Creator Scripts. - Zoho Blogs #Productivity

Unlocking Innovation: Zoho's Approach to Access and Permissions in the Digital Age

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 23:47:29 -0600

Rethinking Access in the Digital Age: Unlocking Potential with Zoho!

In our hyperconnected ecosystem, the dialogue around access and permissions is more critical than ever. The traditional protective measures, while necessary, can impede collaboration and innovation. How then, can we turn these barriers into enablers?

Dynamic Permissions

Imagine permissions that adapt in real-time, based on user behavior and project needs. Could Zoho lead the way in context-aware access that balances security with agility?

AI as an Enabler

What if Zoho’s AI-powered tools could suggest optimal access levels, enhancing productivity without compromising on security?

Evaluating Impact

Over-protection might seem prudent but can hinder innovation. Can Zoho's analytics tools help measure how access policies affect productivity, guiding more informed decisions?

Cultivating Trust

Beyond technical controls, how might Zoho's tools foster a culture where users naturally steward information responsibly?

Controlled Transparency

Could granular permissions in Zoho offer glimpses into "forbidden" resources, piquing curiosity responsibly and driving structured access requests?

Redefining Resources

With APIs and microservices, access doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. Can Zoho customize permissions right down to specific data fields or functions?

Access Spectrum

What about introducing various levels of access, such as time-limited or read-only views through Zoho, tailoring user interaction with sensitive information?

Ethics and Compliance

How can Zoho balance the scales between stringent compliance requirements and ethical information sharing?

Gamification of Security

Is it possible to gamify access mechanisms within Zoho, rewarding secure and responsible usage?

Proactive Adjustments

Could AI predict and adjust access needs, creating a seamless workflow free from access-related interruptions?

Zoho Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zoho’s role in digital transformation?

Zoho provides a suite of cloud-based tools that streamline business processes and enable companies to leverage technology to automate tasks, improve efficiency, and adapt to a digital-first approach.

How does Zoho ensure cybersecurity for its applications?

Zoho employs advanced security measures including end-to-end encryption, regular security audits, and compliance with international data security standards to protect user data and ensure a secure application environment.

Can Zoho tools help improve productivity?

Yes, Zoho offers several productivity tools, such as Zoho Projects for project management, Zoho CRM for customer relationships, and Zoho WorkDrive for file storage and sharing, all designed to enhance collaboration and streamline workflows.

What artificial intelligence features does Zoho provide?

Zoho incorporates AI through its Zia assistant, which offers smart recommendations, anomaly detection, predictive analytics, and automated insights to help businesses make data-driven decisions.

How can Zoho assist in a company’s cybersecurity strategy?

Zoho can enhance a company's cybersecurity strategy by providing secure authentication processes, ensuring data integrity with compliance checks, and offering tools like Zoho Vault to manage passwords securely.

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Maximize Productivity: Integrate Your Tech Stack Seamlessly with Zoho Workplace

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 23:48:31 -0600

Breaking Down Silos: The Power of Integration with Zoho Workplace

As a professional deeply entrenched in the SaaS industry, the challenge of integrated tools within an organization's tech stack is a passionate subject for me. Much like the chaotic disconnect in a bustling marketplace filled with isolated vendors, many companies today struggle with siloed data and applications. This lack of connectivity not only hampers collaboration but also drains valuable time and resources.

Did you know? A recent study revealed that 61% of organizations suffer project delays due to slow data integration, leading to about 19 lost working days annually!

Enter Zoho Workplace — a platform that’s changing the game by making seamless integration not just a possibility but a reality. With Zoho, connecting tools like Zoho CRM with Zoho Cliq, or Zoho Mail with Zoho Projects, has led to transformative outcomes:

Enhanced team collaboration
Streamlined task management
Robust real-time communication across departments
Simplified data handling with tools like WorkDrive Genie and calendar synchronizations

Imagine syncing Zoho CRM, Zoho Projects, and even Google Calendar under one roof! The benefits? A dramatic reduction in operational silos and a significant boost in productivity.

Have you faced challenges with disconnected systems in your workplace? How do you think seamless integration could transform your day-to-day operations?

Let’s discuss the endless possibilities when barriers are broken, and connectivity is embraced in the tech ecosystem.

#Zoho #CIO #DataIntegration #SaaS #Productivity #Collaboration #TechInnovation

What is a good process workflow?

A good process workflow refers to an efficient and well-defined sequence of steps and tasks that are designed to achieve a specific outcome or goal in a systematic and organized manner.

What are the three types of workflows?

The three types of workflows commonly used are:

Sequential Workflow: This workflow follows a linear sequence of steps where each step is dependent on the completion of the previous step.
Parallel Workflow: This workflow involves multiple tasks or steps that can be performed simultaneously or independently.
Conditional Workflow: This workflow includes decision points or branching paths based on certain conditions or criteria.

What are the 3 methods of workflow organization?

The three methods of workflow organization are:

Sequential Organization: This method involves arranging tasks or steps in a linear order.
Functional Organization: This method groups tasks or steps based on the functions or departments responsible for their completion.
Matrix Organization: This method combines elements of both sequential and functional organization, often used in complex projects.

What are workflow procedures?

Workflow procedures refer to the specific documented instructions or guidelines that define how tasks or steps within a workflow should be executed. These procedures outline the actions, responsibilities, inputs, and outputs involved in each step, ensuring consistency and standardization in the workflow process.

What are the 5 stages of workflow?

The five stages of workflow typically include:

Initiation: This stage involves the initial planning, identification of objectives, and defining the scope of the workflow.
Design: In this stage, the workflow is designed, including the sequence of steps, task allocation, and decision points.
Execution: The actual execution of the workflow occurs during this stage, where tasks are performed and progress is tracked.
Monitoring: This stage involves monitoring the workflow's progress, ensuring it stays on track and addressing any issues or bottlenecks.
Completion: The final stage marks the completion of the workflow, including evaluation, documentation, and any necessary follow-up actions.

What are the five core workflows?

The five core workflows commonly found in organizations are:

Approval Workflow: This workflow involves the approval process for various requests, such as document approvals, purchase requests, or leave requests.
Review Workflow: This workflow focuses on reviewing and providing feedback or comments on documents, designs, or other deliverables.
Notification Workflow: This workflow includes sending notifications or alerts to relevant individuals or teams based on specific events or triggers.
Escalation Workflow: This workflow escalates tasks or issues to higher authorities or alternate approvers when specific conditions are met.
Collaboration Workflow: This workflow facilitates collaboration and communication among team members, allowing them to work together on shared projects or tasks.

Zoho Workplace Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zoho Workplace?

Zoho Workplace is an integrated suite of productivity, collaboration, and communication tools designed to improve workplace efficiency and streamline operations.

How does data integration work in Zoho Workplace?

Data integration in Zoho Workplace allows users to consolidate data from various sources into a single, unified view. This helps in breaking down siloed data for better analysis and decision-making.

Is Zoho Workplace a SaaS product?

Yes, Zoho Workplace is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that provides cloud-based solutions for various workplace needs such as email, file management, and team collaboration.

What collaboration tools are included in Zoho Workplace?

Zoho Workplace includes a variety of collaboration tools such as Zoho Mail, Zoho Docs, Zoho Cliq, and Zoho Connect to facilitate team communication and file sharing.

How does Zoho Workplace improve productivity?

Zoho Workplace improves productivity by offering integrated tools that streamline day-to-day tasks, facilitate easy communication, and enhance collaboration among team members.

Is Zoho Workplace involved in tech innovation?

Yes, Zoho Workplace continually invests in tech innovation to introduce new features and improve existing functionalities, ensuring users have access to the latest tools and technologies.

What roles do CIOs play in using Zoho Workplace?

CIOs can leverage Zoho Workplace to manage IT infrastructure more efficiently, promote seamless integration of various tools, and spearhead tech-driven initiatives within their organizations.

What is meant by seamless integration in Zoho Workplace?

Seamless integration in Zoho Workplace refers to the ability to connect and use various tools within the suite fluidly, ensuring a cohesive user experience and boosting operational efficiency.

How does Zoho Workplace address issues of siloed data?

Zoho Workplace helps break down siloed data by integrating various data sources into a single platform, allowing for better data management and insights.

How does Zoho Workplace enhance operational efficiency?

Zoho Workplace enhances operational efficiency by streamlining workflows, reducing redundancy, and ensuring that all tools work together seamlessly to support business processes.

Unleash Productivity: Why Zoho Cliq is Your Ultimate Tool for Team Collaboration

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 21:06:32 -0600

Revolutionizing Team Collaboration with #ZohoCliq

Navigating multiple workplace apps can drastically hinder productivity. According to Business Wire, employees lose up to 32 days per year switching between apps. What if you could reclaim that time? Enter Zoho Cliq.

Here's why I'm all in on Zoho Cliq for transforming communication and project management within teams:

Integrated Task Management: Task features built directly into the chat platform synchronize seamlessly with Zoho Projects.
Enhanced Team Collaboration: Add tasks to channel tabs, discuss via Chatlets in Zoho Projects, and convert messages to tasks effortlessly.
Advanced Features for Pro Users: Explore custom views, Kanban boards, and bug tracking for a more enhanced experience.
Never Miss a Beat: Use /remind commands to set reminders for deadlines right within your conversation flow.
Top-Notch Security: With stringent encryption and compliance policies, every piece of data is secured.

Imagine a workday where project management blends smoothly into communication flows, where every task and update is just a click away. That's what Zoho Cliq promises.

Has anyone else tried incorporating Zoho Cliq into their daily workflow? What has your experience been like? Share your stories!

#ProjectManagement #TeamCollaboration #Productivity #BusinessTools #Zoho #TechInnovation

What is Zoho Cliq used for?

Zoho Cliq is a team messaging and collaboration platform that helps teams communicate and work together in real-time. It offers features such as chat rooms, file sharing, and task management to help teams streamline their work and improve productivity.

Is Cliq part of Zoho?

Yes, Zoho Cliq is a product of Zoho, a leading provider of cloud-based business and productivity software.

What is the difference between Zoho Cliq and Zoho Connect?

Zoho Cliq is a team messaging and collaboration platform, while Zoho Connect is a social intranet platform that helps teams share information, work together, and engage with each other. While both platforms are from Zoho, they have different features and are designed for different purposes.

Is Cliq free?

Zoho Cliq offers a free version with limited features, as well as paid versions with more advanced features and capabilities.

Do hackers use Zoho?

It is possible for hackers to target any software, including Zoho. However, Zoho takes security very seriously and implements measures to protect its customers' data. It is always recommended to follow best practices for online security and to stay vigilant against potential threats.

Zoho Cliq Frequently Asked Questions

How does Zoho Cliq enhance team collaboration?

Zoho Cliq enhances team collaboration by providing real-time messaging, file sharing, video and audio calls, and integration with other productivity tools. This enables teams to work together more efficiently and stay aligned on project goals.

Can Zoho Cliq be used for project management?

Yes, Zoho Cliq can be used for project management. It allows teams to create channels for specific projects, assign tasks, track progress, and set deadlines, making it easier to manage projects collaboratively.

How does Zoho Cliq improve productivity?

Zoho Cliq improves productivity by centralizing communication, reducing email overload, and providing tools for task management and automation. This helps teams focus on their work without manual, repetitive tasks interfering with their workflow.

What business tools can be integrated with Zoho Cliq?

Zoho Cliq integrates with a variety of business tools, including CRM systems, project management software, file storage services, and other Zoho apps. This extends its functionality and allows seamless data flow between different platforms.

Does Zoho Cliq offer task management features?

Yes, Zoho Cliq offers task management features. Users can create tasks, assign them to team members, set deadlines, and track their progress directly within the app.

How can Zoho Cliq streamline communication flows?

Zoho Cliq streamlines communication flows by providing structured channels, direct messaging, and integrations with apps that automate communication tasks. This reduces miscommunication and ensures that important information is easily accessible.

Is Zoho Cliq a good example of tech innovation in business tools?

Absolutely! Zoho Cliq empowers businesses with cutting-edge communication and collaboration features, including AI-powered bots, automation, and advanced integrations, making it a prime example of tech innovation in business tools.

What types of workplace apps does Zoho Cliq integrate with?

Zoho Cliq integrates with various types of workplace apps including CRM software, project management tools, calendar apps, email services, and more, enabling businesses to create a cohesive workflow.

Can Zoho Cliq replace other collaboration tools?

Zoho Cliq can potentially replace other collaboration tools by offering comprehensive features that include messaging, file sharing, task management, video calls, and extensive integrations, making it a versatile solution for team collaboration.

Maximize Employee Engagement with Zoho Cliq: 10 Powerful Ways to Thrive in Hybrid Work

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 23:43:08 -0600

Boosting Employee Engagement Just Got Easier with Zoho Cliq!

As we dive deeper into remote and hybrid work models, keeping employees engaged and connected is more pivotal than ever. Disengaged employees can lead to a staggering $550 billion in lost productivity annually in the U.S. alone! Thankfully, technology like Zoho Cliq is on our side, ready to revolutionize employee engagement at no extra cost.

Let me share a quick story: When we first implemented Zoho Cliq at my previous company, the atmosphere transformed almost overnight. Our onboarding process became so streamlined that new hires felt like part of the team from day one, thanks to a dedicated onboarding bot. It didn't just stop there — from facilitating seamless communication to celebrating personal milestones, Cliq became our go-to for fostering a thriving workplace culture.

Here are 10 ways you can use Zoho Cliq to elevate engagement in your team:

Seamless Onboarding: Welcome new hires with ease.
Meaningful Connections: Use an icebreaker bot to connect teams.
Hybrid Work Made Easy: Simplify schedules with a hybrid bot.
Transparent Feedback: Initiate honest conversations via anonymous surveys.
Knowledge Base: A bot that answers FAQs instantly.
Stay Updated: A company news bot to keep everyone informed.
Reduce Meeting Fatigue: Stand-up bots to streamline updates.
Promote Wellness: Introduce wellness reminders for health and focus.
Effortless Coordination: Manage leaves and availability at a glance.
Celebrate Milestones: Automatically recognize and celebrate key employee dates.

Are your engagement strategies keeping up with the pace of today's hybrid workplaces? How are you leveraging technology to keep your team connected and motivated?

Implementing Zoho Cliq could just be the game-changer your organization needs. Ready to take the plunge or want to share your experience? Drop your thoughts!

#EmployeeEngagement #RemoteWork #ZohoCliq #SaaS #WorkplaceCulture #Productivity

Zoho Cliq Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zoho Cliq used for?

Is Cliq part of Zoho?

Yes, Zoho Cliq is a product of Zoho, a leading provider of cloud-based business and productivity software.

What is the difference between Zoho Cliq and Zoho Connect?

Is Cliq free?

Zoho Cliq offers a free version with limited features, as well as paid versions with more advanced features and capabilities.

Do hackers use Zoho?

What is employee engagement?

Employee engagement refers to the emotional commitment and involvement that an employee has towards their organization, its goals, and values. Engaged employees are more likely to be productive, motivated, and contribute positively to the company's success.

How can remote work impact employee productivity?

Remote work can significantly impact employee productivity both positively and negatively. While it offers flexibility and can reduce commute-related stress, it may also lead to feelings of isolation and distractions at home. Effective remote work requires good communication tools and clear expectations.

What role does Zoho Cliq play in team communication?

Zoho Cliq is a team communication tool that helps facilitate efficient communication among remote and in-office teams. It offers features such as instant messaging, file sharing, and video calls, which are essential for maintaining seamless workflows and collaboration.

Why is workplace culture important?

Workplace culture defines the environment in which employees work and impacts their satisfaction, motivation, and productivity. A positive workplace culture fosters collaboration, enhances employee morale, and aids in attracting and retaining talent.

How does hybrid work affect the onboarding process?

Hybrid work can complicate the onboarding process as new employees might not have the same in-person interaction with their colleagues and supervisors. Organizations need to adopt digital onboarding processes, provide extensive online training, and ensure regular check-ins to make the onboarding experience smooth.

What are the challenges of team communication in a digital workplace?

Challenges of team communication in a digital workplace include miscommunication due to a lack of face-to-face interaction, information overload from various communication tools, and difficulties in building rapport and trust among team members. Effective use of communication platforms and clear guidelines can mitigate these challenges.

How can companies improve employee motivation in a remote work environment?

Companies can improve employee motivation in a remote work environment by recognizing achievements, offering professional development opportunities, maintaining transparent communication, providing the necessary tools and resources, and promoting a healthy work-life balance.

What is a digital workplace?

A digital workplace is a virtual environment that integrates technology, processes, and people to enable employees to work and collaborate remotely. It leverages digital tools and platforms to facilitate communication, project management, and data access from anywhere.

Zoho Creator's Exciting New Features: A Product Roadmap

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 16:45:25 -0600

The Zoho Creator platform is a low-code development tool that allows users to create enterprise-grade applications without extensive programming knowledge. In 2023, the company plans to release updates that focus on simplifying application development, improving productivity, incorporating AI technology, and enhancing the user experience. These updates will also help organizations improve their efficiency and scalability, and allow them to quickly develop apps to meet business needs. The key features of the 2023 release projection include updates to portals, which will expand their scope and reach, and other improvements to help organizations achieve these goals.

OpenAPI Specification for Creator V2 API

The Zoho Creator v2 API will be described using the OpenAPI Specification (OAS) v3.0, which is a standard interface for describing REST APIs. The OAS files, which are written in JSON format and can be used in the Swagger tool, provide information about the APIs such as the HTTP verbs to use, endpoints, allowable parameters and types, authentication mechanisms, and error codes. This update will make it easier for developers to learn and use the Creator APIs, which should result in reduced development costs and time. The feature is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2023.

Global variables in Deluge

Zoho Creator is introducing global variables, which can be used throughout the platform. Global variables allow you to store data in one place and reuse it across multiple forms or applications, similar to how you use functions. This feature will make it more efficient to centralize the definition of variables and access them in multiple locations, as only a single declaration is needed. The release of this feature is projected for the first quarter of 2023.

Activity-based user filter

Administrators in Zoho Creator will soon have the ability to filter users based on their last activity in the workspace. This will allow administrators to identify inactive users and take bulk actions to improve user management. This feature will provide administrators with useful information about user activity in the workspace and allow them to take remedial measures as needed. The release of this feature is projected for the first quarter of 2023.

AI model assistant to create apps from files

Zoho Creator is introducing a new AI-powered feature called "smart import" that will allow users to turn raw, unstructured data into a structured business application. The feature will use AI to analyze the data and suggest ways to split it into smaller tables and establish relationships using reference forms and lookup fields. This will help users organize their data and make it more useful. The release of this feature is projected for the first quarter of 2023.

Dynamically embed components in Page

In the first quarter of 2023, Zoho Creator will release a feature that allows users to create content-rich pages by dynamically embedding any Creator component, such as forms or reports, using HTML snippets. This will provide users with the flexibility to customize their pages by integrating different components and displaying the information that their users want to see. This feature will help users modernize their pages and provide a better user experience.

Import data to reports via permalink

In Q1 2023, Zoho Creator will release the "import permalink" feature, which allows users to import data into reports more easily. Instead of having to navigate to each report individually, users can use the import permalink to import data from any location, such as forms or pages. This feature will provide users with greater flexibility and make it easier to import data into reports. For example, users can configure a button at the top of a page that is dedicated to importing weekly invoices.

Canvas builder

Zoho Creator is adding a new Canvas builder tool that will allow users to create visually appealing detail views of reports using a feature-rich, easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. The Canvas builder will enable users to create personalized views of reports and pay attention to small details, helping to provide a transformed experience for stakeholders such as employees and customers. The release of this feature is projected for Q2 2023.

Advanced email analytics

In Q2 2023, Zoho Creator will release advanced email analytics that will allow users to track responses to emails triggered from their Creator applications and gather insights to make informed decisions about customizations to improve engagement and drive better results for their business. The feature will be available in conjunction with ZeptoMail and will provide detailed email logs, recipient activity tracking, and real-time notifications to help users improve their email performance. This feature will provide valuable email metrics for businesses.

User engagement dashboard

In Q2 2023, Zoho Creator will release a feature that provides a comprehensive view of user activity in the platform and allows administrators to gather insights, identify trends, and discover anomalies using a set of key performance indicators (KPIs), metrics, and other data points. The feature will include data visualizations to simplify complex data sets on user usage statistics and create an engagement dashboard that serves as a one-stop destination for administrators to track user activity. This feature will provide unparalleled access to in-depth insights on user engagement in the Creator account.

Application engagement dashboard

In Q2 2023, Zoho Creator will release a dashboard that allows users to track activity and analyze the usage of their applications. The dashboard will provide statistics on how the apps are performing over different time periods, which can be used to optimize the apps and improve productivity. This feature will allow users to measure application performance using various metrics and identify trends to ensure efficient app usage.

Import huge CSV files

In Q2 2023, Zoho Creator will release a feature that allows users to import large CSV files (up to 2GB) when creating an application, form, or report. This will enable users to easily migrate data sets from their local database or other services into Creator using the popular file format for data storage in business operations. The feature will allow users to process large and complex databases to extract relevant and valuable information for their business.

Portal session timeout

In Q2 2023, Zoho Creator will release a feature that allows administrators to protect portal users from potential misuse and security threats by ending sessions after detecting user inactivity. The "idle session timeout" feature will allow administrators to specify the amount of time that a portal user can remain idle before the session is terminated. This will help to prevent unauthorized access and reduce exposure to data breaches, enhancing the security of both portal users and the organization.

Phone number login for Portal

In Q2 2023, Zoho Creator will release a feature that allows portal users to sign up using their mobile numbers, improving the accessibility and reach of portals. This is especially useful in countries where mobile phones are prevalent, as it will democratize access and allow more users to take advantage of the portal. This feature will be available only to users on the US and IN data centers. By enabling sign-up via mobile number, the feature will help to ensure the equitability of the portal and make it more accessible to users, regardless of their background or location.

Portal page customization

In Q2 2023, Zoho Creator will release a feature that allows users to customize their sign-up, login, and reset password pages to make them more engaging and appealing to portal users. The customization options will allow users to level up their Portal pages and make them more visually appealing and in line with their branding. This feature will provide users with the ability to ensure that their Portal pages align with the look and feel of their organization.

Application menu

In Q2 2023, Zoho Creator will release a new builder that allows users to design the menu structure of their applications in a more intuitive way. The builder will provide users with the ability to create a hierarchy of menus, making it easier to navigate the various components of their app. This feature will allow users to create versatile and personalized menus with compartmentalized information for their users.

Revamped Deluge editor

In Q2 2023, Zoho Creator will release an updated Deluge editor that will make it easier for users to build and debug scripts using their preferred programming language. The editor will be smart enough to detect coding errors in real-time and display intuitive error messages to help users understand what went wrong. It will also allow users to set up custom shortcuts and will feature a full-screen mode to eliminate distractions and improve scrolling fluidity. The release of this feature will provide users with a more efficient and streamlined experience when scripting.

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Shave time. Increase output.

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 21:39:38 -0500

Time really flies. Shave time and increase output with your business. Take 5 minutes instead of 5 hours, to finish as many tasks as you can--without sacrificing quality.
What's the fastest way to shave five hours off your workday?

Here are 5 websites I personally use to increase productivity.

1. Shortform

Learn faster. Get smarter.

Way more than book summaries

Shortform has the world’s best guides to 1000+ nonfiction books. Learn key points and gain insights you won't find anywhere else. Understand the world’s best ideas.

Crystal-Clear Logic

We take confusing ideas and explain them in plain and simple ways. Never get confused by a complicated book again.

Brilliant New Insights

We add smart analysis, connecting ideas in novel ways and discussing key updates since the book was published.

Always Concise

Your time is valuable, and we don't waste it. We write with zero fluff, making every word and sentence deserve your time.

2. Canva

Launched in 2013, Canva is an online design and publishing tool with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design anything and publish anywhere. Canva makes it easy to create professional designs and to share or print them.

Ready-made designs

With thousands of professional templates, images, and quality content to choose from, get a headstart on bringing your best ideas and work to life.

Templates for absolutely anything

Customize an office template, or design something more personal, like an invitation.

3. Fireflies.ai

AI assistant for your meetings

Record, transcribe, and search across your voice conversations. Instantly record meetings across any web-conferencing platform. It's easy to invite Fireflies to your meetings to record and share conversations. Fireflies can transcribe live meetings or audio files that you upload. Skim the transcripts while listening to the audio afterwards. Add comments or mark specific parts of calls to quickly collaborate with teammates on important moments from your conversations.

Fireflies extracts insights from one of a company's largest existing data sources, voice conversations. This untapped system of record contains everything you need to know about your customers, employees, and business decisions.

4. Zoho Social

The easiest way to manage your brands on social media

Schedule unlimited posts, monitor what matters, and create custom-reports to analyze your social media performance with Zoho Social.

Flexible scheduling that saves you time

Schedule your posts for times when your audience is most active. Choose from our best-time predictions, or create your own publishing schedule.

The content calendar you always wanted

Visualise your content pipeline with an intuitive publishing calendar that lets you organize your posts the way you want. Spread your posts across time, and make sure there's never a dull moment for your audience.

A monitoring dashboard that's sticky

Multiple listening columns help you stay tuned to everything that's relevant. Respond in real-time and engage with your audience as often as you like.

The best-in-class social analytics

Understand who your audience is and how they engage with you on social media. Go with pre-built reports, or create new ones from scratch based on the stats that matter to you.

5. Scribe

Create step-by-step guides automatically by clicking record. Save your team 20+ hours per month compared to video and text tutorials.

Create step-by-step guides automatically for FREE. Scribe's instant process documentation, complete with text and screenshots, saves any team 20+ hours per month.

All you have to do is press the "record" button and walk through the process you want to share. Scribe tracks your mouse movements and keystrokes to generate your guide in real time. Answer questions, create SOPs, and train teammates as soon as possible.

Save time by documenting your processes 15 times faster. There will be no more writing steps or uploading screenshots.
Spread knowledge: 67% faster find answers to your questions.
Increase your team's productivity by 25% to increase your chances of success.

Zoho Social now supports TikTok, Instagram Reels and Stories, and YouTube Shorts.

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:24:41 -0500

Good things take time, and great things take even longer. Zoho Social is no exception to the ever-expanding scope of social media. As our customers' needs changed, we worked behind the scenes to strengthen it to help you with your social media outreach. We're pleased to announce that TikTok, Instagram Reels and Stories, and YouTube Shorts have been added to Zoho Social. It's been a long time coming, but we hope it fulfills all of your expectations.
Let's dive right in and look at these highlights in greater detail.

TikTok is now available on Zoho Social to assist you in real-time planning, collaboration, and publishing.

TikTok videos can now be planned, posted, and collaborated on using Zoho Social. You can easily plan a post for later or post it right away from the publish window, whether you're at home or on the go, with our custom schedule feature. You can engage your community and gain new followers by publishing trending videos on our desktop platform and mobile app. You can also include a catchy video description and emojis from our emoji tray. You can also group and add trending and relevant hashtags to include them all at once in your post.

TikTok will not be available through Zoho Social in India due to ongoing regulatory restrictions on the platform.

The Zoho Social centralized content calendar allows you to organize all of your videos into a single view, plan your TikTok content strategy and marketing, and keep track of your content plans across platforms. You can view all of your connected channels' weekly and monthly posts at the same time.

You and your team can now easily move material around a structured pipeline thanks to the Workflow and Content Approvals features. You can do so by creating your own approval system and streamlining your social media publishing process. Using the approvals dashboard, you can designate specific team members as approvers who will review and publish drafts, as well as contributors or publishers who will be able to generate and submit drafts for review. As a result, teams have more editorial control over the content they distribute.

Increase your exposure on Zoho Social by using Instagram Reels.

Short-form video is the most interesting and engaging type of social media content available today. With our integration, you can plan and publish Instagram Reels, view and respond to incoming mentions and comments, and even see the number of likes, views, and plays your Reel has received. You can set your Instagram Reels to auto-publish, schedule them for a specific date, or even use Smart Q to publish on the best day/time.

You can also select a thumbnail from the suggested options to use as your Reel's cover image, or you can select your own frame from the video and post it on both your grid and the Reels tab. You can also easily plan and manage your entire video strategy.

You can engage and interact on Instagram Stories using Zoho Social.

Instagram Stories is a feed of pictures or videos that disappear from your profile after 24 hours. Thanks to a feature update, you can now plan and create your Instagram Stories ahead of time. It also allows you to publish immediately or later, preview the story to see how it will appear on your profile, and add captions to each one.

Furthermore, with Zoho Social, you can access a variety of unique and fun custom stickers, as well as apply filters to completely customize the look of your story and build it from scratch. The Zoho Social mobile app allows users to manually post Stories created in the web app. Based on the publishing option you select, you will receive a Publishing Notification at the time and date you specify. You can also see the number of impressions, reach, replies, exits, and forward and backward taps for each story.

The reports tab also allows you to identify top stories, analyze how your story has performed over time based on engagements received, assess your story's completion rate, and much more.

You can keep it short and sweet with YouTube Shorts on Zoho Social.

YouTube Shorts is an excellent way for businesses to increase audience engagement and brand awareness. Additionally, because YouTube Shorts is a mobile-first feature, using content other than horizontal, long-form videos allows you to reach a wider audience. Thanks to a feature update, you can now create a quick teaser for a longer video and upload it as a Short from our publishing window. You can also edit the captions, change the thumbnail, add relevant hashtags, and change the visibility.

The majority of our customers asked for these feature updates, as well as the addition of new channels like TikTok. We're here to help you simplify your social media outreach one addition at a time, and we couldn't be happier. We'd love for you to check out the new updates and see how they work.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact us at creatorscripts@zoho.com. Or if you need help implementing Zoho Social for your business or brand.

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3 ways to kickstart your sales force

Sat, 02 Jun 2018 13:15:53 -0500

Below is a guest blog by Gene Marks, a CPA, author, columnist, and owner of The Marks Group. Gene writes every day on small business for The Washington Post; twice a week for Forbes, and weekly for Inc, & Entrepreneur.

Because my firm sells customer relationship management systems, we naturally deal with lots and lots of salespeople. Although I run my own business and I’m a certified public accountant, I consider myself a salesperson at heart. And we salespeople are an interesting lot.

Some of us like technology, others don’t. Some can sell just about anything; others are more specific in what they sell. Some I know are super-technical, while others are just more instinctive about their products. I’ve met great salespeople who are affable and irritable. Sociable and unsociable. Hardworking and lazy. Positive and negative. There is no one recipe for being a great salesperson. So for a manager, how do you manage this crazy group? How do you kickstart them to maximize their potential? How do you get them to sell as much as they’re able?

To me, it comes down to three important tactics.

Share information

Today’s most successful business people know that the data is the driver behind their decisions. The more data, the better – as long it’s relevant. The same goes for salespeople. Before meeting with a prospect or calling up a lead we need information. Has this person ever contacted us before? Has this person been on our website and where? What products would be of interest? Who is our competition? What are the issues? Where are they located? Who am I speaking to? Of course, there’s more. You can never have enough information.

Which is why smart managers are not afraid to share information with their sales teams. They usually do this through their CRM systems. They are committed to collecting as much data as possible – and keeping it up to date and accurate. They’re focused on providing their salespeople with as much information as possible – and wherever possible – to make their jobs easier. They invest in systems that send reminders, alerts, and messages to their groups so that nothing falls through the cracks. They build workflows to help them build relationships and close deals faster. They ensure that information can be shared between sales, customer service, and marketing because they know that a salesperson needs to know what they know.

Having the best information – and then sharing it – is critical for kickstarting your sales team. It’s a continuous job because the information is always changing. So building the right processes to ensure that your data remains up to date and reliable will contribute to your team’s success. The next thing is creating an atmosphere of competition.

Create an atmosphere of competition.

Good salespeople are competitors. They’re always hungry. They’re never satisfied. They hate to be beat – whether by their competition or by another salesperson at the company. Competition can be fun. But more importantly it can be an extremely productive way to kickstart a salesperson.

I’ve worked with dozens of clients who know this. Their sales managers pit their salespeople against each other. They set quotas and goals that everyone is tasked with meeting. They publicly display each person’s numbers – month and year to date. They reward the ones with the most sales, the highest average sale, the most improvement, the most activity. They never call out or punish those that don’t perform – the numbers speak for themselves. They offer prizes – cash bonuses, dinners, gift cards, vacations – to the ones performing the best. These prizes are a nominal cost to their companies. But the paybacks are usually significant.

This isn’t new. In the 20 years that I’ve been running my company, I’ve seen this practice over and over. Which means that it works. Competition, particularly among salespeople who value it, works. Creating this atmosphere will work for you too, particularly if you include lots and lots of mentoring.

Be a mentor.

The days of annual employee evaluations are starting to wane. Growing organizations are realizing that their employees – particularly the 50 percent of them who are from the millennial generation – are asking for more continuous feedback about their work. It only makes sense. People want to know how they’re doing. They want to make sure that what they’re doing is appreciated. And they certainly want to make sure that if what they’re doing isn’t good there’s time to adjust.

That’s your job. As a manager, sharing great information and creating an atmosphere of competition will produce better results from your sales team. But the best way to maximize those results is for you to be closely involved. Sure, there are always going to be the superstars who can sell ice to an Eskimo in January. But they need feedback like everyone else. Everyone needs mentoring.

You are the coach and cheerleader. You’re the leader and the guide. You’re the muse and the mentor. You need to take those numbers, along with the sales person’s attitude and work ethic, and together create personalized goals. You should be there to answer questions and check in proactively. You can do this by email or text but it will always require a little face to face. The best executives I know are constantly mentoring their teams – both as a group and individually. All the data in the world can’t make up for this.

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There is no such thing as the perfect salesperson, just like there’s no silver bullet for getting the most out of your sales group. But there are some tried and true methodologies that have worked for years. Sharing data, creating an atmosphere or competition, and being a mentor are – when combined – one of those. I’ve seen it work again and again. There are some things that time just cannot change.

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The Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Investing In a CRM System

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 06:14:38 -0500

Below is a guest blog by Gene Marks, a CPA, author, columnist, and owner of The Marks Group. Gene writes every day on small business for the Washington Post; twice a week for Forbes and weekly for Inc, & Entrepreneur.

When considering a customer relationship management (CRM) system for one’s business, most people devote their time to evaluating an application’s features, cost, customizability, scalability, and how quickly it can be implemented. It’s all good and important stuff. But it’s not as important as something else: a look in the mirror.

CRM is not for everyone. For sure, a good CRM system, if implemented the right way, can benefit any business of any size and in any industry. But sometimes a company just doesn’t have the culture for CRM. This is not a fault of the company. In fact, I’ve come across many great, profitable and growing organizations that – for reasons I’ll dive into below – are just not able to succeed with a CRM system. Is this your company? To find out, you should ask yourself these three questions. If the answers aren’t positive you might want to consider whether or not a CRM system is right for you.

One: Do you have the right resources?

In the end, your CRM system is just a database. But it’s a database – if used the right way – that will be accessed by most, if not all, of your employees and it will help them significantly improve productivity, profits, and sales. Like any asset, it will require an investment and, like any investment, it will require resources – both time and money.

Sure, you’ll have to subscribe to the software. But the software cost will be just a small part of your overall investment. To get your system off the ground, running smoothly, and then growing with your company, you will need people to be involved. You may need to hire external partners, consultants, developers, integrators, and specialists in the application. You will definitely need your employees to spend time on the system. You’ll want to assign user and database administrators. You’ll need some IT support. You’ll want to organize training.

All of these activities take time, and time is money. This is time that your people will be spending that will be taken away from their normal jobs. It may require overtime. It will definitely result in questions, frustrations, challenges, and pushback from some – it’s all normal human behavior. Regardless, it will require resources and you’ve got to make sure they’re available.

Two: Is there a clear way to evaluate your return on investment?

If you’re going to spend $1,000 or $1 million on a CRM system, you’re choosing to do so in lieu of investing in another asset. Is this a good investment? Would your money be better spent on a piece of equipment, or some inventory, or hiring a new customer service representative? Or maybe just sitting in the bank collecting interest? To justify whether you need a CRM system initially, and whether or not the system is generating a satisfactory return on investment in the future, you need a clear-cut way of evaluating your ROI.

It’s not as hard as you might think. You’re in business to profit, so a CRM system – like any investment – should be helping you generate more profit. There are really just two ways to generate more profit: increase your sales and/or decrease your expenses. It’s just math.

Think about sales. How many opportunities have you lost in the past couple of years because you didn’t follow-up on a task or something fell through the cracks? How many dollars are you overlooking because your people aren’t asking the right questions of your existing customers? How many customers did you lose because you didn’t keep a close relationship with them?

Now think about expenses. Will a CRM system help you improve productivity? Answer calls faster? Respond to problems quicker? Get more things done with less people? Can you quantify this?

Before getting started with this system, create these profitability metrics and then closely measure during and after the implementation. If you find yourself unable to do this, then you might want to reconsider your investment – because this is how you’ll satisfy yourself that your investment is worth it.

Three: Are you resolute?

A CRM system can be a tremendous benefit to your company, but it can also take a tremendous amount of work. While it’s just a database, it can be a powerful database. However, for it to be useful and productive the data needs to be accurate and complete. If the data isn’t good, your system is a waste.

So how to make sure you have a great database? People need to be trained. Internal controls over the data need to be established. Specific rules and processes need to be created – and then enforced. Everyone will need to modify what they’re doing, throw away those spreadsheets, stop making notes on the back of an envelope, enter information after calls and appointments, and really spend time in this system that they were previously not spending their time in. All of this takes effort and it requires change. People generally don’t like change, particularly when they don’t see the big picture or how the change is helping them.

So that’s your job. Once you’ve decided to go down this path you – as a leader – must be resolute. You cannot look back. You will be positive. You will not give in to the few (and there will be a few) who complain or want to go back to the old way of doing things. You will hear people out and make adjustments and ensure that problems are fixed. But you will commit to making your system a success.

Conclusion

The reality in 2018 is that there are many great CRM systems that will, if implemented the right way, contribute much to a company’s profitability and value. But there’s no such thing as the perfect system. So your job is to choose what you think will be best for your company and then make sure – by providing the right resources, having clear metrics to evaluate its return on investment, and then steeling yourself to get the job done over the long term – that the system ultimately meets and exceeds everyone’s expectations. When I hear of companies that failed with a CRM system, it’s usually because they never asked these questions before they got started. Now you know!

What chatbots can do for your support team

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 11:17:30 -0600

The future of bots is already here. As discussed in the previous two posts in this series, bots for productive collaboration and CRM teams are changing the way we communicate and work. In this final post, we’ll focus on the key areas of task automation and improved workplace collaboration, in the context of chatbots and slash commands.

The Dark Social

Dark social channels include messaging apps, email, and private browsing. If Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp is any indication, instant messaging platforms are quickly replacing social media apps and present manifold implications for the chatbot ecosystem. Conversational chatbotsthat can automate and integrate tasks into a simplified, seamless workflow are the way forward. Yet, there’s nothing more disconcerting than a chatbot that operates poorly and fails to process your requests. The key is to automate the mechanical or routine aspects of your workflow with a bot.

It’s Still All About People

Chatbots can help alleviate the burden on customer support teams, which are often the most personnel and resource intensive team in a business. Chatbots can help ensure that a customer service experience is consistent and adaptive, as bots learn from each query to provide speedier, more personalized support. They can optimize your support team’s workflow and improve collaboration, so you can provide this kind of unmatched service from your desk.

The Future of Work

Although a catchphrase, we see the future of work as task automation andinterconnected business processes. When bots can automate routine aspects of your workflow, you’re free to do more complex tasks that require your focus.

At Zoho Cliq, we’ve been quick to adapt to the changing nature of work processes and communications. You should be enabled to do more work from within your chat, collaborate in real time, and fetch data from third party applications without switching tabs.

Cliq Integration With Zendesk

With Cliq’s adaptive platform, you can integrate your chat with a variety of third party applications using their open APIs.

You can also manage support ops within your chat and collaborate with other teams. Using Cliq’s integration with support ticket system Zendesk, you can view ticket information within your chat and stay notified about ticket status.

View the details of a particular ticket by using the slash command “/zendesk”.

Forget switching between tabs. Use the slash command “/zdpendingtickets” to view all pending ticket information within your chat window. Share them with colleagues on your IT support channel so that pending tickets are handled promptly.

The Zendesk integration also comes with a set of slash commands. You can view all open tickets using the “/zdopentickets” command and the “/zdmyopentickets” to view a particular user’s open tickets.

Zoho Desk Extension with Cliq

With Deskbot, you can access all critical ticket information within your chat, without having to switch between multiple tabs.

Deskbot will notify you with ticket status updates, deadlines, and comments. You can also view a daily digest of all ticket statuses.

This extension via Zoho Desk also includes slash commands to pull information from your Zoho Desk account into your Cliq chat. You can use the slash command “/ticket” to access the three most recent tickets assigned to you. By using the command “/ticket [ticketID],” you can access ticket information based on a ticket ID.

These bots and commands aim to improve your support team’s communications and bring ticket status and developments into your chat. Your workflows will be simplified and streamlined as your chat space becomes more productive and collaborative. While bots handle simpler tasks, more complex tasks can be escalated to humans.This communication model is one that’s scalable, opening up pathways for further bot-human dialogue. However, it’s safe to say that bots won’t replace humans in the foreseeable future.

When support team collaboration tools and bot operations are built to facilitate rather than disrupt, your brand will offer a richer customer experience.