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Zoho CRM - review, opinions, features

Zoho CRM - review, opinions, features

Zoho CRM - review, opinions, features

What is Zoho CRM?

Zoho CRM, with its versatility, advanced features and user-friendly interface, is a worthy competitor to other big brands in technology and functionality. Unlike some other CRMs with strict business practices and long-term contracts, Zoho emphasizes the quality and functionality of its product. It offers flexible monthly subscriptions that grow as your business grows. This approach brings it numerous awards each year.

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How to get started. First steps in Zoho

The registration process in Zoho CRM is very simple and intuitive. You can set up a free account that allows access for up to three users. It is also possible to try a 15-day trial on three different plans. When registering, all you need to do is provide basic information, and if you want, you can quickly log in with your Google or LinkedIn account.

During registration, Zoho CRM adapts to our region based on our IP address. Therefore, after logging in, the Polish-language dashboard appeared immediately, with no need for additional configuration. Immediately, a window appeared with the possibility to choose the language and currency - the system supports multiple currencies and is available in as many as 25 language versions.

The start page can be customized in two different ways: the default view and the classic view, which present the current tasks, contacts and other events for the day. There is complete freedom in configuring this tab - you can add and remove sections and customize it according to your needs.

In addition to the home page, the top menu includes tabs such as leads, contacts, transactions, activities, reports, projects and many others. Each section can be customized. For example, I added a "Products" tab, where you can manually add products or import them from a file or another CRM system.

At first I had some doubts about the difference between bearings and contacts, but after entering the relevant modules, I immediately understood the difference. In bearings we store information about potential customers, which can be assigned different labels, such as "Contact in the future," while in contacts we simply store contact information - it's simple and clear.

ZOHO CRM - Home page

Zoho integrations available

When focusing on integrations, I always start with the two most basic and well-known functions - calendar and email inbox. In the case of Zoho CRM, of course, it has these two functions, but the synchronization process is not as simple as one might expect.

Calendar synchronization with Zoho system

I synchronized the calendar in the section called "Trading platform." After finding this feature, the integration process went very quickly and smoothly. However, it is worth paying special attention to mail synchronization, which can be added via the "Channels" tab.

Zoho CRM -Calendar synchronization

It is very convenient that you can easily access your entire correspondence history from your contacts. What's more, when you send a message directly from Zoho, you get a notification when the addressee opens our message!

Zoho API

Zoho CRM also has an API, which allows integration with various tools, and can be synchronized with VOIP for comprehensive functionality. In addition, integrations with marketing tools and other add-ons can be found in the settings and Marketplace tab. Hundreds of ready-made integrations can be found there, making the system customizable.

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CRM Zoho

The introduction to using Zoho CRM can be a bit convoluted, but once you become more familiar with the system, you can see its potential. When adding users, it is possible to customize their access according to their roles, allowing you to configure the system according to your company's needs.

However, when it comes to adding sales opportunities, it can be a bit confusing, as this information is located in a module called "Transactions." Despite some difficulty in navigating the system, it's worth noting that support is available, although unfortunately the option to contact us by phone is only available to full-paying users.

Zoho CRM - Sales managment

There are several different ways to customize the view in Zoho CRM, but my personal choice is the kanban board, which is the best tool for me to graphically represent sales opportunities. This feature allows me to quickly and intuitively move opportunities between different stages, just grab and drop them where they are needed. Adding new sales opportunities is also quick and easy, as long as we have the right contractors already added.

Creating offers in Zoho CRM

It is possible to create offers in Zoho CRM, although the process is a bit less intuitive in the Polish-language version. I only discovered this feature because I read about it on the site, otherwise I might have mistakenly thought that Zoho does not have an offer module. To create an offer in Zoho CRM, you need to go to a module called "Orders," which, I'll admit frankly, is not obvious in the Polish-language version. For the sake of full clarity, I found the information of the English version, and then found the equivalent of this function in the Polish version.

Zoho CRM - New offers in pipelines

Reports in Zoho CRM

The "Reports" section brought me a pleasant surprise, it was really a positive surprise. There are many ready-made reports to use, as well as the ability to create your own, which is a great asset. In addition to this section, there is "Analytics," which provides a variety of statistics. This is where you can find the sales funnel.

Zoho CRM - Adding Reports

In addition to the features mentioned above, Zoho CRM also offers:

  • Creating invoices,
  • Adding products,
  • Generating reports and creating custom reports,
  • Creating marketing campaigns,
  • Adding supplier information,
  • Sales forecasting,
  • And many other possibilities - it's up to us what modules we add and how we adapt the system to our needs.

Zoho Price List

Zoho CRM offers four different pricing plans:

  • Standard - Costs €14 per month. Includes options such as integrations with social media accounts, call logs and notes.
  • Professional - Costs 23 euros per month. Offers additional features, including email analytics, customized reports and dashboards, and allows storage of 100,000 records.
  • Enterprise - Costs 40 euros per month. This plan includes advanced features such as conversational artificial intelligence and email specifically designed for resellers.
  • Ultimate - Costs 52 euros per month. Includes all the features available in the other plans, plus unlimited records.

In addition, there is a free plan that allows access to Zoho CRM for up to three users and offers some basic features, such as integrations with social media accounts, call logs and notes.

Zoho CRM Pricing

Advantages and disadvantages of Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM Advantages:

  • Access to as many as 25 language versions, including Polish.
  • Free plan for 3 users.
  • API availability.
  • Useful mobile application.
  • Rich selection of ready-made integrations.
  • Possibility of sending mailings.
  • Tracking of activity of sent emails.
  • Integration with VOIP services.
  • Role-based access control.
  • Support for multiple currencies.

Zoho CRM Disadvantages:

  • Limited disk space - 1 GB maximum, with an option to increase for an additional fee.
  • Poor support - no online chat, phone available only to full-paying users, and e-mail supported only for technical issues. Help available only on the Polish partner's website.
  • Complicated interface - many functions are hidden and access to them is not intuitive.
  • Despite the Polish language version, English content sometimes appears, and some translations can be confusing.

Zoho CRM - reviews

Customers are very often very positive about the Zoho CRM system. Here are some reviews of the system:

  • I like that it's very flexible, there are a lot of customization options, and the customer service is great.
  • I like how it helps sort all customer emails according to how our business works, managing all inquiries and sending them responses.
  • Choosing the Zoho One package for only $40 a month is a good decision because it gives you access to more than 40 apps to run your business. Since all these applications communicate with each other, managing them becomes much easier. For example, I previously used an Excel spreadsheet for contacts, software for invoices, an Excel spreadsheet for expenses, Google Forms for forms, Zapier for everything that didn't communicate with each other, and several other applications to run my business. The accounting software alone cost me $30 per month. That's why it was worth it for me to make this change.
  • The value for money is excellent compared to other tools in the industry. In addition, the ability to create custom features and integrate with in-house and non-in-house solutions is very useful. The user interface is very intuitive and clear. The customization process is very simple, with most modules requiring no customization as the default data meets general needs. In addition, you can create a custom module to capture specific data, which can be linked to the base modules, allowing you to combine all data.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions about Zoho CRM

Is Zoho CRM for me?

Zoho CRM is designed for:

  • Zoho CRM is designed for:
  • Small businesses,
  • Medium-sized companies,
  • Large companies,
  • Companies with limited budgets.

Does Zoho CRM offer a free demo version?

Yes, Zoho CRM provides the opportunity to take advantage of a free demonstration. You can schedule a one-hour demonstration via video conference and customize it to your own schedule.

Where will my data be stored? Will they be secure?

Your data will be stored on Zoho's servers, which are located in the United States, Europe or Asia, depending on your location. The company adheres to the highest security standards, in accordance with applicable international standards and laws, including the EU-US Privacy Shield. Your data is your property and will never be sold or used for advertising purposes.