Kaizen #137 - Lead Conversion using Zoho CRM APIs
Leads represent potential sales opportunities sourced from various channels like trade shows, seminars, and marketing campaigns. When a Lead shows promise, you can convert them into Accounts, Contacts, and Deals.
Imagine you have a Lead named Pat Boyle with her email address as pat.boyle@zylker.com. You want to convert her into a Contact, but what if a Contact with the same email already exists? Converting the lead would create a duplicate record, making it harder to track your interactions with the lead.
The Lead Conversion Options API acts as your safety net before Lead Conversion. This API assists in identifying matching records from the Accounts, and Contacts module, ensuring data integrity and preventing duplication during the conversion process.
Step 1 : Identify matching records using Lead Conversion Options API
Consider the following lead generated through a marketing campaign for a software company.
Name : Pat Boyle
Company : Zylker Biotech
Phone : 9844444444
Email : pat.boyle@zylker.com
As the sales team progresses with Pat Boyle and decides to convert her into an Account or a Contact, they must be cautious about potential duplicates in their CRM. For instance, if there is already an Account named Zylker Biotech or a Contact named Pat Boyle, converting the lead to create a new Contact could create duplicate records. The Lead Conversion Options API response provides details of potential matches, including existing Accounts or Contacts, along with matching field details.
Matching Criteria:
The matching process relies on unique fields in the Contacts and Accounts modules. In cases where there are no unique fields in these modules, or when there are no matches found based on the unique fields, the matching is performed based on the Email field in the Contacts module, the Account_Name field in the Accounts module with the Company field of the fields module, or the Lead name with the Contact name.
Here is the order of preference for finding the matching records:
In the presence of unique fields in Contacts and/or Accounts module:
- Contacts module : Unique Field 1 > Unique Field 2 > Email
- Accounts module : Unique Field 1 > Unique Field 2 > Account name
In the absence of unique fields:
- Lead Email checked against the Email fields in the Contacts module.
- Lead Company checked against the account names (Account_Name) in the Accounts module.
- The lead's name checked against the Contacts' names in the Contacts module.
In our scenario, let us assume that the Phone in Contacts module is a unique field.
Request method : GET
Sample Response :
{ "__conversion_options": { "module_preference": { "api_name": "Contacts", "id": "4876876000000002179" }, "Contacts": [ { "Full_Name": "Boyle", "Email": "pat.boyle@zylker.com", "Phone": null, "Locked__s": false, "Account_Name": null, "$editable": true, "id": "4876876000007437017", "$approval_state": "approved", "Data_Processing_Basis": "null" }, { "Full_Name": "Pat Boyle", "Email": null, "Phone": "9844444444", "Locked__s": false, "Account_Name": { "name": "Zylker Biotech", "Locked__s": false, "id": "4876876000007421010" }, "$editable": true, "id": "4876876000007421001", "$approval_state": "approved", "Data_Processing_Basis": "null" } ], "preference_field_matched_value": { "Contacts": [ { "field": { "api_name": "Phone", "id": "4876876000000002503" }, "matched_lead_value": "9844444444" }, { "field": { "api_name": "Email", "id": "4876876000000002497" }, "matched_lead_value": "pat.boyle@zylker.com" } ], "Accounts": [ { "field": { "api_name": "Account_Name", "id": "4876876000000002425" }, "matched_lead_value": "Zylker Biotech" }, { "field": { "api_name": "Phone", "id": "4876876000000002427" }, "matched_lead_value": "9844444444" } ] }, "Accounts": [ { "Layout": { "name": "Standard", "id": "4876876000000091029" }, "Phone": null, "Account_Type": null, "Locked__s": false, "Website": null, "Account_Name": "Zylker Biotech", "$editable": true, "id": "4876876000007421010", "$approval_state": "approved" } ], "modules_with_multiple_layouts": [ // { "api_name": "Accounts", "id": "4876876000000002177" } ] } } |
The preference_field_matched_value object in the response contains the details such as the field and the value of the Contact and Account that matches with the lead. The Contacts and Accounts JSON objects contain the details of the matching records. As per the response, there are two Contacts and one Account with similar details to our Lead.
- A Contact (Pat Boyle) has the same Phone 9844444444 (matching field) as the Lead
- A Contact (Boyle) with the same Email pat.boyle@zylker.com (matching field) as the Lead
- An Account with the same Account_Name Zylker Biotech as the Company of the Lead.
Step 2 : Perform Lead Conversion using Convert Lead API
You can convert a Lead into a Contact, Account, and a Deal using this API. From the Lead conversion options API, we have the matching Contacts and Accounts for the specific deal. Based on the Lead Conversion Options API's response, you can choose to create a new record in the Contacts or Accounts module, or move the Lead record to existing matching records in these modules during Lead Conversion.
During Lead conversion, the Lead's field values are mapped to the corresponding Accounts, Contacts, and Deals records. By default, Zoho CRM automatically maps standard Lead fields to their corresponding fields in Accounts, Contacts, and Deals. The lead mapping tool allows for customization, enabling you to map any additional fields specific to your sales process.
Request method: POST
Input JSON keys:
Input JSON key | Description |
overwrite Boolean, optional | Represents whether to overwrite the account name in the contact if the account name and company in the lead mismatch. Ignored when the Lead has no value for the Company field. true: Overwrites the Contact's Account name with the Lead's company name. false: Leaves the existing Account name unchanged, potentially causing inconsistencies. Default value : false |
notify_lead_owner Boolean, optional | Specifies whether the lead owner should be notified about the lead conversion via email. Default value : false |
notify_new_entity_owner Boolean, optional | Specifies whether the owner of the newly created Contact or Account receives an email notification Default value : false |
move_attachments_to JSON object, optional | Specify the module (Contacts, Deals, or Accounts) where you want to move the Lead's attachments after conversion. Default value : Contacts |
Accounts JSON object, optional | Specify the account with which the lead being converted should be merged. Pass the valid account ID. |
Contacts JSON object, optional | Specify the contact with which the lead being converted should be merged. Pass the valid contact ID. |
assign_to JSON object, optional | The user to which the converted record should be assigned. Pass the valid user ID. |
Deals JSON object, optional | Create a new Deal associated with the converted Lead. Requires details like Deal_Name, Closing_Date, Pipeline, and Stage. You can also assign a Contact_Role by providing the unique contact role ID. |
carry_over_tags JSON object, optional | Carries over tags of the lead to contact, account, and deal. |
Case I : Convert Lead to merge with existing records:
In this case, you can merge the lead record with existing records in the Accounts and/or Contacts module to avoid duplication. You can also create a Deal record providing the necessary details like Deal_Name, Closing_Date, Pipeline, and Stage.
Sample Input:
{ "data": [ { "overwrite": true, "notify_lead_owner": true, "notify_new_entity_owner": true, "Accounts": { "id": "4876876000007421010" }, "Contacts": { "id": "4876876000007421001" }, "Deals": { "Deal_Name": "Zylker Deal", "Closing_Date": "2024-10-20", "Stage": "Negotiation/Review", "Amount": 20000000, "Pipeline": "Standard (Standard)" } } ] } |
Sample Response:
{ "data": [ { "code": "SUCCESS", "details": { "Contacts": { "name": "Pat Boyle", "id": "4876876000007421001" }, "Deals": { "name": "Zylker Deal", "id": "4876876000007459060" }, "Accounts": { "name": "Zylker Biotech", "id": "4876876000007421010" } }, "message": "The record has been converted successfully", "status": "success" } ] } |
Points to Note:
- If the record data doesn't match perfectly with the Lead data, an INVALID_DATA error will be thrown. For example,If you try to merge the Lead with a Contact or Account not found in the Lead Conversion Options API response, you will encounter this error if the data doesn't match.
- During lead conversion, you can transfer the lead to a contact, an account, or both. If you transfer to a contact that is already linked to an account, the lead will automatically be converted and associated with that account as well.
- To successfully merge a Lead record with an existing Contact and Account record, the Contact should be associated with the specified Account. If not, you will get an INVALID_DATA error.
- If the Lead record's Company field is empty, and no account is specified in the JSON input, an account will not be automatically created. However, even if you omit the account in the input JSON, a new account will be created if there is Company name associated with the Lead.
- Unless specified, a deal record will not be created.
Case II : Convert Lead and create new records:
If the Accounts and Contacts records are not specified during the Lead conversion, new Contact and Account records will be created from the converted Lead, mapping the field values according to the field mapping.
Points to Note :
- If there already exists a record in the Accounts or Contacts module with the same value for a unique field as the lead being converted, a DUPLICATE_DATA error will be thrown, with details about the existing record found in the Accounts or Contacts module.
- Unless specified, a deal record will not be created.
Sample Input:
{ "data": [ { "overwrite": true, "notify_lead_owner": true, "notify_new_entity_owner": true } ] } |
Sample Response:
{ "data": [ { "code": "SUCCESS", "details": { "Contacts": { "name": "Pat Boyle", "id": "4876876000007482059" }, "Deals": null, "Accounts": { "name": "Zylker Biotech", "id": "4876876000007482056" } }, "message": "The record has been converted successfully", "status": "success" } ] } |
Important Points :
- If the Contacts module is removed from organize modules, lead conversion is not allowed. In such cases, the Lead Conversion Options API will return a 204 response.
- If the Accounts module is removed from organize modules, the Lead Conversion Options API will not consider Accounts for matching. Only Contacts-related matching options will be listed.
- If the Company field is removed from the Leads module, Account-related matching will be skipped, and only contact-related options will be listed.
- You cannot convert Leads that are locked or have not been approved yet.
- Associating Leads with locked Contacts or Accounts is not possible.
- If the Lead you are trying to convert has already been converted, the ID_ALREADY_CONVERTED error will be thrown.
- To convert leads in bulk, use the Mass Convert Lead API, using which you can convert up to 50 leads in a single API call. The Mass Convert Lead API schedules a conversion job for the specified leads. You can then retrieve the details of the conversion job using the Mass Convert Lead Status API.
We hope that you found this post on Lead Conversion useful. If you have any queries or need further assistance, please feel free to comment below or email us at support@zohocrm.com. We are here to help!
Recommended Reads:
- Get Lead conversion options API
- Convert Lead API
- Mass convert Lead API
- Get status of mass Lead Conversion
- Convert Leads
- FAQs on Lead Management
- Lead Conversion - Field Mapping
- Tips on Lead Conversion Mapping
Previous Post : Zoho CRM Widgets using ReactJS | Kaizen Collection : Home
Join us for our upcoming Zoho CRM Developer Series: Zoho CRM APIs, where you can explore more about Zoho CRM APIs. Register Now!
Access your files securely from anywhere
Centralize Knowledge. Transform Learning.
All-in-one knowledge management and training platform for your employees and customers.
New to Zoho Recruit?
Zoho Developer Community
New to Zoho LandingPage?
Zoho LandingPage Resources
New to Zoho Survey?
New to Zoho CRM Plus?
Deliver unforgettable customer experiences
New to Zoho CRM Plus?
Deliver unforgettable customer experiences
New to Zoho Marketing Plus?
Everything you need to run your marketing
New to Zoho Marketing Plus?
Everything you need to run your marketing
New to Bigin?
Topic Participants
Anu Abraham
Vigneshwaran K
Sticky Posts
Kaizen #198: Using Client Script for Custom Validation in Blueprint
Nearing 200th Kaizen Post – 1 More to the Big Two-Oh-Oh! Do you have any questions, suggestions, or topics you would like us to cover in future posts? Your insights and suggestions help us shape future content and make this series better for everyone.Kaizen #226: Using ZRC in Client Script
Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of Kaizen. In today's post, lets see what is ZRC (Zoho Request Client) and how we can use ZRC methods in Client Script to get inputs from a Salesperson and update the Lead status with a single button click. In thisKaizen #222 - Client Script Support for Notes Related List
Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of Kaizen. The final Kaizen post of the year 2025 is here! With the new Client Script support for the Notes Related List, you can validate, enrich, and manage notes across modules. In this post, we’ll explore howKaizen #217 - Actions APIs : Tasks
Welcome to another week of Kaizen! In last week's post we discussed Email Notifications APIs which act as the link between your Workflow automations and you. We have discussed how Zylker Cloud Services uses Email Notifications API in their custom dashboard.Kaizen #216 - Actions APIs : Email Notifications
Welcome to another week of Kaizen! For the last three weeks, we have been discussing Zylker's workflows. We successfully updated a dormant workflow, built a new one from the ground up and more. But our work is not finished—these automated processes are
New to Zoho TeamInbox?
Zoho TeamInbox Resources
Zoho CRM Plus Resources
Zoho Books Resources
Zoho Subscriptions Resources
Zoho Projects Resources
Zoho Sprints Resources
Qntrl Resources
Zoho Creator Resources
Zoho CRM Resources
Design. Discuss. Deliver.
Zoho Show Resources
Get Started. Write Away!
Writer is a powerful online word processor, designed for collaborative work.
Zoho CRM コンテンツ
-
オンラインヘルプ
-
Webセミナー
-
機能活用動画
-
よくある質問
-
Ebook
-
-
Zoho Campaigns
- Zoho サービスのWebセミナー
その他のサービス コンテンツ
Nederlandse Hulpbronnen
ご検討中の方
Recent Topics
Validation rule for Date field
The condition settings for a Date field are are absolutlly usless. Conditions can only be set for a specific date, which is logically ineffective in most cases. When setting a condition for a Date field, users usually need to compare the value relativeEasily map shift data fields during user imports
Greetings all, You can now include all your shift-related data for your users without any hassle during user imports. With this enhancement, the Map Import Fields to Zoho CRM option includes all shift-related fields: Current Shift, Next Shift, and ShiftUnable to send
Hello, I am unble to send any single email during the whole time due to the Zoho IP 136.143.188.16 being bloked by SpamCop.net Please help can somebody help me?How do you arrange order in which the speakers are listed in a session once they have been selected?
Probably another simple thing I've missed but I can't find how to arrange the order in which the speakers are listed in a session once they have been selected. We usually want the speakers listed alphabetically by last name, but sometimes not. Once theProduct Updates in Zoho Workplace applications | February 2026
Hello Workplace Community, Let’s take a look at the new features and enhancements that went live across all Workplace applications for the month of February. Zoho Mail Organize Personal Notes with Collections You can now create collections under My PersonalBank Feed shows redacted description numbers (xxxx)
Hi All, Is there any way to change this behaviour? Either Zoho or Yodlee is redacting important numbers from the transaction description, preventing us from being able to easily recognise and reconcile transactions. For example, a transaction with a descriptionIntroducing note actions and dynamic visibility in Kiosk Studio
Hello all, We are introducing enhancements to Kiosk Studio that will improve the product scope and meet your custom needs more precisely. What's new? Add notes as Actions: You can add notes to CRM records as kiosk Actions, as well as insert merge fieldsRegarding the Recipient Email change
I was not being able to change the Recipient email. Kindly resolve the problemRequest to Customize Module Bar Placement in New Zoho CRM UI
Hello Support and Zoho Community, I've been exploring the new UI of Zoho CRM "For Everyone" and have noticed a potential concern for my users. We are accustomed to having the module names displayed across the top, which made navigation more intuitivekanban view for client portal
Are kanban views an option for client portals? Access to Kanban views in the client portals would solve some mobile-compliant issues I have with the UI. Kanban functions very nicely on mobile and would be a super asset for my clients and vendors as they【Zoho CRM】サンドボックスのアップデート：メール送信トレイ機能の追加
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。 CRMのサンドボックス（テスト環境）にメールの送信トレイ機能が追加されました。 本番環境でメール配信の前に、サンドボックスで送信される全てのメールを確認・検証できます。ワークフロー、承認プロセス、一括送信など、あらゆる送信パターンに対応しています。 「メールの送信トレイ」機能を使うと、顧客へ送信する前にメールの内容を事前確認できます。項目の欠落や書式の乱れなど、あらゆる問題をサンドボックス内でチェックできるため、本番環境でのトラブルを未然に防ぐことに役立ちます。Force mandatory entry on one of two fields on Contacts
We are finding our users aren't always entering a phone number or email address of a contact. We would like to make these fields mandatory but realize they won't always have both pieces of information, but should at least have one. Is there a way to makeHow can I prevent having recepients from being added as contacts in Zoho Desk?
How can I prevent having recepients from being automatically added as contacts in Zoho Desk? There's no option to disable this.Agent Concern
would like to ask the difference between an agent and a light agent. can a light agent close a ticket. thank you.Train Zoho Answer Bot Based on Customer
Hi all, Is it currently possible to mark Help Centre articles to a specific customer, and restrict the answer bot to only use relevant information if it is either marked as "General", or tagged for the specific customer in question? We currently haveNon-depreciating fixed asset
Hi! There are non-depreciable fixed assets (e.g. land). It would be very useful to be able to create a new type of fixed asset (within the fixed assets module) with a ‘No depreciation’ depreciation method. There is always the option of recording landErrorcode 554
Hello, I am unble to send any single email during the whole time due to the Zoho IP 136.143.188.16 being blocked by SpamCop. Please can somebody help me?Spamcop
Have been trying to email several of our clients and many of our emails keep getting bounced back with an error that states: ERROR CODE :550 - "JunkMail rejected - sender4-op-o16.zoho.com [136.143.188.16]:17694 is in an RBL: Blocked - see spamcop.net/bl.shtml?136.143.188.16"Will Zoho Search work with Zoho Learn
Currently, Zoho Search only works with Zoho Wiki which will be phased out. Moving forward, will Zoho Search be enabled for Zoho Learn? Thanks.How to use filters on all products page? Or even a category page?
Hello, I am trying to create some filters so users can use filters to find products they are looking for. So what i am trying is to create a filter according to price lets say. So if i define it this way i am expecting to see this filter option on categoryZoho Projects app update: Voice notes for Tasks and Bugs module
Hello everyone! In the latest version(v3.9.37) of the Zoho Projects Android app update, we have introduced voice notes for the Tasks and Bugs module. The voice notes can be added as an attachment or can be transcribed into text. Recording and attachingBoas práticas de desenvolvimento em Deluge
O Deluge (Data Enriched Language for the Universal Grid Environment) é a linguagem de script utilizada em diversas aplicações do ecossistema Zoho, como Zoho Creator, Zoho CRM, Zoho Books e Zoho Flow. Ela foi projetada para permitir automações rápidasHow do I automate my package and shipment process
Hey, I have a very basic problem regarding automating my package and shipment. My business does not require me to have those modules and manage them currently and since I'm new to zoho I want to start with just the basics. I just need to automaticallyHow do I automate my package and shipment process
Hey, I have a very basic problem regarding automating my package and shipment. My business does not require me to have those modules and manage them currently and since I'm new to zoho I want to start with just the basics. I just need to automaticallySeeking a WhatsApp Business App (not API) Zoho CRM integration
We have a business need to integrated WhatsApp Business App (not API) into Zoho CRM to centrally manage communications between our Sales team and Leads & Contact. Is there a reputable integration available for this scenario of ours? Core features we wouldZoho Sign 2025–2026: What's new and what's next
Hello! Every year at Zoho Sign, we work hard to make document signing and agreement execution easy for all users. This year we sat down with our head of product, Mr. Subramanian Thayumanasamy, to discuss what we delivered in 2025 and our goals for 2026.Intergrating multi location Square account with Zoho Books
Hi, I have one Square account but has multiple locations. I would like to integrate that account and show aggregated sales in zoho books. How can I do that? thanks.Emails being blocked / spamcop
Hello, I am unablr to send any single email during the whole time due to the Zoho IP 136.143.188.16 being blocked by SpamCop.net Please help on this.Zoho IP blocked by SpamCop 136.143.188.16
Hello, I am unble to send any single email during the whole time due to the Zoho IP 136.143.188.16 being blocjed by SpamCop.net Please help on this.Is there a way to configure dark mode for Campaigns emails that go out to customers?
I've found a lot of information on how to configure dark mode for my (The user) personal Zoho workspace and email, but is there any way to edit dark mode settings on emails that we send out to customers via campaigns? We sent out a test email the otherCan I hide empty Contact fields from view?
Some contacts have a lot of empty fields, others are mostly filled. Is there a way I can hide/show empty fields without changing the actual Layout? I would like to de-clutter my view, and also be able to add information later as I am able. I would beAuto-publish job openings on my Zoho Recruit Careers Website
I have developed a script using the Zoho Recruit API that successfully inserts new jobOpening records to my Zoho Recruit website, but my goal is to auto-publish to the Careers Website. The jobOpening field data shows two possible candidates to make thisCredit Card Terminal for Zoho Books
Hello, Instead of punching the credit card number manually for customer payment, do you have a third-party hardware credit card reader that works with Braintree? Thank YouHow do you print out the invoices comments
I have some invoices where i need to print out the comments that show when reminders and etc were sent how do we print those out in Zoho Books.Feature Request: Enable Custom PDF Layout Editor for All Modules (Including Package Slips)
Hello Zoho Community and Product Team, I am writing to share a suggestion that would significantly enhance the customization capabilities within Zoho Books. We all appreciate the power of the Custom PDF Layouts (the "New" template engine) that allowsNeed advice for product/item search functionality when adding invoices.
My client uses "Catalog or Vendor" name and Product code to search for his items. But Zoho only allow to search by product name and SKU when adding items to Invoices/Estimates. Clients product codes are not unique as they may overlap from different catalogs/vendors.How to dynamically pass IDs from one API response to a second API call in Zoho DataPrep?
Hi Team, I am setting up a global consolidated reporting pipeline in Zoho Analytics (India) using Zoho DataPrep as the ETL engine. I am pulling data from multiple Zoho Books Data Centers (US, Singapore, India) thats why i used the URL Source (OAuth 2.0)Feature Request: "Send Invitation" Toggle for Events
I am writing to request a critical "Quality of Life" update for the Activities module. Currently, adding people to the Participants field in an Event triggers an automatic email invitation/acceptance tracking with no way to opt-out. For general eventsAccount Review Pending - Daily Limit 100
Hi ZeptoMail Team, I'm writing to request a manual review of my account. I am currently stuck on the 100-email daily limit and cannot purchase credits. Status: My domain is already verified (DKIM/CNAME). Issue: The "Customer Validation" option is no longerAutomation Series: Move Tasks to a different Task List on Status Change
In Zoho Projects, you can automatically move a task from one task list to another when its status is updated. This keeps your tasks organised and ensures better visibility while reducing manual work. For instance, during a product launch, the marketingNext Page