy on your side:

• The sidebar calls the Apertur API directly using secure FDK request templates. Your API key is injected server-side by the Freshworks platform via secure iparams — it never reaches the browser.
• The webhook → ticket attachment flow is handled by Apertur’s native Freshdesk destination. You connect it from the Apertur dashboard using a Freshdesk API key you generate from your Freshdesk profile. The key is stored encrypted on the destination and used server-side; it never touches the browser.

Installation

During the private beta the app is distributed as a Freshworks custom app (uploaded ZIP), not yet via the public Marketplace.

1. Request access: contact us with your Freshdesk ORG domain. We’ll send you the latest packaged app and any setup notes.
2. In Freshdesk, go to Admin → Apps → Get More Apps and click Upload custom app. Upload the ZIP we provided.
3. When prompted, install the app on every workspace where you want photo collection enabled.

Configuration

1. Create an Apertur account at apertur.ca (free tier available) and copy your API key from Project Settings → API Keys. Keys prefixed with aptr_test_ target the sandbox; aptr_live_ keys target production.
2. On the Apertur dashboard, go to Destinations → Add destination → Freshdesk. In Freshdesk, open Profile picture → Profile Settings and copy your API Key (click View API Key if it’s hidden). Paste it into the Apertur destination form along with your Freshdesk ORG domain, then save. Copy the destination’s UUID once created — you’ll need it in the next step.
3. In Freshdesk, open the app settings and fill in:
   • Apertur API Key — paste the key from step 1 (stored as a secure iparam).
   • Apertur Destination ID — required. Paste the destination UUID from step 2.
   • Use test environment — tick to force the sandbox API (otherwise sandbox is auto-detected from the API key prefix).
4. Save the settings. Re-open any ticket; the Apertur sidebar widget should appear in the right pane.

Usage

Open any Freshdesk ticket. The Apertur sidebar appears in the right pane. Use the split-button dropdown to pick a delivery mode, then click Generate to create an upload session bound to this ticket.

Share the QR code or insert the upload link directly into your reply. The customer scans it on a mobile device, uploads photos from the camera or gallery, and each image is delivered back to the ticket automatically.

Webhook delivery

You don’t need to deploy or expose anything. Apertur’s native Freshdesk destination calls the Freshworks API directly using the Freshdesk API key you stored on the destination in Configuration. The selected delivery mode is stamped on the session metadata and read by the destination job.

See Destinations for details on retry behaviour, signed deliveries and rotating the stored Freshdesk API key.

Data & privacy

The plugin is a thin client of the Apertur SaaS API. Only the ticket reference (workspace id + ticket id) and your API key are sent to https://api.apertur.ca when creating a session.

Uploaded photos are stored temporarily on Apertur, delivered to your Freshdesk instance via the Freshdesk API key stored on the destination, and then deleted. You retain full ownership of the data and can purge it from your Apertur dashboard at any time. No analytics or telemetry are sent from this app.

Troubleshooting

The Apertur widget doesn’t appear in the sidebar.

Make sure the app is installed on the workspace and that the current agent has been granted access. Hard-refresh the ticket page (Ctrl+Shift+R) to flush the FDK iframe cache.

“Destination not found” error when generating a session.

The Destination ID in the app settings doesn’t match any destination on your Apertur project. Open Settings, paste a valid UUID from Destinations on the Apertur dashboard, and save.

“Destination type mismatch” error.

The Destination ID points at a destination of the wrong type (e.g. a zendesk destination used in a Freshdesk plugin). Create a destination of type freshdesk on the dashboard and paste its UUID instead.

Photos upload successfully but don’t appear on the ticket.

The Freshdesk API key stored on the destination may have been revoked or the owning Freshdesk user may have lost permissions. Open the destination on the Apertur dashboard, paste a fresh API key from Freshdesk (Profile picture → Profile Settings → View API Key), save, and redeliver the failed sessions from the destination’s history.

Sandbox/Test environment banner doesn’t match what I expect.

The plugin auto-detects sandbox from the API key prefix (aptr_test_). To force sandbox with a live key, tick Use test environment in app settings.

FAQ

Is this the same plugin as the Freshdesk one?

Yes — Freshdesk and Freshservice share the same Freshworks app (it auto-adapts to the host product). The only configuration difference is on the Apertur side: a freshdesk destination authenticates with a Freshdesk API key, while a freshservice destination uses OAuth. Pick the destination type that matches your host.

When will the plugin land on the Freshworks Marketplace?

We’re working through the Freshworks listing review. In the meantime, the plugin is installable as a custom app — contact us for the latest build. We’ll announce the public listing in the changelog when it’s live.

Does the plugin work on Freshworks Neo / next-gen accounts?

Yes — the plugin uses FDK 2.0 which is supported on all current Freshdesk editions. If your account is on a legacy framework version, contact us so we can confirm compatibility.

Are uploaded photos stored permanently on Apertur?

No. Photos are stored temporarily on Apertur, delivered to your Freshdesk ticket via the native destination, and then deleted. You can also purge a session manually from the Apertur dashboard.

Can I run the plugin against the Apertur sandbox first?

Yes. Use an API key prefixed with aptr_test_ (or tick Use test environment), point the destination at your Freshdesk sandbox account, and uploaded images will be watermarked for the duration of the trial.

Support

Bug reports, feature requests, and early-access enrollment: contact us.