As we bid farewell to the past year, we're kicking off the new year with a roundup of exciting developments, discussions, and insights from the Zoho CRM community.

Let's dive into the December Digest and get a sneak peek at what's in store for you in 2024!

Product Updates:

Introducing Match and Detect Option:

• Zia's image validation got an upgrade – introducing the match and detect option.  Previously, users had the option to either match, which involves a complete match to reference images, or detect, which validates the image based on specific objects detected in the image. Now, you can apply both match and detect in a single rule for precise validation. This means only perfectly matching images with detected objects get approved. Previously, you could manually approve incorrectly validated images. Now, with this enhancement, you can suggest them for Zia's training, either manually or automatically. Learn more!
  
  

• Starting January 15, the hosting option within Zoho CRM has moved to Catalyst, our robust microservice framework platform. To access your hosted apps, follow the instructions provided in this post. 
  
  

Introducing Zoho CRM v6 APIs:

• Exciting news, Developers! Zoho CRM Version 6 APIs, and we can't wait to give you a sneak peek. Dive into notable introductions, including the options to create and manage custom fields, perform CRUD operations on unsubscribe links, merge duplicate records, create and manage Global sets, and more. Crafted to elevate your developer experience, this new version also brings improvements to your favorite APIs. Explore this post to find what the new V6 APIs have to offer.
  
  

• Curious about understanding the connections between different CRM modules? Ever tried creating a mind map to visualize how fields link across modules? Introducing the Data Model in Zoho CRM! This feature provides a clear visual representation of how various entities are interconnected, complete with a mini-map and other controls for easy navigation. Learn more about the Data Model in this post!
  
  

Early Access:

Kiosk, the new process management feature unveiled!

• Kiosk lets you create and embed custom functionalities with no code, thereby empowering your teams to quickly retrieve, capture and update data, as well as effortlessly perform a string of operations in your CRM. By relieving users from the need to consider modules or fields while using CRM, this feature enhances the CRM experience, allowing them to focus on their core job—efficiently executing the set of processes. 
  

This feature will rollout gradually, so be sure to check this post to register and learn more about it!

Useful Discussions:

• @Rachel had a question about embedding a Zoho CRM webform into a WordPress page. With valuable input from @Bhoomi, @Rachel delved deeper, fixed the issue, and generously shared a detailed solution in this post for anyone else facing a similar challenge.
  
  
• @Adrianna encountered a challenge with lead conversion – specifically, the need  to eliminate manual stage changes for  deals at the prompt during conversion. Check out the solutions and valuable suggestions shared in this post.
  
  
• @Goo raised an interesting requirement – to prevent users from  converting a quote into a sales order if the related Account record is marked with a particular status. Using Client Script, this is now possible. Check out the code shared by @Pheranda in this post to implement the solution.
  
  
• Much to @kmylpenter's delight, @Andres presented an amazing suggestion  for incrementing the value of a currency field in CRM based on the value entered in a field in Zoho Forms. What's more, this can be achieved without the necessity of creating an extra field in CRM. Explore the details in this post to discover the solution.
  

 Functions:

• @Brenden was curious about accessing line items from a Sales Order using Deluge. In the end, they cracked the code themselves and generously shared the solution in our community.  Check this post for the code.
  
  
• @Nik shared the code to create an Invoice in Zoho Books from a Deal record in Zoho CRM, at the click of a button. Recognizing that the originally posted code was outdated, @Nik took the initiative to make the necessary revisions, embodying the spirit of sharing – an essential aspect of our community. Check out @Nik's comment, the most recent in this post for the revised code.
  
  
• @Hugh Marshall has provided a detailed explanation on retrieving lead records by Id, highlighting the returned map value, and the need for an additional get function to fetch the name component. Check out this post for the insightful explanation.
  
  

• Check out this fascinating post to learn how @Kava Li automated their business process with Zoho CRM. Leveraging a simple button click within Zoho CRM, they seamlessly open OpenMailer with the Inventory template attached and the email body pre-filled, providing a simple solution for for standardizing the purchase order dispatch process.  
  
  
• @Mohsin encountered challenges obtaining the authorization code from Zoho CRM. Check out the help documents shared in this post by @Ishwarya for further insights.
  
  
• Kudos to @Daniel L for sharing a detailed walkthrough as he delves into the richness of Zoho CRM Variables. They offer a dynamic way to store static values and use them across multiple Functions within a Zoho deployment. This comes handy when we run into a requirement to either update or iterate these static CRM variables. Check out this post to learn more.
  
  
• @Ken Florian had a question about selecting the scope for mass update in Connections setup. @Hugh shared an insightful tip that could be the key to resolving a similar issue you might face. Check this post for the solution.
  
  

• (Kaizen #114) - In this post, We learn how to create a Related List Widget map on Zoho CRM's Lead detail page. Explore features like showcasing lead locations, providing directions from the user's current location, and highlighting additional leads within the same street or city as the current lead.
  
  
• (Kaizen #115) - This post delves into the importance of tailoring buttons, exploring ZDKs associated with buttons, and presenting practical Use Cases for customizing buttons through Client Script.
  
  
• (Kaizen #116) - This post provides a comprehensive exploration of the various client types within the Zoho API Console, providing insights on when to effectively employ each one.
  
  
  Thanks for taking the time to read this month's round-up. Keep tabs on the digest every month for the latest ideas and discussions. Stay tuned and engage in the Forums to be included in the upcoming month's digest. Have a wonderful year ahead!

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