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Category: Zoho

Let’s Talk About Zoho’s Zia Agents: AI That Actually Helps

Posted on by Consult JC

Let's Talk About Zoho's Zia Agents: AI That Actually Helps

Running a business means juggling a hundred things at once. What if you had a team of AI assistants to take care of the routine stuff while you focus on the bigger picture? That’s what Zoho’s Zia Agents are for. They’re like digital coworkers that never take a break – handling sales, customer service, marketing,  finance, and more.  

So, What’s a Zia Agent?

Think of a Zia Agent as a little AI-powered helper that specializes in certain tasks. Need someone to follow up on leads? Done. Want an agent to respond to customer questions? No problem. These AI assistants handle the repetitive work so you and your team don’t have to. 

Zoho has an Agent Marketplace where you can pick and choose ready-made agents that fit your business. It’s like hiring a new team member, except you don’t have to train them. 

The Agent Marketplace: Pre-Built AI Helpers

Not sure where to start? The Agent Marketplace has Zia Agents ready to go. Whether you need help with sales, customer service, or marketing, you can find an AI assistant that does exactly what you need. 

 

 

Setup is easy – just a few clicks, and your new digital assistant is up and running. No IT headaches, no complicated installations. 

Want Something Custom? 

Maybe your business has specific needs that a pre-built agent can’t handle. That’s where Agent Studio comes in You don’t need to be a coder to create an AI agent – just tell it what tasks to take on, and it’ll get to work. For example, say you want an AI that reminds customers to check out their abandoned carts or an assistant that tracks stock levels and alerts your team when inventory is low. You can set that up in a few steps, no programming required. 

Zia Agents Work Together

These agents aren’t just working in silos – they actually talk to each other. A sales agent can gather customer info and pass it along to a customer support agent, making sure your team always has the right details. Instead of juggling different systems, everything works together. 

Where Can You Use Zia Agents

These AI assistants can handle: 

  • Sales: Following up on leads, tracking deals. 
  • Customer Support: Resolving tickets, answering FAQs.
  • Marketing: Managing campaigns, analyzing responses.
  • Finance: Tracking invoices, keeping records updated. 
  • Analytics: Pulling insights from your data. 
  • Operations: Handling routine tasks so your team doesn’t have to. 

Basically, if there’s a repetitive task slowing you down, there’s probably a Zia Agent for it. 

AI sounds fancy, but Zia Agents make it practical. Whether you grab a ready-made agent from the marketplace or create your own, they help take the load off your team so you can focus on what really matters. 

Why Zoho Books is the Accounting Sidekick Your Business Needs

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Why Zoho Books is the Accounting Sidekick Your Business Needs

 

Let’s be real – accounting isn’t the most exciting part of running a business. But it is one of the most important. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, a growing startup, or a well-established business, keeping track of your finances can get overwhelming fast. That’s where Zoho Books comes in – your ultimate accounting sidekick that makes number-crunching way less painful (and dare I say, even enjoyable?). 

So, what makes Zoho Books stand out in a sea of accounting software? Let’s break it down. 

 

1. Invoicing That Gets You Paid Faster

Nobody likes chasing down payments. With Zoho Books, you can create professional, customized invoices in a snap and even set up automated payment reminders (because let’s be honest, clients do forget). Plus, if you deal with international customers, you can send invoices in multiple languages and currencies. Global business? No problem. 

 
 
2. Track Every Penny Without the Hassle

Keeping up with expenses doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Zoho Books lets you log and categorize expenses, scan receipts, and even set up recurring bills so you can never miss a payment. You can also convert purchase orders into bills with one click. Simple, seamless, stress-free. 

 
3. Bank Reconciliation Made Stupid-Easy

Manually matching transactions with your bank statements? Yeah, no thanks. Zoho Books automatically syncs with your bank account, fetches transactions, and matches them with your records. Less time balancing books = more time growing your business. 

 
4. Inventory Management That Actually Works

If you sell physical products, you need a solid inventory system. Zoho Books helps you track stock levels, set reorder points, and manage SKUs like a pro. It even supports composite items and pricing lists, so you can keep everything organized without breaking a sweat. 

 
5. Say Goodbye to Time Tracking Headaches

For service-based businesses, time tracking is everything. With Zoho Books you can log billable hours, create timesheets, and invoice clients directly based on time spent. No more guessing or messy spreadsheets – just accurate billing every time. 

 
6. Reports That Actually Make Sense

Financial reports shouldn’t feel like reading a foreign language. Zoho Books gives you access to over 70 built-in reports, from profit and loss statements to cash flow analytics. Plus, you can schedule reports to be sent automatically, so you always have the data you need without lifting a finger. 

 
7. Collaboration? Check

No more emailing spreadsheets back and forth with your accountant. Zoho Books lets you invite your team, accountant,  or even clients to collaborate in real-time. Everyone gets the access they need, and stay in control of your financial data. 

 
8. Smart Automation Saves You Tons of Time

Tedious manual tasks? Zoho Books says no thanks. Set up workflow automations to handle things like invoice reminders, recurring transactions, and field updates. It’s like having an invisble assistant working behind the scenes. 

 
9. Works Anywhere, Anytime

Zoho Books is cloud-based, which means you can manage your finances from anywhere – whether you’re at your desk, on a beach, or (let’s be real) in bed. Plus, with the Zoho Books mobile app, you can send invoices, log expenses, and check reports from your phone. 

 
10. Security You Can Trust

Your financial data is sensitive, and Zoho Books takes that seriously. With role-based access controls, audit trails, and encrypted data, you don’t have to worry about security. 

 

Why Zoho Books is the Best Accounting Software for Businesses

At the end of the day, Zoho Books just makes accounting easier. It’s packed with powerful features, yet simple and intuitive to use – no accounting degree required. Whether you’re just starting out or running a growing business, it’s designed to save you time, reduce stress, and help you stay on top of your finances. 

So, if you’re tired of wrestling with spreadsheets and outdated accounting software, it might be time to switch to Zoho Books. Give it a try and see how much smoother (and less painful) managing your finances can be!

Zoho Bigin’s 2024 Highlights: What’s Got Us Excited for 2025!

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Zoho Bigin’s 2024 Highlights: What’s Got Us Excited for 2025!

Zoho Bigin’s 2024

Welcome to 2025! 🎉 As we dive into the new year, it’s impossible not to reflect on the incredible strides Zoho Bigin made in 2024. Last year was packed with features and updates that truly transformed how small businesses manage their customer relationships. At Consult JC, we’re thrilled about these developments—and even more excited about how they’ll help businesses like yours crush their goals in the year ahead.

Let’s take a closer look at why Bigin has been the talk of the town and what makes it a must-have tool for 2025!

Bigin 360: The All-in-One Plan That’s Changing the Game

If you haven’t heard about Bigin 360, let us introduce you to your business’s new best friend. Launched in 2024, this plan brings everything you need to manage your customer operations into one simple, affordable package. For just $18/user/month (billed annually), you get:

• A massive 1,000,000 records—because running out of storage is so last year.

• Pre-installed add-ons like Email-In and File Cabinet, making organization effortless.

• Advanced customization and automation tools that save time and boost efficiency.

Bigin 360 isn’t just a CRM anymore—it’s your go-to solution for marketing, sales, support, and onboarding.

Automation: Smarter, Faster, Better

Last year, Bigin brought its automation game to a whole new level. Here’s how it’s making workflows easier and more efficient:

• Stage Automation: Automatically trigger tasks and actions as deals move through your pipeline. Say goodbye to missed follow-ups!

• Assign Owner Action: Ensure every lead, ticket, or order gets assigned to the right team member at the right time.

• Formula Fields: Let Bigin handle calculations like commissions or payment deadlines so you can focus on what really matters.

These features are all about giving small businesses more time to focus on growth—not grunt work.

Simplified Payments Integration

Collecting payments used to feel like pulling teeth, but not anymore! In 2024, Bigin added integrations with popular payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Paytm, and Razorpay. Now you can:

• Generate and share payment links with a click.

• Track payment statuses and key metrics in one place.

It’s smooth, professional, and designed to make cash flow management a breeze.

Communication Upgrades for Better Connections

Bigin made customer communication even easier with these exciting updates:

• WhatsApp Templates: Keep conversations personal with customizable messages for welcome notes, payment reminders, order updates, and more.

• Email Preferences: Save time with pre-set default fonts, addresses, and settings—because every second counts.

• Bigin eWidget for Zoho Mail: Update contact and lead details without leaving your inbox. Multitaskers, rejoice!

• Enhanced Call Tracking: Track call outcomes, attach external recordings, and log every detail in one streamlined interface.

No matter how you connect—email, chat, or calls—Bigin ensures your interactions are efficient and impactful.

Lead Conversion: From Prospect to Customer, Faster

Bigin’s 2024 updates made lead management and conversion more effective than ever. Here’s what stood out:

• LeadChain Integration: Capture leads from Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and even TikTok. (Yes, TikTok—because your audience is everywhere!)

• Zoho Marketing Automation: Push leads into Bigin and nurture them effortlessly.

• Zoho SalesIQ: Chat with website visitors in real time, adding a personal touch that boosts conversions.

These features are all about turning opportunities into results with less effort.

Data Management That Works for You

Managing data has never been this easy—or this flexible. In 2024, Bigin introduced:

• Customizable Forms: Brand your forms with logos, images, and custom URLs while managing duplicates effortlessly.

• Enhanced List View: Tailor your data view by resizing, reordering, and filtering columns. Bulk updates and custom fields? Done in seconds.

With tools like these, staying on top of your data feels less like a chore and more like a breeze.

As Consult JC, we got to see firsthand how Bigin transforms businesses—and 2024 was no exception. The updates weren’t just about adding more features; they were about solving real challenges for businesses. Whether it’s automating tedious tasks, simplifying payment collection, or helping teams convert more leads, every enhancement is a step toward making Bigin the ultimate small business CRM.

What’s Next for 2025?

If 2024 is anything to go by, this year is going to be incredible for Zoho Bigin. We can’t wait to see what new features and improvements are on the horizon. But for now, the 2024 updates already offer businesses everything they need to hit the ground running this year.

If you’re ready to see how Bigin can take your business to the next level, let’s chat! Whether you’re a long-time user or just getting started, we’d love to help you unlock the full potential of these features.

Here’s to a successful, efficient, and exciting 2025—powered by Zoho Bigin! 🚀

Zoho Analytics: Revolutionizing Business Intelligence with AI-Powered Enhancements

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Zoho Analytics: Revolutionizing Business Intelligence with AI-Powered Enhancements

In a significant leap forward for business intelligence and workplace management, Zoho has unveiled an enhanced version of its Zoho Analytics platform, boasting over 100 new features. The latest version integrates cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities, providing users with diagnostic insights, predictive analysis, and seamless report automation.

This update promises to elevate the entire analytics experience, making Zoho Analytics more powerful, flexible, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Whether you are an analyst, business owner, or data enthusiast, this platform is now better equipped to serve your needs, outperforming many competitors in the self-service BI market.

Key Features of Zoho Analytics’ AI-Driven Update

Zoho Analytics has introduced over 100 upgrades designed to transform how businesses approach data. The key enhancements include:

  • Diagnostic and Predictive Insights: Advanced AI tools enable users to generate insightful reports and dashboards automatically.
  • Ask Zia: Zoho’s AI assistant now supports natural language processing in multiple languages, including Spanish and French, simplifying complex data queries.
  • Auto Analysis: Automated metric generation takes the guesswork out of analytics by creating reports and dashboards based on real-time data.
  • Open AI Integration: Powered by Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Zoho Analytics now integrates with Open AI, offering improved accuracy and speed in answering complex queries.

With these capabilities, Zoho Analytics positions itself as a formidable player in the business intelligence space, delivering actionable insights at an unparalleled speed and precision.

AI and ML Capabilities: A Deep Dive

Zoho Analytics’ new AI-driven model goes beyond basic analytics, offering advanced machine learning tools for users who want deeper insights. Here’s what’s new:

  • DSML Studio: Zoho’s new Data Science and Machine Learning (DSML) studio is a powerhouse for custom machine learning model building. With AutoML for no-code models and Python Code Studio for more advanced coding, users can now create highly customized models.
  • Predictive Analytics: Leveraging machine learning algorithms, businesses can now predict outcomes like customer churn, sales forecasts, and demand spikes with increased accuracy.
  • Zia Insights: Zoho’s AI assistant Zia now delivers diagnostic analytics, helping users understand the “why” behind data trends.

These AI and ML features are aimed at simplifying the complexity of analytics, making it accessible for both technical and non-technical users.

Data Management Advancements

Zoho has made major improvements in data management, one of the core pillars of its platform. With 25 new connectors added, the platform now supports over 500 integrations, allowing businesses to centralize data from multiple sources. Highlights include:

  • Stream Analytics: Zoho introduces streaming data management, enabling real-time analytics for time-sensitive business decisions.
  • ETL Data Pipelines: With visual tools and a Python Code Studio, users can now build and manage complex data pipelines more efficiently.
  • Version Control and Sandbox Environment: These features ensure secure testing and auditing of data workflows without risking live environments.

These updates are designed to make data more manageable and actionable, regardless of the source or complexity.

Enhanced Extensibility for Seamless Integrations

Zoho Analytics now provides businesses with a range of tools to extend and integrate their data across platforms, making it one of the most versatile BI tools in the market. New features include:

  • BI Fabric: This allows businesses to consolidate insights from third-party BI platforms, ensuring a more holistic view of business performance.
  • Zoho Flow Integration: A seamless connection to Zoho Flow ensures workflows can trigger actionable insights without additional coding.
  • No-Code Data Connectors: Businesses can now create custom integrations without writing a single line of code, making data synchronization and management easier than ever.

These extensibility features make it possible for businesses to integrate and analyze data from multiple tools and platforms, simplifying the process of achieving a unified data strategy.

The Future of Business Intelligence with Zoho Analytics

Zoho Analytics is setting new standards in the business intelligence landscape with its AI-enhanced platform. By combining AI, machine learning, and robust data management tools, it empowers users to make data-driven decisions faster and with more precision.

The addition of Ask Zia, Zia Insights, and AutoML, along with improved integration capabilities, makes Zoho Analytics a must-have tool for businesses that aim to stay competitive in an increasingly data-driven world.

With these enhancements, Zoho Analytics is not just a tool for generating reports—it’s a comprehensive solution for understanding, predicting, and shaping the future of your business through data.

Revolutionize Your Business: The Power of Integrating Shopify with Zoho CRM

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Revolutionize Your Business: The Power of Integrating Shopify with Zoho CRM

Running an eCommerce business on Shopify while managing customer relationships on Zoho CRM can create a powerful system for scaling your business. However, without integration, manually entering customer data between these two platforms can be time-consuming and error-prone. That’s where integrating Shopify with Zoho CRM becomes a game-changer.

Let’s explore how connecting these two platforms can streamline your operations, improve customer service, and boost your sales.

The Benefits of Shopify and Zoho CRM Integration

If you’re managing your customer interactions on Zoho CRM and running your store on Shopify, you probably know the pain of manual data entry. 

Manually transferring customer information, order details, and product data from Shopify to Zoho CRM can be not only tedious but also prone to errors. Fortunately, integrating Shopify with Zoho CRM eliminates this issue entirely.
Here’s why the integration is a must-have for your business:

1. Eliminate Time-Consuming Manual Data Entry

Manually inputting customer data and orders into Zoho CRM from Shopify is a labor-intensive process that can easily lead to errors. With the Shopify to Zoho CRM extension, all customer information, orders, and product data are automatically synchronized. This seamless sync keeps both platforms up-to-date with accurate data, eliminating the risk of mistakes that can come from manual entries. Plus, you can sync data from multiple Shopify stores into Zoho CRM, providing a consolidated view of your operations.

2. Access Critical Order Information in Zoho CRM

By integrating Shopify with Zoho CRM, your sales team will have access to real-time customer order information directly from Zoho CRM. This means that details like the products ordered, shipping status, and payment details are all available in one place. No more switching between platforms or hunting down information—your team will be equipped to close deals faster and offer more personalized service.

3. Streamlined Customer Support

Customer service teams can benefit tremendously from this integration as well. When customers inquire about their orders, support reps can quickly access all relevant details—whether it’s the shipping status, the products purchased, or any payment issues—right from Zoho CRM. This immediate access to data empowers your team to provide faster, more informed responses, improving the overall customer experience.

4. Consistency Across Platforms

With customer and order information synced in real-time, you can be confident that data consistency is maintained between Shopify and Zoho CRM. There’s no risk of outdated information being used by your sales or support teams, and you’ll always have an accurate picture of customer behavior and order history.

5. Improved Sales and Marketing Efficiency

Having all customer and order data centralized in Zoho CRM allows your sales and marketing teams to create more personalized campaigns. Use order history to segment customers and deliver targeted email campaigns based on their purchasing habits. Plus, the integration supports better follow-up processes—automating tasks like sending emails after a purchase or offering promotions to customers who haven’t shopped in a while.

Why This Integration Matters

By integrating Shopify with Zoho CRM, your business benefits from enhanced efficiency, improved customer service, and greater sales opportunities. Here’s a quick recap of what makes this integration so valuable:

  • Automation: Eliminate the manual process of entering customer and order data between Shopify and Zoho CRM.
  • Streamlined Operations: Sales teams can view customer orders and payment statuses in real-time, enabling them to respond faster and more effectively.
  • Better Customer Support: Support teams can instantly pull up order details to answer customer inquiries quickly and accurately.
  • Consistency: Ensure data across both platforms is always consistent and up-to-date.
  • Sales and Marketing Synergy: Use centralized data to power personalized marketing campaigns and drive more sales.

Integrating Shopify with Zoho CRM isn’t just about syncing data—it’s about giving your business the tools to operate more efficiently and provide a better customer experience. Whether you’re looking to reduce errors from manual data entry, improve sales team performance, or enhance your customer service, this integration is a smart move that will save time and boost overall productivity.

If you’re ready to streamline your business operations and improve your customer interactions, now is the time to explore how Shopify and Zoho CRM integration can make a difference.

6 Powerful New Features in Zoho Desk to Boost Your Customer Support Experience

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6 Powerful New Features in Zoho Desk to Boost Your Customer Support Experience

Zoho Desk continues to innovate, bringing powerful new tools and features that enhance the way businesses manage customer support. Whether you’re looking to streamline communication, enhance automation, or provide more personalized support, these new updates will help you achieve just that. In this blog post, we’ll explore six exciting new features in Zoho Desk that promise to transform your customer support operations.

1. JWT-based User Authentication

One of the standout features in the latest Zoho Desk update is the introduction of JWT-based user authentication. This enhancement allows your customers to have greater flexibility in their interactions. They can seamlessly comment on knowledge bases, participate in community forums, chat with support agents, and more—all with a single sign-on. This feature not only improves user experience but also increases security by leveraging JSON Web Tokens for authentication.

2. Enhanced ASAP Help Widget

The ASAP help widget has received a significant glow-up. Now, with a single setup for both web and mobile platforms, you can customize your help widget according to departmental needs. Whether it’s associating self-service channels like knowledge bases or community forums, or 

ensuring instant human assistance via Business Messaging, this update allows for a cohesive and branded user experience across all touchpoints.

3. Zia AI Capabilities for Bots

Training your bots just got easier with the enhanced Zia AI capabilities. Supporting up to 13 languages, Zia Answer Bot delivers instant, precise answers by tapping into specific parts of the knowledge base articles. This multi-language support ensures that your global customer base receives the assistance they need, when they need it, in their preferred language.

4. Messaging App Integrations

Zoho Desk now offers advanced integrations between messaging apps and other business applications. With these integrations, you can automate event-driven tasks between your messaging apps and existing business workflows. For example, you can set up workflows where package delivery updates are sent via WhatsApp, or payment reminders are automatically dispatched by insurance providers. These integrations save time and ensure seamless communication between your apps.

5. Blueprint for Smoother Messaging

The new Blueprint feature is designed to make your messaging interactions smoother and more efficient. With this update, Zoho Desk transforms chaotic support processes into step-by-step workflows. You can now reply to tickets from instant messaging channels during Blueprint transitions, providing customers with an uninterrupted chat experience, exactly as they expect.

6. Advanced API and Webhooks

The update also includes enhancements to the Zoho Desk API and webhooks. These tools allow for more flexible and automated interactions between Zoho Desk and other platforms. Whether you’re looking to synchronize data across systems or trigger specific actions in real-time, these improvements provide the foundation for a more integrated and responsive support environment.

These new features in Zoho Desk are designed to provide your team with the tools they need to deliver exceptional customer support. By leveraging these updates, you can streamline your operations, enhance security, and offer a more personalized experience to your customers. Stay ahead of the curve by adopting these powerful new tools today.

The Ultimate Guide to Zoho Books Key Features for Businesses

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The Ultimate Guide to Zoho Books Key Features for Businesses

As a business owner, managing finances can be daunting. However, with Zoho Books, the process becomes streamlined and efficient. Zoho Books is a comprehensive accounting software designed to meet the needs of small to medium-sized businesses. This guide explores its key features, including payroll and invoicing, inventory management, automation, reporting and analytics, time tracking, and the customer and vendor portal.

Payroll and Invoicing

Zoho Books offers essential invoicing features, such as customer name, invoice number, and order number, along with advanced options like terms & conditions and payment gateway configurations. You can customize invoices to suit your business needs, including specifying shipping charges for physical goods. The standout feature here is ‘Custom Buttons’, created via the in-built script creator, which automates specific actions like sending invoices to customers’ emails automatically once created.

Inventory Management

Zoho Books’ Inventory Management feature provides detailed tracking of products and assets across several categories, such as price, opening stock, and stock on hand. This helps in determining the quantity of each product, restocking schedules, and associated costs through custom price lists. You can also adjust product information, including quantity and price, and assign reference numbers with reasons for adjustments, thus offering a detailed and automated tracking process.

Automation

Automation in Zoho Books allows you to create predefined rules for actions like email alerts, webhooks, and custom functions. For instance, you can set a webhook to trigger when an expense is recorded under ‘Advertising and Marketing’, ensuring you are always updated on company expenses. Although creating custom functions may be complex, Zoho Books’ community section provides shared custom functions with step-by-step setup instructions, making it easier for users.

Reporting and Analytics

Zoho Books offers over 70 general reports, including inventory summary, payments received, and refund history. With the Ultimate plan, you can create unlimited custom reports by editing general reports or building new ones from scratch. For example, you can modify an ‘Inventory Summary’ report to show items with a quantity greater than zero and a package weight less than a specific value. These reports help assess various aspects of your business, aiding in the creation of financial strategies and monitoring growth through detailed analytics.

Time Tracking

The Time Tracking feature in Zoho Books is designed to optimize workflow by tracking time spent on projects, especially useful for hourly-based work. While it tracks one task or project at a time, logging custom time spent working on projects is more practical for multiple simultaneous tasks. This flexibility allows for comprehensive tracking of team activities and project costs.

Customer & Vendor Portal

Zoho Books’ Customer and Vendor Portal streamlines interactions with clients and vendors. It eliminates the need for back-and-forth emails for quotes, invoices, or payment confirmations. The portal provides a unified space for collaboration, allowing real-time discussions, submission of time entries for approval, and detailed transaction statements. This feature enhances organization, improves analytics, and offers permissions customization, making it a superior option compared to other accounting software like QuickBooks.

Zoho Books is a powerful tool that simplifies financial management with its extensive features. From customizable invoices and detailed inventory tracking to automation and comprehensive reporting, it caters to various business needs. The customer and vendor portal further streamlines processes, enhancing collaboration and efficiency. For businesses looking to improve their financial management, Zoho Books is a robust and reliable solution.

How to Build Any Tool to Run Your Business at Speed and Scale with Zoho Creator

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How to Build Any Tool to Run Your Business at Speed and Scale with Zoho Creator

Zoho Creator is a versatile platform that combines intuitive visual builders and ready-made code blocks to help you build modern business apps fast. The apps you build on the web run natively on PCs, tablets, and both iOS and Android mobile devices. This makes Zoho Creator an ideal solution for businesses looking to deploy multi-device applications quickly.

 

Custom Apps

With Zoho Creator, you can build custom apps tailored to your specific business needs. The platform offers drag-and-drop elements that allow you to see your apps come alive instantly. Custom apps can help streamline business processes, improve productivity, and provide better customer service.

Mobile Apps

Mobile apps are essential for businesses that require on-the-go solutions. Zoho Creator enables you to build mobile apps that run natively on both iOS and Android devices. This ensures that your business operations are not confined to the desktop and can be managed from anywhere.

Online Portals

Online portals provide a centralized platform for interacting with customers, partners, and employees. Zoho Creator allows you to build and deploy online portals that can handle various business functions such as customer support, project management, and collaboration.

Business Process Management

Zoho Creator offers tools to automate and manage your business processes. From workflow automation to custom functions, you can design processes that fit your business requirements. This helps in reducing manual tasks and increasing efficiency.

Integration Flows

Integration is key to ensuring that your business tools work seamlessly together. Zoho Creator provides integration flows that connect with other applications and services. This includes popular integrations like Google Drive, Dropbox, and various CRM systems.

BI & Analytics

Business Intelligence (BI) and analytics are crucial for making informed decisions. Zoho Creator includes BI and analytics features that allow you to visualize data, generate reports, and gain insights into your business performance.

AI-powered Apps

Incorporating AI into your business applications can provide significant advantages. Zoho Creator enables you to build AI-powered apps that can automate tasks, provide recommendations, and enhance decision-making processes.

Unified Data Service

Managing data across different applications can be challenging. Zoho Creator offers a unified data service that consolidates data from various sources into a single platform. This makes data management and analysis more efficient.

Serverless Functions

Serverless functions allow you to execute code in response to events without the need to manage servers. Zoho Creator supports serverless functions, enabling you to build scalable applications that can handle high loads efficiently.

Data Migration with AI-Assisted Tools

Migrating data from existing apps with AI-assisted migration tools is a breeze with Zoho Creator. The platform’s Smart Import tool can transform a heap of cluttered data into a well-formatted, unified database within minutes.

Security Features

Security is a top priority for any business application. Zoho Creator offers comprehensive security features including data encryption, network security, and compliance with standards like GDPR and ISO/IEC 27001. This ensures that your business data is protected at all times.

Parting thoughts, Zoho Creator provides a powerful platform to build, deploy, and manage business applications at speed and scale. Its wide range of features, from custom apps to AI-powered solutions, ensures that your business can operate efficiently and stay ahead of the competition

Is Automation Killing Original Marketing? Here’s What You Need to Know

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Is Automation Killing Original Marketing? Here’s What You Need to Know

In the ever-evolving world of marketing, automation has become the new darling, promising efficiency and consistency. But with all this tech love, is the human touch—the heart of original marketing—fading away?

So, what’s the deal? Is marketing automation the grim reaper of original ideas, or just a helpful sidekick? Let’s break it down.

What is Marketing Automation?

Before we dive into the drama, let’s clear up what marketing automation actually is. It’s all those snazzy tools and software that handle repetitive tasks like email marketing, social media posting, and even ad campaigns. Think of it as your personal marketing assistant who never sleeps.

The Rise of Automated Marketing

Automation tools have been like a rocket launch for businesses. Suddenly, you can reach thousands of customers with personalized messages at the click of a button. It’s no wonder everyone’s on board, right?

Well, not so fast. While automation can streamline processes and provide valuable data insights, there’s a growing concern that it might be squashing creativity. Here’s why.

Where Original Marketing Shines

Remember the days when marketing was all about big, bold ideas? Those campaigns that made you laugh, cry, or think? That’s original marketing. It’s the Super Bowl ads that get everyone talking or the viral campaigns that spread like wildfire. It’s creativity at its finest, something that feels increasingly rare in the age of automation.

Automation: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good

Automation saves time. No more manually scheduling posts or sending emails one by one. It’s efficient and allows marketers to focus on strategy rather than mundane tasks.

The Bad

Here’s where it gets tricky. Automation can make campaigns feel, well, automated. Generic. Like they’ve been churned out by a machine (which they have). It lacks the human touch that can make marketing memorable.

The Ugly

Over-reliance on automation can lead to lazy marketing. Why brainstorm a killer idea when you can set up a workflow and let the software do the work? This is where automation can become a crutch, rather than a tool.

What the Experts Say

Experts have mixed feelings about automation in marketing. Some believe it’s essential for modern marketing, helping with precise targeting and efficient resource use. Others argue that it can never replace the creativity and personal touch that are the heart of effective marketing.

Marketing guru Seth Godin suggests that while automation can handle the “mechanical” aspects of marketing, the “emotional labor” should still be done by humans. Neil Patel emphasizes a balanced approach, using automation to complement human creativity rather than replace it.

Balancing Automation and Originality

So, what’s the solution? It’s all about balance. Automation should be used to handle the nitty-gritty, freeing up time for marketers to get creative. Here are some tips:

  1. Use Automation Wisely: Automate tasks that are repetitive and time-consuming, like email campaigns and social media posts.
  2. Keep the Human Touch: Ensure there’s a personal touch in your campaigns. Hand-write some emails, get creative with social media posts, and don’t be afraid to take risks.
  3. Data-Driven Creativity: Use the data from your automation tools to inform your creative process. What’s resonating with your audience? Use that insight to craft compelling campaigns.
  4. Stay Flexible: Be ready to pivot if something isn’t working. Automation is great for consistency, but sometimes you need to switch things up to keep your audience engaged.

Parting thoughts: Is automation killing original marketing? Not if we use it right. It’s a tool, not a replacement for human creativity. By finding the right balance, we can harness the power of automation while keeping our marketing fresh, engaging, and original.

10 Ways Zoho Projects Enhances Your Project Management

Posted on by Consult JC

10 Ways Zoho Projects Enhances Your Project Management

Managing a project effectively requires the right tools and strategies. Zoho Projects is a robust project management software designed to help you streamline your tasks, monitor progress, and ensure timely delivery. 

Here are ten ways Zoho Projects can enhance your project management process.

1. Visualize Project Plans with Gantt Chart

Gantt charts are essential for visualizing your project plan and tracking task schedules. Zoho Projects’ Gantt chart feature keeps you aware of critical tasks and their dependencies, highlighting any deviations between planned and actual progress. This ensures that you can make necessary adjustments in real-time to keep your project on track.

2. Track Time Accurately with Timesheets

Accurate time tracking is crucial for billing and productivity analysis. With Zoho Projects’ timesheet module, you can log both billable and non-billable hours manually or using timers. The built-in integration with Zoho Invoice automatically generates invoices from your timesheets, ensuring you get paid accurately and promptly for your work.

3. Streamline Processes with Task Automation

Routine tasks can consume a significant amount of time and effort. Zoho Projects offers a drag-and-drop interface for creating automations, allowing you to automate simple processes or complex workflows. This not only saves time but also reduces the chance of human error, making your project management more efficient.

4. Integrate Seamlessly with Other Apps

Zoho Projects seamlessly integrates with various Zoho apps and third-party applications, enhancing your project management capabilities. Whether you need to connect with Zoho CRM, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, or other popular tools, Zoho Projects makes it easy to streamline your workflows and improve collaboration.

5. Foster Team Collaboration

Effective collaboration is key to successful project management. Zoho Projects offers multiple features such as task comments, project forums, and chat functionality to facilitate smooth communication among team members. This ensures everyone stays on the same page and can collaborate efficiently, no matter where they are located.

6. Efficiently Handle Issues and Bugs

Managing and resolving issues promptly is crucial for project success. Zoho Projects includes an issue tracking module that allows you to report, track, and resolve bugs and issues efficiently. This helps maintain the quality of your deliverables and ensures any problems are addressed before they escalate.

7. Leverage Advanced Reporting Tools

Data-driven decision-making is essential in project management. Zoho Projects provides advanced reporting tools that offer insights into project progress, resource utilization, and team performance. Customizable reports and dashboards enable you to analyze key metrics and make informed decisions to drive your project forward.

8. Simplify Document Management

Document management is simplified with Zoho Projects. You can store all your project-related documents in one place, ensuring easy access and collaboration. Version control features allow team members to work on the latest document versions and track changes efficiently.

9. Tailor Workflows to Your Needs

Every project is unique and may require specific workflows. Zoho Projects allows you to customize workflows to match your project needs. You can create custom fields, statuses, and layouts, ensuring your project management process is tailored to your specific requirements.

10. Ensure Robust Data Security

Data security is a top priority in project management. Zoho Projects provides robust security features, including role-based access control, data encryption, and compliance with international security standards. This ensures your project data is protected against unauthorized access and breaches.

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