First, keep in mind that Zoho CRM is missing Verification rules. I you need to make sure the address id filled before changing a Deal Stage or Lead Status you are dead. There is nothing to ask users to fill data before they do something.
An "Alternative" are the Blueprints. You can setup verification rules in transitions. So we are trying to create some Blueprints.
The problem: Even in Lead Status or Deal Stages users need to be allowed to go back to previous states some times. For example:
A Lead goes from State "Unanswered" to "Interested" and after a few weeks stop answering the phone and guess what, he needs to go back to State "Unanswered". (THIS IS A BLUEPRINT LOOP)
A Deal goes from Stage "Asking for documents" to "Documents completed" and after next department review they found they need an extra document, so, the Deal needs to go back to "Asking for documents". (AGAIN THIS IS A BLUEPRINT LOOP).
So when setting up Blueprints like this were a transition comes back to the same State where is started this message comes up:
"We need Blueprints to contro
One or more of your State sequences is not configured correctly. You cannot use a sequence that creates a loop (e.g. State A > State B > State A). Please reorder your States to avoid any loops."
It's ok that the system warning about LOOPS, still they MUST be allowed. So a "warning" is enough and by been a warning allow you to save the Blueprint and use those LOOPS.
An alternative is to allow multiple transitions to be Common. In this case we are setting up Lead States with blueprints and a Lead state must be allowed from any other state. This means all transitions must be common or allow loops.
Stopping Loops at all is a HUGE PROBLEM, turn it into Warnings and allow to use them.