Agentic Ask Zia – AI Assistant for Pipeline Builder
Zoho DataPrep helps you import, transform, clean, export, and automate your data using natural language prompts in Ask Zia. Enter your prompt, and Zia will automatically generate the corresponding output.
Ask Zia is powered by GenAI and supports both OpenAI and Zoho LLM integrations.
To enable Ask Zia to build your pipeline in your DataPrep organization, click the Ask Zia icon in the pipeline builder. The GenAI Configuration tab will open when you try to use Ask Zia for the first time. Alternatively, you can configure the integration from the GenAI Configuration tab on the Settings page or from the GenAI configuration option in the Ask Zia panel.
Click here to learn more about configuring GenAI integrations and enabling GenAI features in Zoho DataPrep.
The prompt and required contextual data will be shared with the selected AI vendor. Personally identifiable information (PII) is never shared with the selected AI Vendor.
The GenAI features, when enabled, can be used by the Account admin and Organization admins in your DataPrep organization.
The API key is specific to the DataPrep organization it is configured in and will not be shared across organizations or with any other Zoho service.
To configure and enable OpenAI's ChatGPT integration
OpenAI in Zoho DataPrep works in a BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) model, in which users bring their own ChatGPT API Key and OpenAI Organization ID. If you are already an OpenAI user, you can use your API key and organization ID to unlock AI features in DataPrep.
Data Privacy Notice: Zoho DataPrep utilizes OpenAI's ChatGPT API, an external service based in the USA, subject to OpenAI's Terms of Use. Please be aware that the information sent to OpenAI depends on the access provided by you, the user. The data shared with ChatGPT is based on the features you enable. Details such as column names and/or selected cell data will be shared based on each feature. You can choose to enable or disable each feature based on the level of data you want to share. Therefore, exercise caution while using this service and ensure that the data you provide does not contain confidential or personal information.
Notes:
The generative responses are coming in from ChatGPT's training data. Accuracy, consistency, and relevance of the response are subjective to the type of prompts and the data available in its training set.
ChatGPT doesn't respond to prompts about personal information.
1. Click the Ask Zia icon in the top-right corner of the Pipeline Builder. The GenAI Configuration tab will open. Click Authenticate Now to authenticate with the selected AI vendor.
The GenAI Configuration tab opens when you use Ask Zia for the first time. From then on, you can edit the configuration from the GenAI Configuration option in the Ask Zia panel or from the GenAI Configuration tab on the Settings page.
Note: The GenAI configuration on DataPrep's Settings page will be visible only to the Account admin.
Only the Account admin can enable features for your DataPrep organization.
2. Click Authenticate now next to OpenAI.
3. A consent pop-up will be shown. Please read the data privacy notice carefully before you proceed. By proceeding, you acknowledge and accept the risks and OpenAI's terms of use policy.
4. Provide the API Key and Organization ID of your OpenAI organization to configure OpenAI integration in your DataPrep organization.
5. Once saved, go to the GenAI Skills tab. Toggle on Build pipeline and Prepare data, and select OpenAI from the vendor dropdown to build pipelines using Ask Zia on the Pipeline Builder.
Organization ID and API key in OpenAI
1. Go to your settings page in OpenAI to get the Organization name and ID. Here's a snapshot for reference. Read more from OpenAI
2. Go to the API keystab under the Organization section to get your API Key. Here's a snapshot for reference. Read more from OpenAI
To configure and enable Zoho LLM
Zoho LLM is Zoho's own large language model. You can enable it directly from the GenAI configuration settings without needing an external API key. Once enabled, it powers AI features in Zoho DataPrep.
Note: This setting is visible and accessible only to the Account admin.
1. Click the Ask Zia icon in the top-right corner of the Pipeline Builder. The GenAI Configuration tab will open. Click Authenticate Now to authenticate with the selected AI vendor.
The GenAI Configuration tab opens when you use Ask Zia for the first time. From then on, you can edit the configuration from the GenAI Configuration option in the Ask Zia panel or from the GenAI Configuration tab on the Settings page.
2. Locate Zoho LLM in the AI Vendor list and click Enable configuration.
3. A consent pop-up will be shown. Please read the data privacy notice carefully before you proceed.
4. In the Authentication panel, confirm that the Zoho LLM toggle is enabled and click Save.
5. Once saved, go to the GenAI Skills tab. Toggle on Build pipeline and Prepare data, and select Zoho LLM from the vendor dropdown to build pipelines using Ask Zia in the Pipeline Builder.
Build pipeline and automate using Ask Zia
With Ask-Zia in Pipeline Builder, you can import data from various sources, apply transformations, and export it to different destinations. You can also schedule the pipeline using Ask-Zia.
1. Click the Ask Zia icon in the top-right corner of the Pipeline Builder.
2. Provide a hint to import, transform, or export your data in Natural language in the Command Prompt section.
For example, import the contacts and deals module from Zoho CRM, clean it, and export it to Zoho Analytics.
Supported connections: All cloud databases, FTP, Zoho Analytics, Zoho CRM, Zoho Creator, and cloud storage (excluding Zoho WorkDrive).
Ask Zia in Pipeline Builder provides transformation suggestions based on data quality and recommends join, append, pivot, and unpivot operations based on column structure. It supports over 300+ transformations.
3. Your interpretation will be broken down into goal-based tasks. Review the plan, then click Proceed with the plan to continue or Edit plan to make changes.
3. After you click Proceed with the plan, the tasks will be executed one at a time, with your confirmation at each step. A preview of the data generated by AskZia will be displayed for review before you confirm and proceed.
The applied transformations are recorded as editable rules, allowing you to review and modify them as needed.
Info:
1. When you close the Ask Zia window, the chat entries, including all prompts and interpretations, are saved as sessions in the chat history section of the Ask Zia window.
2. Ask Zia allows you to maintain multiple chat threads in the Chat DataPrep feature. Each thread retains its conversation context, allowing you to continue from previous prompts within that thread. You can start a new thread for a different task or switch between existing threads as needed.
Note: The prompt you enter and the column metadata are shared with Zoho LLM/ OpenAI.
Here are some sample prompts for you
1. I want to bring in my leads collected from the website, which are stored in Amazon S3. Below is a snapshot of the prompt and the output.
Prompt: Connect to Amazon S3 and import WebLeads.csv from the / folder in the leads2025 bucket.
2. I want to bring in the leads collected in our call center, which are stored in Amazon RDS PostgreSQL. Below is a snapshot of the prompts and the confirmation of the import.
Prompts: Import CallLeads from my Amazon RDS connection.
3. I want to import leads gathered from our offline marketing campaigns, stored as spreadsheets in Google Drive. Below is a snapshot of the prompts and the confirmation of the import.
Prompts: From the Google Drive connection, import BookSync from its root folder.
4. I want to join the three imported leads datasets based on the primary key column "LeadID" to create a unified leads dataset. Below is a snapshot of the prompt and the preview of the output.
Prompt: Join all the datasets using the LeadID column.
5. I want to perform a pivot transformation to summarize leads by region and source. Below is a snapshot of the prompt and the preview of the output.
Prompt: Pivot the final joined dataset to summarize total leads by country and source.
6. I want to add Zoho Analytics as a destination to export this summarized leads data into the reporting dashboards. Below is a snapshot of the prompts and the confirmation of the import.
Prompt: Export the pivoted dataset to Zoho Analytics under the Sales workspace in the Zylker organization. Below is a snapshot of the prompts and the confirmation of the export.
Data Privacy Notice: Zoho DataPrep utilizes OpenAI's ChatGPT API, an external service based in the USA, subject to OpenAI's Terms of Use. Please be aware that the information sent to OpenAI depends on the access provided by you, the user. The data shared with ChatGPT is based on the features you enable. Details such as column names and/or selected cell data will be shared based on each feature. You can choose to enable or disable each feature based on the level of data you want to share. Therefore, exercise caution while using this service and ensure that the data you provide does not contain confidential or personal information. 
