Understanding application creation with AI using Zia App Builder | Zoho Creator Help

Understanding application creation with AI using Zia App Builder

In a nutshell
Zia App Builder helps you create complete Zoho Creator applications using prompts. You can describe your requirement in text prompt or upload relevant documents, and Zia will automatically generates working components such as forms, reports, workflows, permissions, and blueprints catering to your use case. It works by connecting Zoho Creator with powerful large language models including Zoho GenAI, Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI, allowing it to understand your requirements and convert them into a ready to use application structure in minutes.
Availability
  1. Zia is available only for paid plans of Creator.
  2. Only super admin and admins can configure Zia and enable the Create Application feature.
  3. Only super admin and admin can build AI assisted applications with Zia, while other users can access the apps in live mode based on their assigned permissions.
  4. Workflow and language support features are not automatically generated for applications created using Zoho GenAI. They can be configured manually after the application is created.
  5. Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI are supported in all data centers except in CN.
  6. Zoho GenAI is supported in all data centers except in CN and SA.

1. What is Zia App Builder?

Notes
Note: To use Zia App Builder or any Zia features, you must configure Zia with one of the supported LLMs such as Zoho GenAI, Google, Anthropic, or OpenAI. Learn more about configuring Zia.
Zia App Builder is an AI powered application creation experience in Zoho Creator that lets you build complete applications by simply describing what you want to create. It converts your prompt into real world use cases and automatically generates the required data model, forms, reports, workflows, permissions, and blueprints.
 
Zia interprets your prompts to understand the app requirements and sends them through API to the selected LLM provider, such as Zoho GenAI, Google, Anthropic, or OpenAI. The model interprets your requirements and returns structured output that Zia converts into working Creator components, giving you a ready to use application foundation instead of starting from scratch. The generated components are immediately usable, allowing you to add sample records, verify workflows, test approval flows, validate reports, and fine tune permissions before publishing the application. 
Security note: Zoho GenAI LLM is available for free and processes all prompts within Zoho, while external LLM providers process data in their own systems. Avoid sharing sensitive or regulated information when using external providers.

1.1. How Zia App Builder meets enterprise requirements

  1. Accelerates application development: Zia App Builder automatically generates a complete data model, forms, workflows, and permissions, eliminating the need to manually design application components. By converting business prompts into structured use cases and working components, teams can move from idea to a functional application foundation in minutes, significantly reducing development time.
  2. Simplifies testing and validation: Along with the application components, Zia can generate sample data, enabling teams to immediately verify approvals, automation, reports, and access controls. This helps detect gaps early and refine the application before deployment.
  3. Delivers enterprise ready applications: Applications created with Zia App Builder adhere to Zoho Creator’s built-in governance, security, and role-based access controls. Even AI-generated applications meet enterprise standards for data protection, process control, and scalability, making them ready for production with minimal additional setup.

1.2. How does it work?

STEP 1: Give Zia App Builder a gist of what your application needs to be about
Zia App Builder offers a multimodal system to collect a description of your application through two means during the creation process:
  1. Text input - The required application's objectives or a list of the problems it will be solving for you.
Tip: The prompt can be as simple as an application name, such as "Vendor Management", or a detailed set of points addressing all requirements. We recommend following the latter approach to nudge Zia App Builder into creating a more customized application for you.
  1. File input - Documents and images such as PRDs and process diagrams that pinpoint the flow or structure of your application can be uploaded. Zia App Builder will extract all the information from these files and give you personalized use cases based on them.
Tip: We recommend including both types of inputs for a prompt to enhance the chances of getting custom use cases that your application can include. Check out this section to try a few sample text and file input prompts.
Your prompt will be securely sent to the LLM provider integrated with Zia to process and generate the application.
Security Tip:  
  1. For your privacy and security, it's best to avoid sharing sensitive personal information, such as passwords or financial details, when interacting with AI platforms.
  2. Use the free in-house Zoho GenAI if you want all prompts to be processed securely within Zoho.
STEP 2: Review AI-generated use cases tailored according to your inputs
The AI assistant will generate practical use cases based on your inputs, which will provide solutions to handle all the tasks in your application. To generate an application that suits your requirement, you will have the opportunity to manage these use cases. You can verify if any use cases do not align with your application's objectives and remove them, or generate additional ones and add your own through text.
Zia App Builder will utilize the following Creator components to solve the use case requirements and create your application.
  1. Forms - Collects and stores data in Creator
  2. Integration Forms - Establishes a bridge between Creator and another service to enable automatic data synchronization
  3. Reports - Displays collected data in customizable views
  4. Pages - Present key metrics based on the data in a visually appealing and organized manner
  5. Application Layout - Personalizes your application by customizing the buttons, menus, and the overall theme of your application
  6. Permissions - Define customized permission sets that decide on how different users can access the application components and form data.
  7. Workflows 
    1. Form workflow - Automates or initiates tasks on triggers based out of a form
    2. Schedule workflow - Executes timed actions automatically based on a specified date value and can be scheduled for periodic execution.
  8. Blueprints - Streamlines a business flow that outlines the structured execution processes for a use case
    9. Additionally, a dynamic data model (a conceptual framework) will appear, including tables to give you a preview of the forms that will be created in your application. Each table has a header that would be the form's name and a list of fields that follow, which will be included inside the form. The data model allows you to view how each form of the application is connected based on the use cases. As you add or remove use cases, it automatically updates alongside to give you a real-time overview.

2. See how it works


3. Business use cases

Manufacturing application for monitoring and maintenance
A manufacturing company needs an application to monitor production line efficiency, track machine performance, and manage maintenance schedules, but lacks the technical resources to build it. Zia App Builder is used to create an application with minimal effort, fulfilling the above requirements.
With the prompt 'Build an application for a manufacturing company to log production details and schedule maintenance,' Zia App Builder suggests relevant use cases and creates the application upon your approval. The application might include features like:
  1. Production Line Logs: Automatically generates forms to log machine data, production output, and maintenance.
  2. Maintenance Scheduling: Creates automated workflows for tracking scheduled and unscheduled maintenance activities, with notifications for upcoming tasks.
  3. Real-Time Dashboards: Generates dashboards to provide real-time visualizations of machine health, production status, and performance metrics.
  4. User Permissions: Configures user personas, allowing managers to access high-level reports, while operators can log machine data and maintenance activities.
Insurance Claim Portal for Policyholders
A insurance company wants to provide policyholders with a digital experience to submit and track insurance claims but lacks the technical resources to build a portal or app. Zia App Builder is used to create an application with minimal effort, fulfilling the above requirements. With the prompt 'Design a portal for policyholders to file claims, upload supporting documents, track claim status, and communicate with agents. Include sections for policy details, notifications, and historical claim data.' Zia App Builder suggests relevant use cases and generates the application upon your confirmation. The application might include features like:
Claim Submission: Automatically generates structured forms for policyholders to submit new insurance claims, capturing all necessary details in a standardized format.
Document Upload: Creates functionality for uploading supporting documents such as invoices, medical reports, or accident photos, linked directly to the claim record.
  1. Claim Status Tracking: Generates workflows and dashboards that provide real-time visibility into the status of each submitted claim, including approvals, rejections, or pending actions.
  2. Policy Details Access: Configures pages and reports that display comprehensive policy information, helping policyholders reference coverage details during the claim process.
  3. Historical Claim Review: Creates reports and dashboards to give policyholders access to their previous claims, enabling them to review past submissions and related documents for reference.

4. Sample prompts

Text Prompts
  1. Design an application for streamlined loan processing, featuring tools for application submission, document upload, eligibility checks, and real-time status updates.
  2. Create an app for easy insurance claim filing and tracking, with features for uploading claim documents, direct communication with agents, and claim status notifications.
  3. Develop a streamlined procurement app for the manufacturing sector, focusing on supply chain modules, inventory tracking, and supplier performance.
  4. Develop an application to manage employee PTO requests and enable employees to submit applications based on their available leave balance. Include features for managers to review and approve requests, HR to monitor and track PTO balances.
  5. Create a Gift Distribution application that allows employees from Zoho People to choose and monitor the gift distribution process effectively.
File Prompts

5. Points to note

  1. Zia App Builder includes sample data in your application during creation to test the various features Creator offers. Remember to delete it manually before using the application for your requirements.
  2. While AI enhances the application creation process, it’s crucial to verify the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated use cases and the resulting application. This ensures proper functionality and alignment with user needs.
  3. Zoho GenAI LLM is available for free and processes all prompts within Zoho, while external LLM providers process data in their own systems. Avoid sharing sensitive or regulated information when using external providers.
  4. You can generate and/or add only upto five use cases while creating application.
  5. AI-generated use cases and custom use cases will be collectively used to aid in relevant application creation. This means that all use cases generated may or may not be used during creation. You can regenerate those use cases or proceed to create your AI-assisted application.
  6. Relevant data tables will be generated automatically considering your app description, based on which your app will be built.
  7. The following field types are not supported and will neither be displayed during creation of AI-assisted applications and forms nor will be suggested while generating fields using Zia.
    1. Advanced fields: Rich text, Image, Subform, Signature, File upload, Audio, Video, and Formula
    2. Special fields: Section, Notes, Users, and Integration
    3. AI fields: prediction, sentiment analysis, keyword extraction, OCR, and object detection
  8. The sample data generated with the application is intended for testing purposes only. It is entirely fictitious, and no real association or inference should be made.
  9. Workflow and language support features are not automatically generated for applications created using Zoho GenAI. They can be configured manually after the application is created.
  10. Zia does not consume any AI calls or API calls from Zoho Creator. However, API rate limits may still apply. These limits are restrictions that the LLM provider imposes on the number of times a user or client can access their services within a specified period of time and vary based on their usage tier and the model consumed. Rate limits for LLM providers can be referred by their respective official documentation.
    1. OpenAI rate limits
    2. Google Gemini rate limits
    3. Anthropic rate limits
  11. Along with your input prompt, Zia invokes system prompts to enhance the accuracy of the application creation process. These system prompts will also contribute to your AI usage.
  12. When multiple AI features are used in quick succession, the configured provider’s rate limit may be exceeded. This can result in errors or temporary interruption of AI powered functionality.
  1. Understand Zia features in Creator
  2. Creating applications with AI using Zia App Builder
  3. Configuring Zia
  4. Writing effective prompts for Zia App Builder in Zoho Creator
What's next
Previous
What's next
Learn how to use Zia to create customized forms and generate field suggestions from text inputs that describe your requirements.
Previous
Learn how to configure Zia with OpenAI and enable the Create App feature in Zoho Creator by referring to the document Configure Zia.