Service partner selection using a conference system

1. A method for automatically selecting a service partner, the method comprising:

selecting, by a partner selection system, service partners from a plurality of potential service partners based on a first service ticket and partner information about the service partners;

transferring, by the partner selection system, a calendar invite to the service partners to join a conference session with the partner selection system, wherein the calendar invite describes the first service ticket, wherein the conference session includes a channel for exchanging real-time communications of users operating endpoints connected to the conference session;

after establishing the conference session with a first endpoint of a first service partner of the service partners, receiving, by the partner selection system, first bid information in real-time over the channel from the first endpoint;

selecting, by the partner selection system, the first service partner based on the first bid information; and

transferring, by the partner selection system, a selection notification to the first service partner over the conference session.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the partner selection system, the first service ticket from a service ticketing system.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the partner selection system, a payment value of the first service ticket, wherein the calendar invite includes the payment value.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the payment value is based on one or more of a group comprising a first requestor associated with the first service ticket, an impact of the first service ticket, and a location of the first service ticket.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

reducing, by the partner selection system, the payment value as time passes until the first service ticket is completed.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

reducing, by the partner selection system, the payment value in response to feedback from a first requestor associated with the first service ticket.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the partner selection system, second bid information from a second service partner of the service partners; and

wherein selecting the first service partner includes determining that a combination of the first bid information and a first rating for the first service partner is better than a combination of the second bid information and a second rating for the second service partner.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining, by the partner selection system, the first rating based on feedback regarding previous service tickets that the first service partner has handled.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, by the partner selection system, at least a portion of the feedback from requestors associated with the previous service tickets.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first rating is included in the partner information.

11. An apparatus for a partner selection system to automatically select a service partner, the apparatus comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media;

a processing system operatively coupled with the one or more computer readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media that, when read and executed by the processing system, direct the processing system to:

select service partners from a plurality of potential service partners based on a first service ticket and information about the service partners;

transfer a calendar invite to the service partners to join a conference session with the partner selection system, wherein the calendar invite describes the first service ticket, wherein the conference session includes a channel for exchanging real-time communications of users operating endpoints connected to the conference session;

after the conference session is established with a first endpoint of a first service partner of the service partners, receive first bid information in real-time over the channel from the first endpoint;

select the first service partner based on the first bid information and a first rating for the first service partner; and

inform the first service partner over the conference session.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions further direct the processing system to:

receive the first service ticket from a service ticketing system.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions further direct the processing system to:

determine a payment value of the first service ticket, wherein the calendar invite includes the payment value.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein determination of the payment value is based on one or more of a group comprising a first requestor associated with the first service ticket, an impact of the first service ticket, and a location of the first service ticket.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions further direct the processing system to:

reduce the payment value as time passes until the first service ticket is completed.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions further direct the processing system to:

reduce the payment value in response to feedback from a first requestor associated with the first service ticket.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions further direct the processing system to:

receive second bid information from a second service partner of the service partners; and

wherein to select the first service partner, the program instructions direct the processing system to determine that a combination of the first bid information and a first rating for the first service partner is better than a combination of the second bid information and a second rating for the second service partner.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the program instructions further direct the processing system to:

determine the first rating based on feedback regarding previous service tickets that the first service partner has handled.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions further direct the processing system to:

receive at least a portion of the feedback from requestors associated with the previous service tickets.

20. One or more computer readable storage media having program instructions stored thereon to automatically select a service partner, the program instructions, when read and executed by a processing system of a partner selection system, direct the processing system to:

select service partners from a plurality of potential service partners based on a first service ticket and information about the service partners;

transfer a calendar invite to the service partners to join a conference session with the partner selection system, wherein the calendar invite describes the first service ticket, wherein the conference session includes a channel for exchanging real-time communications of users operating endpoints connected to the conference session;

after the conference session is established with a first endpoint of a first service partner of the service partners, receive first bid information in real-time over the channel from the first endpoint;

select the first service partner based on the first bid information and a first rating for the first service partner; and

inform the first service partner over the conference session.