Kaizen #138 - How are Widgets used in Zoho CRM Settings?

Kaizen #138 - How are Widgets used in Zoho CRM Settings?

Hello all!
In last week's Kaizen, we covered the Lead Conversion using Zoho CRM APIs. This week, we will dive into how widgets on the setup page can be helpful. 

What are Widgets?

Widgets are embeddable UI components that you can create and add to your Zoho CRM. You can use widgets to perform functions that utilize data from third-party applications. You can build widgets for Zoho CRM using our JS SDK.

Use Case

Problem Statement : 

Consider Zylker, an organization that uses Zoho CRM across for its sales and marketing teams to streamline customer relationship management. Zylker is looking for ways to ensure teams access their own knowledge base within Zoho CRM.

Solution : Widgets on the setup page enable Zylker to address this challenge.

Zylker can set up a useful Knowledge Base Hub section directly on the Zoho CRM setup page with different menus and sub menus. This allows their teams to easily categorize and access all existing training materials, guides, and other resources, without having to switch to the respective websites. Everything is conveniently located within Zoho CRM, making it easier for users to find the information. 

Note that Widgets can also be used in the Web Tabs that matches our current use case. But why should Zylker go for Widgets on the Setup page instead of Web Tabs? Like modules, the Web Tabs are showcased in the modules section to access the business data, which can get mixed up with Zylker's training materials. Here, Widgets on the setup page let you create menus and sub-menus, making it easier to find the right training resources.

How do I create a widget on the setup page?

  1. Go to Setup > Developer Hub > Widgets.
  2. Click Create New Widget. 
  3. Specify the following for your widget:
    1. Name - Name of the widget
    2. Description - Additional information about the widget.
    3. Type - Indicates the widget type. In our case, the widget is used in Settings.
    4. Hosting - Represents the hosting type of the widget. In our case, the widget is hosted externally.
The below GIF shows how you can create a widget in settings.
Creating Widget
Note that there are two types of hosting Zoho CRM widgets. They are External hosting and Internal hosting. As we discussed above, Zylker wants to provide users with easy access to the existing documentation and training materials for all available features. So, the Zylker uses the external hosting by adding documentation links directly when creating a widget. 

Example: Creating a widget for accessing Zoho CRM API documentation. You can repeat this process to create a widget for each feature and add its respective documentation link.

Note:  You can create a maximum of 200 Widgets in Enterprise and Ultimate Editions.

Associating a Widget to the Setup page

Once configured, Zylker can deploy the widget to the Setup page in Zoho CRM, making resources readily available to their teams. The below steps shows how to associate a widget.

Step 1 : Go to the Setup page.
Step 2 : To create a new group on the setup page, click the Customize Setup button. 
Customize the Setup page
     
The below GIF shows creating a new group on the setup page.
Creating a group on the Setup page

Step 3 : Once the new group is created, Zylker can create a menu to associate the hosted widget with that group.Note that you need to associate widgets before saving the Setup Page Layout.

Here is what you will need to specify while associating widget :
  • Name : Name of the menu. Example : API Documentation.
  • Submenu : Multiple tabs can be created under one menu. For example, within the API Documentation menu, additional API-related documentations or tutorial videos can be associated. In our case, the Zoho CRM API webinar has been linked for sample as a related topic under the API Documentation menu. Note that each submenu needs a widget to be associated.


  • Source : Select Widget from the source.
  • Action : Zylker can either associate an existing widget or create a new one and then associate it with the menu.
  • Permission : Zylker can set permission to a set of users to access the widget within the organization.
The below GIF shows how to associate a widget.


The below GIF shows a few sample help documentations easily viewable in the widgets.
Existing knowledge resource available on the Setup page via Widgets.
With various menus and submenus, Zylker's teams can conveniently categorize and access all training materials, guides, and resources without the need to switch to external websites. 

We trust that this post meets your needs and is helpful. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section or reach out to us at support@zohocrm.com.
Stay tuned for more insights in our upcoming Kaizen posts!

Cheers!

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