Smarter Access Control: Role-Based Access vs. Responsibility-Based Profiles

Smarter Access Control: Role-Based Access vs. Responsibility-Based Profiles

Every business has roles, responsibilities, and workflows. While roles help define structure, responsibilities within those roles are rarely the same. As your team grows, some members need access to only a specific set of features. Others require visibility without control.
That's why role-based access alone isn't enough. What will make operations more efficient is responsibility-based access that keeps teams focused and reflects what someone actually does every day.


Before: Fixed Access with Predefined Roles

Previously in SalesIQ, access was managed using predefined roles such as Admin, Supervisor, and Associate. These roles helped establish a basic structure, but access within each role remained the same for everyone assigned to it.

Now: Custom Access with SalesIQ Profiles

With the introduction of Profiles in Zoho SalesIQ, access is no longer limited to predefined roles. Profiles allow you to customize permissions at a feature level, so access aligns closely with responsibilities, based on what operators actually do.

With profiles, you can:
  1. Give each person access only to the features they work on
  2. Keep critical settings and configurations limited to the right people
  3. Make onboarding and role changes easier as teams grow
The result is simple: cleaner workflows, better accountability, and faster execution.


Idea
Note: You can continue using the existing predefined roles, i.e., Admin, Supervisor, and Associate, to define base-level access. Use profiles as an additional layer of control to fine-tune permissions based on what operators actually do.

Best Practices for Using Profiles Effectively

To get the most out of profiles, here are a few best practices to follow:
  1. Create profiles based on responsibilities: Design profiles around day-to-day work managed by individuals, not just job titles.
  2. Use the same profile for similar roles: If everyone in a department performs the same function, assign them the same profile. This keeps access consistent and easier to manage.
  3. Give supervisors visibility, not control: Team leads and supervisors often need insights and conversation history, not configuration access. Limit their permissions to monitoring and review.
  4. Reserve full access for admins: Limit access to critical settings, integrations, and system-level configurations to admins only.
  5. Limit access to sensitive data: Restrict features that expose customer data or system controls to prevent accidental changes or data leakage.
  6. Review profiles as teams evolve: As responsibilities change, revisit the custom profiles you created to ensure access still aligns with how teams actually work.
Want clarity in your workspace?
Use Profiles in SalesIQ to define responsibilities, assign the right access, and keep your operations clean and efficient. Follow the instructions in our help-guide to create your first custom profile!

And, if you've already tried this, share your most-used custom profile in the comments below.

Warm regards,
Hameetha

    • Recent Topics

    • How to interpret Campaign report statistics - definitions/explanation

      I am trying to make sure I understand the Campaign report correctly Do you have a list of definitions for: Delivered - it has reached the recipient's inbox Campaign reach - is this the number that have opened the campaign email? Unique Opens Clicks/Open

    • Schedule a Call by Date and Time when a specific lead status is selected

      Hi Wanting to create a workflow where a call can be scheduled by date & time when a specific lead status is selected. Can only currently set the date by Due Date - Trigger Date - Plus 'x' day(s) Thanks

    • Zoho CRM's Copy Customization functionality now works across DCs, for customized accounts, and more

      Availability This feature is available in Standard, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions. These changes have been rolled out to all users in all DCs. For more information, please refer to these help documents: Overview | Instructions Hello

    • How can I bold text on Zoho Forms submit buttons?

      In the old theme builder, I could bold the text on a form's submit button. With the new theme builder, I can only change the text of the header or fields in the form, and not the button itself.

    • Hiding Pre-defined Views

      You can enhance Zoho with custom views - but you cannot hide the pre-defined views. Most users focus on 4 or 5 views. Right now for EVERY user EVERY time they want to move to one of their 4 or 5 views - they have to scroll down past a long list of pre-defined views - we don't use ANY of the pre-defined views. Adding the feature to allow a predefined view to be hidden completely or only visible to certain users would be a big improvement in usability for Zoho CRM. This feature is already available

    • [Integration Edition] Deluge Learning Series – Third-Party Integrations with Deluge | October 2025

      We’re excited to continue this three-month edition of the Deluge Learning Series: Session 1 – Integrating Zoho Apps with Deluge Using Built-In Integration Tasks Session 2 – Integrating Zoho Apps with Deluge Using invokeURL and invokeAPI Session 3 – Third-Party

    • Feature Request: Tag, Search, and Report on Individual Private Comments

      Zoho Desk Team, First, I want to say that we are extensive users of Zoho Desk and it is a core part of our support operations. We rely heavily on the private comments feature for internal communication, knowledge sharing, and maintaining a clear history

    • Zoho CRM Community Digest - August 2025 | Part 2

      Hello Everyone! Here's a quick round-up of handy tips, clever workarounds, and product updates from late August. Product Updates: Meeting Enhancements in Zoho CRM! Track whether a meeting is online, in-office, or at the client’s location using the new

    • Assistance Needed: Ticket Status Not Updating and Sorting by Last Customer Reply in Zoho Desk

      Hello, I’m facing two issues in Zoho Desk that I’d like your guidance on: Ticket Status Not Updating: When a customer replies to a ticket, the status does not change to Reopened. Instead, it remains in Waiting on Customer, even after the customer’s response

    • Round robin

      Hi, I'm trying to set up a round robin to automatically distribute tickets between agents in my team but only those tickets that are not otherwise distributed by other workflows or direct assignments. Is that possible and if so which criteria should I

    • Time Entry Notifications

      Hi All - I have support staff who place notes of their work in the time entry section of Zoho Desk. Is there a specific workflow or setting I need to enable to have the ticket holder updated via email when an entry is saved?

    • Change text in help desk

      Hi, Please let me know how can i change the this text, see screenshot.

    • Customer happiness customisation

      Hi, I was wondering if it's possible to somehow customise to whom and when customer happiness request is sent? Can you enable it only for selected tickets for example based on workflow or any other criteria (customer name, tag or anything else)? Also

    • No Zoho Support Response in Months

      I want to say that I love Zoho FSM, Books, and CRM, but the support is scary bad. About 2-3 months ago, I emailed Zoho FSM support with two specific issues I needed help with, and I have still not received one single response. I also submitted a support

    • Null

      If a result is null how do I make it so that a custom error pops up instead of the default error? Can someone write an example as if I were using the script builder?

    • Format a "return" message

      Good day, Is there a way to format the message of the "return" function in CRM deluge script?

    • Having Trouble Opening The Candidate Portal

      Recently am having trouble opening the Candidate Portal. It keeps loading but cannot display any widgets. Tried Safari, Chrome and Edge. Non of them work. Please solve the problem ASAP.

    • Tip of the Week - Spot Risky Sales with Conditional Formatting

      In Zoho Analytics, small tweaks can lead to big insights. One such feature is Conditional formatting based on other columns, your key to instantly spotting where sales success is overshadowed by product returns. Our tip this week shows you how to apply

    • How do I duplicate / copy a campaign

      I am evaluation Zoho Campaigns and sent an email to one of my personal email accounts from Zoho Campaigns.  It went into my junk file in Hotmail. I want to duplicate that same (1-page) campaign and send it to another of my personal accounts to try to

    • For a Bill, can "Pay via Check" - Can we also "Pay via Check" when documenting refund for payment?

      We really like when we have a Bill in Zoho Books that we can record payment by selecting "Pay via Check" and that will cut the check for us from Zoho Books. However, when we have to write checks as a result of invoice overpayment, we can not select "Pay

    • Creator Change History: Ways to improve

      Hi Everyone, Recently been working in developing this change history(an idea from Zoho Forms) - unlike forms that you can this with a click but using Creator, we can use "old" keyword. The concept I come up with is to put the result in a table however,

    • Suitability of Zoho One (Single User License) for Multi-State GST Compliance & Cost Analysis

      Hello Zoho Team, I am an e-commerce business owner selling on platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Meesho, and I'm currently using their fulfillment warehouses. I have two GSTIN registrations and am planning to register for an additional 2-3 to expand

    • add employees and customiz

      I want a Zoho software to track employees record. I logged in a demo so now I tried adding employee, first thing when I click on add employee it takes me to a page where it says add user maximum 10 users, my first doubt why users I don't want employees

    • Inactive User Auto Response

      We use Zoho One, and we have a couple employees that are no longer with us, but people are still attempting to email them. I'd like an autoresponder to let them no the person is no longer here, and how they can reach us going forward. I saw a similar

    • Zoho People Attendance Module - Split Shifts

      Hello, Our business employs a number of college students who often split their workdays between work hours and class schedules, resulting in split shifts. For example: Employee 1 works 9am to 11:30am and then leaves for class, returning to work at 3pm

    • Zoho One subscription

      we have got Zoho CRM for 3 users and we paid for the app , and we have still 9 months to go , but if we join Zoho one , does it mean the payment for that subscription would be a waste? Please help. Thanks.

    • How Zoho CRM Can Enhance Your Faucets Accessories Business Operations?

      In today's competitive market, having a reliable CRM system is crucial for managing customer relationships and streamlining business operations. For businesses in the faucets accessories niche, Zoho CRM offers powerful tools to help manage everything

    • Dashboard

      I’m currently working on a project using the Zoho IoT Cloud with an ESP32 and MQTT. I’ve successfully connected the ESP32 to Wi-Fi and MQTT, and the data from the ESP32 is displayed in the telemetry section of the cloud. However, when I try to create

    • Can i connect 2 instagram accounts to 1 brand?

      Can i connect 2 instagram accounts to 1 brand? Or Do i need to create 2 brands for that? also under what subscription package will this apply?

    • Zoho Forms - Improved Sub-Forms

      Hi Forms team, I'm helping a client move from JotForms to Zoho Forms and I've found another opportunity for improvement. In the below screenshot, JotForm left and Zoho Forms right. The Zoho Forms Sub-Form is quite a poor visually. There is no way to make

    • What's New in Zoho Billing | Q3 2025

      Hello everyone, We are excited to share the latest set of updates and enhancements made to Zoho Billing in Q3 2025. From the latest GST updates to multi-level discounting, Zia-powered report summaries, and customizable web forms, these updates are designed

    • How to Delete Personal Account Linked with My Mobile Number in past or by someone else

      How to Delete Account Created with My Mobile Number in past or by someone else This is creating issues in making or sync with my credentials mobile and email address..

    • WhatsApp Business Calling API

      Dear Zoho SalesIQ Team, I would like to request a feature that allows users to call WhatsApp numbers directly via Zoho SalesIQ. This integration would enable sending and receiving calls to and from WhatsApp numbers over the internet, without the need

    • Does Zoho Learn integrate with Zoho Connect,People,Workdrive,Project,Desk?

      Can we propose Zoho LEarn as a centralised Knowledge Portal tool that can get synched with the other Zoho products and serve as a central Knowledge repository?

    • Marketer's Space - Going beyond basics: Smarter ecommerce marketing with Zoho Campaigns

      Hello Marketers, Welcome back to this week's Marketer's Space. In the last post, we discussed the basics of email marketing and how to get started with email marketing in ecommerce. In this part, we'll dive much deeper into some other advanced features

    • Connecting two modules - phone number

      Hi, I’d like some guidance on setting up an automation in Zoho CRM that links records between the Leads module and a custom module called Customer_Records whenever the phone numbers match. Here’s what I’m trying to achieve: When a new Lead is created

    • Zoho Marketing Automation 2.0 - Landing Page function not working

      Dear Zoho Team, I am working on implementing Zoho Marketing Automation 2.0, and am now looking into the section "Lead Generation". If I open the "Landing Pages" section, I immediately get an Error code: Error: internal error occurred. Can you help me

    • Unable to use Sign "You have entereed some invalid characters"

      Unable to use Sign "You have entered some invalid characters" I do not see any invalid characters. The text in "Leave a Note" is plain text which I entered directly into the field. See attached screenshot

    • cannot login from outlook on mobile

      Hi there,   I tried to set up my email accounts on my iphone using outlook, but it always return email address and password error. Please find the attachment for the screenshot. I am pretty sure that I typed in the correct email address and password and the imap has been enabled from zoho admin account. I can configure the email address on iphone default mail service as well as outlook on pc, the problem only occurs on the outlook app on mobile. I do need to use this app instead of the iphone default

    • Elevate your CX delivery using CommandCenter 2.0: Simplified builder; seamless orchestration

      Most businesses want to create memorable customer experiences—but they often find it hard to keep them smooth, especially as they grow. To achieve a state of flow across their processes, teams often stitch together a series of automations using Workflow

    • Next Page