What's New in Zoho Expense: August - October 2023

What's New in Zoho Expense: August - October 2023

Hello users,
We're back again with our What's New post to inform you about the most exciting feature rollouts over the past three months. An all-new edition, an integration for business travel management, iOS 17 updates, and more are in store for you! Get set to delve into the full details and read everything there is to know about these new features.

New edition - Germany

We're excited to announce the launch of another regional edition—Zoho Expense: Germany. If your organization is operating in Germany, simply select the country as Germany on the sign-up page to get started. You can then enable VAT, and Zoho Expense will preconfigure the applicable tax rates for businesses in Germany. While recording business expenses, users can choose the appropriate VAT treatment and VAT rates from the options provided. You can also access Zoho Expense in Deutsch, if required. Additionally, if mileage is enabled in your organization, the government-suggested mileage rates for the car and motorcycle vehicle types will be automatically fetched to Zoho Expense.

Self-booking through GetThere

If you're an organization that lets your employees book tickets online, then this integration would be a great addition for you! With the GetThere integration, your employees can directly book tickets for their business trips from within Zoho Expense. If you don't want all your employees to self-book, simply select the users who can directly book tickets using GetThere. Additionally, you can easily set up the organization's travel policies in GetThere so employees can book tickets in compliance with the company's policies. Learn more.

Report automation for corporate card expenses

Enable report automation to automatically generate a report that will compile the expenses made using a corporate card. A report will be automatically created on the billing date you've configured and all expenses incurred using your corporate card will be attached to the report. You can set up automatic submission, if required.

To set up report automation for corporate cards: Go to Admin View > Settings > Report Automation. Hover over Corporate Card Expenses and click Configure Now. Set up your preferences and click Save.

Updates in delegate configuration

Now, you can set the start date and the end date by which a delegate should cease having access to your account. This feature will come in handy when you want to assign delegates for future dates. At the same time, you can modify the access given to your account, whenever required. Users can also view the list of previous delegates that were assigned for them in My View and the admins can view the list of all the delegates that have been assigned for a user in the Admin View. The list will have the details of each delegate's Access Type, Duration, and Added By date.

For Admins: Go to Admin View > Settings > Users. Select a user and scroll down to the Delegate Details section to configure the delegate access.
For Submitters and Approvers: Go to My View > My Settings. Scroll down to the My Delegate section to configure the delegate access.

Webhooks revamp

The following changes were made in webhooks:
  • Query parameters are now supported.
  • Three types of body types are now supported - Default Payload, x-www-form-urlencoded, and raw JSON.
  • Secret key support has been added. It will be used to ensure that the API is triggered by Zoho Expense by comparing the hash value in the header (X-Zoho-Webhook-Signature). You need to have the same token on your server in order to compute a hash value.
  • Placeholders can now be inserted in the URL field, query parameters, form URL encoded parameters, and raw JSON.
To create a webhook: Go to Admin View > Settings > Actions > Webhooks > + New Webhook.


Set up tax-inclusive expense limits

When you configure rules to set up limits for your expenses on the Policies page, you can now mark if the expense amount should be inclusive of tax. If you check the "Limit amount is inclusive of tax" checkbox in Policies, the rule will be executed only if the amount exceeds the sum of the expense amount and tax.

To set up tax inclusive expense limits: Go to Admin View > Settings > Policies. Select a policy and navigate to the Rules tab. Select a rule and check the "Limit is inclusive of tax" option. Click Save.



Force delete custom module

Earlier, if you had records under a custom module, you would not have been able to delete the custom module. However, based on popular customer requests, we're now providing an option to delete a custom module even if there are records in it.

To force delete a custom module: Go to Admin View > Settings > Modules. Click the module you want to delete. Click the Gear icon next to the module name and click Delete. In the pop-up that opens, click Delete. A force delete pop-up will open; click Force Delete.


Revert custom status

If you've created your own custom status for a module and have applied it on a record, you can now revert it back to its corresponding default status in Zoho Expense whenever required.

Help text for custom fields

Introducing help text for custom fields! Whenever you create a custom field, you can now add a note in the Help Text field to help users understand the purpose of the field. If you've added help text for a custom field, users will be able to view this text when they hover over the help icon next to the custom field.

To add a help text for custom fields: Go to Admin View > Settings > Modules. Select the module for which you want to add a custom field with help text. Navigate to the Fields tab. Click + New Field. Enter the Label Name and Data Type. The Help Text field will appear. Enter the help text and click Save.



Per diem preferences for expense types

When you create a new expense type, you can now select if you want to configure per diem for the expense type. Additionally, you can choose if you want to record the expense type as a component or a supplement and select the ways by which you can record per diem expenses for this expense type.

To configure per diem preferences for expense types: Go to Admin View > Settings > Modules > Categories. Navigate to Expense Types. Click + New Expense Type. Enter the name and select a default category. Mark the "Configure per diem for this expense type" option and click Save.

​

Preferences for chatlets

You can now enable chatlets for reports and trips from the respective Preferences page. If chatlet is enabled, all the admins and approvers can create chatlets by default. However, if you'd like to provide access to all users to create chatlets, you can select that option. This feature is only available for the Premium and Enterprise plans of Zoho Expense.

To configure chatlet preferences: Go to Admin View > Settings > Modules > Reports or Trips. Mark the "Enable Chatlets" option and click Save.


Fetch Canadian tax rates automatically

Zoho Expense can now fetch the Canadian government's tax rates and agencies automatically! If you create a new organization with Canada as the Country and enable "Taxes," all the government-suggested tax rates and agencies will be auto-fetched to allow users to apply them to their expenses. Additionally, if you have custom tax rates, you can create them as well.

Select a delivery address for purchase requests

When you create a purchase request, you can now choose the delivery address. The organization's primary address will be prefilled by default. However, admins will be able to add a new address or edit the existing address.


iOS app updates

  • Zoho Expense is now iOS17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma ready! Access shortcuts from Spotlight, view real-time updates on the distance covered using GPS, the time left for your flight on your lock screen, Dynamic Island with Live Activities, and view pending tasks by Zia with the interactive widgets.
  • For VAT-enabled Germany edition organizations, Zoho Expense will automatically fetch the government tax rates so users can apply them to their expenses. Similarly, the government's mileage rates will also be readily available to apply to your mileage expenses.

Android app updates

  • If you've enabled VAT for your Germany edition organizations, the government tax rates will be automatically available, and users can apply them to their expenses.
  • Improved accuracy of mileage tracking using GPS.

Explore a more efficient way to manage expenses with these new features. Try them and drop your feedback in the comments. Need assistance? Contact us at support@zohoexpense.com.

Regards, 
The Zoho Expense Team

    • Recent Topics

    • Iteration through a list - Coming up against a "Failure to update function" error

      Hi there! I've been attempting to get a deluge script working and am running into an error that I have been unable to resolve. The error I am getting is Failed to update function Error at line :18. Improper Statement. Error might be due to missing ';'
    • Can you modify "Last Activity Time" in deluge? If so what's the field name?

      I need to perform some bulk modifications on records in the Leads module, but I need to avoid changing the "last activity time" or "date modified" because I am using those fields to filter and sort leads for follow-up action. I cannot find an answer anywhere
    • How do I define a weekend

      I noticed the default for weekends does not seem to include Saturdays. How can i define weekends to include both Saturdays and Sundays? Thank you.
    • 【Zoho CRM】ポータル機能のアップデート

      ユーザーの皆さま、こんにちは。コミュニティチームの藤澤です。 今回は「Zoho CRM アップデート情報」の中からポータル機能のアップデートをご紹介します。 今回の機能アップデートにより、CRMのポータルへのログインがより簡単にできるようになりました。 【目次】 SAMLベースのシングルサインオンについて ポータルへのアクセスリンク送付について 今回のアップデートにより、アイデンティティプロバイダー(IdP)を利用している組織において、SAMLベースのSSO(シングルサインオン)を有効化できるようになりました!
    • Getting error during inserting a record in form of zoho people using zoho api

      import requests import json # Set your access token and Zoho People API base URL access_token = '1000.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX' api_base_url = 'https://people.zoho.in/people/api/' # Set the form name and data to be inserted form_link_name
    • UI Arabic

      can i change the member portal UI to arabic in zoho community?
    • Resume template to include profile photo

      Hi, We would love the Resume Template to be able to include their profile photo. How can this be done? Miriam
    • Marking a form as 'done'?

      Hi! I've got a form that staff fill in when moving stock from location to location. I see the entries they've sent across and I input them into my stock control system. Is there a way to mark a form as 'done'? So that I know which entries I've input,
    • Zoho CRM - best way to search an account and assign to a deal

      Hi Everyone I am looking for some advice. I want to find the best way to complete the below steps. We have a deal and once it reaches a certain stage we need to allocate a supplier / vendor to this deal along with the salesperson. I want to add (ideally
    • How to easy change layout in existing records in Deals?

      Hello, So far i have used only 1 layout in Deals. I have about 1000 records. Now i want to make new layout. So i have 2 layouts: Layout Old (1000 records) Layout New (0 records) How to easy change layout from Layout Old into Layout New for existing records?
    • Zoho Rating

      When I close a ticket, the zoho system automatically sends an email to the customer for them to leave a rating. When they leave a rating, the ticket re-opens and I have to close it again. When I close it again, the zoho system sends the customer an email
    • Zoho GC Flow is not showing in IM Channels

      I have added my social IM channels in zoho desk. Created a GC Flow to automate conversations. But Guided conversations are not showing in any platforms I have chosen; WhatsApp Instagram Messenger Web (Business Messaging) In the flow I mentioned these
    • Sharing Knowledge Base articles across multiple departments

      It would be useful to share some Knowledge Base articles across multiple departments where they are applicable, rather than having to go into other departments to find the article you're looking for. For example. Our reception uses the 'Admin' desk whereas our IT guys use the 'Support' desk, however both divisions would find KB articles about our company intranet useful. Reception does not have access to the support desk, so cannot see articles created in the Support KB. Perhaps you could install
    • Contacts marked as Spam are shown as Contacts in tickets.

      Hi Zoho, If a ticket is marked manually as Spam you get an option to set the contact as Spam as well. It would be great if there was another option to delete this Contact. This would be based on the understanding that it wouldn't be marked automatically
    • Is possible to use ${webhookTrigger.payload.street==null?"No street":${webhookTrigger.payload.street}} for to detect inline a null parameter

      Hi Team I need to know if it's possible to evaluate inline the following parameter, with the objetive to detect a null value ? I would like to use ${webhookTrigger.payload.street==null?"No street":${webhookTrigger.payload.street}} Regards, Pablo
    • Real Estate CRM

      How can I tailor my CRM for real estate? I had seen an image where the CRM included property tabs.
    • Issue with Bulk Edit Triggering Function Multiple Times in Zoho Report

      In our Zoho report, we have observed an issue where executing a function during a bulk edit operation runs the function multiple times—once for each selected report entry. This behavior is causing errors due to overlapping or redundant executions. Our
    • Is there a Kanban view of Tasks across all Projects?

      As the title indicates, I could use a Kanban view of my Tasks across my Projects. If it's there, I don't see it. If it isn't there, I'd like to submit this as a feature request. Thx.
    • Set recurring tasks in Zoho Support?

      Hello,   We use the task function in Zoho Support to set reminders for "due dates" of important events, such as lease expirations, etc. Is it possible to set some of these as recurring yearly? As of now, we have to reset every task manually after one year. Is there a way to have it reset automatically?   Additionally, is there a way to import a list of tasks and their dates into Zoho Calendar? I have not been able to do it from Zoho Support to Calendar. I tried exporting tasks from Zoho Support,
    • Help - How Can I Enter a Hourly Rate (Global Cost) for our Team for Profitability Reporting?

      Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone can help as I am at a loss and am quite shocked (if true) at the lack of functionality in Zoho Books. We run a company in which we do hourly jobs for clients and we bill based on the hours of work completed. Projects are
    • Schedule a regular backup

      In CRM I have a regular backup setup. I cannot find an option to backup Desk? I would like to take a backup before I test syncing products between CMR and Desk.
    • Limit who can submit a support ticket to your site?

      Does anyone have a use case for needing to limit who can submit tickets via your help portal? Some of our customers want to have end-users view our knowledge base articles and see tickets their IT groups have submitted but they do not want end-users to
    • Is there a way to request a password?

      We add customers info into the vaults and I wanted to see if we could do some sort of "file request" like how dropbox offers with files. It would be awesome if a customer could go to a link and input a "title, username, password, url" all securely and it then shows up in our team vault or something. Not sure if that is safe, but it's the best I can think of to be semi scalable and obviously better than sending emails. I am open to another idea, just thought this would be a great feature.  Thanks,
    • Allow us to disable the Reopen Ticket button after a ticket is closed

      Disabling the Reopen Ticket will allow us to have more control over the ticket's flow. According to support, this is currently not possible. Please add this to let us, the customers, mold the ticketing system into something that we can use for our business
    • How to Enforce Mandatory Fields (Category/Sub-category) Before Closing a Ticket?

      Hi, I'm currently using Zoho Desk and encountering an issue where agents are able to close tickets without filling out mandatory fields, specifically Category and Sub-category. I’ve already set them both as a mandatory field, but it can still be bypassed
    • Admin Control for Default Email Templates in Zoho Desk

      Hi Zoho Desk Team, We would like to request a feature enhancement related to default email templates. Currently, agents can select and set their own default email templates when replying to tickets. However, we believe this setting should be managed centrally
    • Lock out of account after password update

      This is a bit of a catch 22 situation. I updated my account password using password generator in ZohoValut. Now I am locked out of everything, as I cannot get into OneAuth for 2FA, as the password is randomly generated, without getting into ZohoValut,
    • Guidance on Making Zoho Desk Connections Available for All Data Centers

      Hi Team, I’m currently developing an application using Zoho Desk connections to manage OAuth for my third-party products. Could you please advise on the steps required to make it available across all data centers? Looking forward to your thoughts on
    • Multibrand Help Center - Share knowledge base catgories between multiple departments

      Hello, I would like to know if it is possible to share categories between multiple departments when the multi brand feature is enabled. So that then one portal exists per department, but certain categories are visible in multiple portals. After all, we
    • Unable to upload document error on zoho sign

      i am creating a document using laravel php and here is my code and i get this reponse {"code":2005,"message":"Unable to upload the document","status":"failure"} $path = storage_path($file); $ch = curl_init(); curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, 'https://sign.zoho.com/api/v1/requests');
    • Cloud to cloud folder migration from Sharepoint to Workdrive

      I am aware of OneDrive migration: https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/kb/workdrive/migrations/microsoft/articles/migrate-from-onedrive-to-zoho-workdrive#Whats_migrated would this cover a Sharepoint migration meaning I can move a whole Sharepoint (team) folder
    • Zoho Sign / Prefill By You - Editable by Them!

      Zoho Sign seems to have two field options available - an empty field for signer(s) to complete or a field that has been prefilled by you, that becomes read only once sent.  What I would like is an option on the pre-filled by you fields, to leave them
    • How to sort a data in summary report with Monthly ?

      Hi Team, Can any one help me out how to sort a data based on monthly, Month was shuffled based on aliphatic order. i want to sort the below data monthy?
    • Kiosk Studio wrap-up | How our community used kiosks in 2024

      Hello, everyone! Happy new year! The end of 2024 has been busy, and 2025 promises to be bigger and better. As we ring in the new year, let's rewind and look at Kiosk Studio, our no-code customization tool. The past 300 days have seen the CRM community
    • Zoho Crm - Inventory Integration

      Hello, I need help about Map Fields between CRM and Inventory. For Example, I can't match amount of stock between these 2. I can put opening stock number  in Inventory but I can't see it on CRM. Also I want to see categories and parent categories on Inventory, in CRM too. Best Regards.
    • Inventory Valuation Method Feature

      Zoho added another feature so called Inventory Valuation Method of each Item. This is actually good to see and it will benefit us so much but I have a question on this. For Existing Items that already have transactions, Zoho made it a default and assumed
    • Where is the customization and extendibility of zoho inventory?

      After delving into zoho one subscription to test out systems we need for our business, I'm really disappointed after working in Zoho Inventory. Its features and customizability are extremely lacking compared to the other tools like CRM. In our case we
    • Organization Variables - Restrict Access

      Currently, there is no way to restrict the access to organization variables. This leads to a problem when storing API related values that should be kept secret as anyone with access to create and edit email templates, workflow rules, or inventory templates
    • Zoho takes too long to load...

      I am based in Europe and in the last couple of weeks, Zoho CRM takes minutes even to load modules. Is there a specific reason this is happening? Is this happening to other people?
    • Modules are continuously loading

      Hi! We are not able to open the task modules, it keeps continuously loading
    • Next Page