[Early-access] Introducing Zoho's CommandCenter - Cross-Zoho business process automation

[Early-access] Introducing Zoho's CommandCenter - Cross-Zoho business process automation

 

Resources to help

Webinar recording | Documentation 

Feature Restrictions

Currently available on early-access only for US data center accounts

Features Role

CommandCenter as a Service uses signals across Zoho services to propel the movement of records through different stages of a business process


Note: CommandCenter was introduced as a feature within CRM in 2020. Zoho's CommandCenter is a standalone service that operates across Zoho platforms. 

For the sake of clarity, please note that in this post, we will refer to CommandCenter feature in Zoho CRM as "Zoho CRM's CommandCenter", and "CommandCenter as a Service", as "Zoho's CommandCenter"

CommandCenter is powered by signals. Signals are events performed in various arenas of Zoho applications that can be used to trigger the transition of a record to its next state. 

Signals serve as the backbone of the CommandCenter builder., Let's understand a little more about them. 

When you want to connect various customer touchpoints together, and build your customer journey end-to-end, there are many, touchpoints involved. 

Let's consider a real estate business powered by Zoho One end-to-end. .This company uses the following modules for their operations:
  •  Zoho CRM for client management
  • Zoho Finance for bookkeeping
  • Zoho Desk to provide support to clients
  • Zoho Meeting to setup online sessions with prospective clients 
- In their business process, each customer record moves through different stages in each of these services. For example, a lead moves from a "needs assessment" stage to a "needs assessed". 
- Here, for the record to move, it must transition through a stage of "assessment" where "type and budget" details are captured. This transition is fuelled by certain actions which we will configure. 
- In this example, we will configure the transition based on a trigger that the company brochure is downloaded or that a query is submitted on the website.

Each of the actions of updating these fields serve as a trigger for the movement of one or more record(s). We call these actions, "Signals".  At the backend, Signals route the events to multiple destinations. Signals can be setup for several Zoho services, including Zoho CRM. CommandCenter is setup such that any signal can be captured from other Zoho Apps to trigger the movement of a record to its next state.

Default signals - Default signals available in Zoho CRM, Desk, Survey, and Webinar are supported now. Default signals from other Zoho services, and third-party integrations will be supported down the line. 

Custom signals - API triggers or custom signals allow your system to use ANY event as your trigger, besides the readily available signals. Custom signals broaden CC's capabilities by allowing transition of records based on custom events that are specific to your business, making your mapped customer journey that much more accurate.

CommandCenter as a service ties together every single touchpoint of a record, mapping the whole customer journey with all its bits and pieces in ONE space. . Right from capturing information and creating leads, to the final stage, anything that can be automated is mapped within CC. Many of us are familiar with Zoho CRM's CommandCenter that runs and manage an entire business-process end-to-end. CRM's CommandCenter not only allows you to map your customer journey across multiple modules in a single space, but also guides and automates every action in a single space. Zoho's CommandCenter isn't an alternative to this, but an avenue to use and tie together your business processes, across multiple Zoho services. It uses triggers to execute different actions through different Zoho apps, at different stages (states) of a customer lifecycle. 

The main components of this tool are: 

States - The building blocks of a CC flow. They signify the state/stage a record is stationed at that point of the process. In our real estate example, we have many states. Pre-approval,  Funds processing, Inspection completion, Loan approval, etc

Transitions - The process initiating the movement of a record to its next state. A "Documents verification in progress", between the "Waiting for approval" and "Documents verified" states. 

Triggers - Triggers are our signals that propel the transition of records. Any default or custom signal can be used as a trigger for a transition.

Actions - At every stage, automated actions that are configured such as email alters, field updates, task creation, or any custom action.
Here's a quick overview on how Zoho's CommandCenter adds to the existing automation options. 



Comparison 1 - Workflows 
Comparison 2 - Blueprint
Feature
Help automate any set of actions within a module



Automation rules
Mandates certain actions from the user's end (manual) before a record is transitioned. (includes workflow functionalities in actions)

Internal process application tool
Use-case achievable
During the document verification process, we need to automate the "Document submitted" field in the Contact page, based on a rule that a Webform is filled. 
Business process steps that can be included in Blueprint. 
Collateral Assessment| Documentation Check| Document first release| Legal Verification | Release of loan | Loan closure/rejection (based on approval/denial)

Comparison 3 - Zoho CRM's CommandCenter
Comparison 4 - Zoho's CommandCenter
Feature
Allows the entire business process from your CRM to be created end-to-end, within a single space across modules

Cross-module online journey orchestration tool in Zoho CRM
Builds an online replica of your business process with the various entries of the records and signals across all Zoho services in ONE space
Cross-Zoho online replica of a business process
Use Case achievable
All the steps under Comparison 2. Additionally, we will be able to map the following steps of our business process in CRM. 
Pre-approval | Manual approval | Document verification | Loan rejected | Address verified | Loan rejected (if address proof is not submitted) | Loan approved | Funds processing initiated | Loan sanctioned | Loan closed | Loan settled | Overdue (in case of payment failure) | Overdue proceedings in due | Overdue proceedings settled (After legal proceedings are initiated)
All the steps under Comparison 3. Additionally, it will be able to include the following signals as triggers

- Filling of a customized survey used during home inspection process

- Booking of slots using Zoho Meeting to schedule a call with the realtor to understand requirements

- During the loan process, closing of customers' tickets created on Zoho Desk is used as a trigger to fully end their purchase

What's new with Zoho's CommandCenter 
- Advanced reporting for CommandCenter allows for tracking and measuring customer journeys, noting and rectifying pain points as the journey progresses.The new Pivot Charts in reports is noteworthy. 
- Unifies data across multiple apps, but also for multiple orgs across each application. 
- Custom signals or API triggers to flexibly trigger a transition based on any event from other Zoho services. 

Note - We've enabled CommandCenter early-access   to our EA community. Do try it out, let us know what you think as comments to this post. We request that you post any issues you face, feedback and suggestions for improvements, and what you like about it. Our CommandCenter team is all ears and will love to join in on the discussion. 

Access it at commandcenter.zoho.com

Pricing details - CommandCenter will be included in Zoho One when it is ready for public launch. It will be charged based on a Fair Usage Policy, where the base free limits will vary based on the number of users purchased. Post this, they will be charged for additional usage. We'll let you know the exact limits and pricing details closer to the public launch date

Pricing
Free edition
Enterprise Edition (post free usage)
Transitions
300/day
$0.0002/transition
Actions
250/day
$0.0003/action
Journeys
3
$5/journey/month (bonus of 1 free user)
Users
3
$2/additional user/month

      • Recent Topics

      • Whatsapp Limitation Questions

        Good day, I would like to find out about the functionality or possibility of all the below points within the Zoho/WhatsApp integration. Will WhatsApp buttons ever be possible in the future? Will WhatsApp Re-directs to different users be possible based
      • Tip #48- Power Your AI Workflows with Zoho Assist on Zapier’s MCP- 'Insider Insights'

        We’re thrilled to announce that Zoho Assist is now part of Zapier’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), bringing remote support automation right into your AI ecosystem. What is MCP? The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is Zapier’s new framework designed to connect
      • Insert Cookie Policy in Zoho Sites

        Hello, i need to insert a banner on my site because i'm in Italy so i have to respect EU laws for Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy. I see that i need to insert a code in <head> section of my site to show a banner/popup with cookie info. How i can do this? Thank you Luca
      • Nimble enhancements to WhatsApp for Business integration in Zoho CRM: Enjoy context and clarity in business messaging

        Dear Customers, We hope you're well! WhatsApp for business is a renowned business messaging platform that takes your business closer to your customers; it gives your business the power of personalized outreach. Using the WhatsApp for Business integration
      • Marketing Tip #1: Optimize item titles for SEO

        Your item title is the first thing both Google and shoppers notice. Instead of a generic “Leather Bag,” go for something detailed like “Handcrafted Leather Laptop Bag – Durable & Stylish.” This helps your items rank better in search results and instantly
      • Customer Parent Account or Sub-Customer Account

        Some of clients as they have 50 to 300 branches, they required separate account statement with outlet name and number; which means we have to open new account for each branch individually. However, the main issue is that, when they make a payment, they
      • Forced Logouts - Daily and More Frequent

        In the last month or so, I've been getting "power logged out" of all of my Zoho apps at least daily, sometimes more frequently. This happens in the same browser session on the same computer, and I need to re-login to each app separately after this happens.
      • Paste issues in ZOHO crm notes

        Hi, since a week or so I have issues with the paste function in ZOHO CRM. I use "notes" to copy paste texts from Outlook emails and since a week or so, the pasting doesnt function as it should: some text just disappears and it gives a lot of empty lines/enters.....
      • ENTER key triggering Submit

        Is it possible to stopped the ENTER key from the mandatory triggering of the Submit button on Creator form? I want forms submitted "ONLY" when the Submit button is pressed. 
      • Is it possible to assign Client user to external task ON PROJECTS' TEMPLATES?

        Is it possible to assign Client user to external task ON TEMPLATES PROJECTS?
      • Draft & Schedule Emails Directly in Bigin

        Greetings, I hope all of you are doing well. We're happy to announce a few recent enhancements we've made to email in Bigin. We'll go over each one in detail, but here's a quick overview: Previously, you couldn't draft or schedule emails in Bigin, but
      • Cannot Invert Axis for Rankings

        Hi there I want to be able to create a ranking graph in Analytics/BI, with 1 at the top of the Y axis, but I am unable to invert the axis. Super simple example in Excel below. Higher rankings need to be higher up on the graph to give the correct visual
      • Zoho CRM Workflow and Function Backup Options

        Hi everyone! I have been able to make several backups of my CRM data and noticed that the Workflows and Functions are not included in these backups. To my knowledge, there is no backup feature for workflows and functions, which is problematic in of itself.
      • Cliq iOS can't see shared screen

        Hello, I had this morning a video call with a colleague. She is using Cliq Desktop MacOS and wanted to share her screen with me. I'm on iPad. I noticed, while she shared her screen, I could only see her video, but not the shared screen... Does Cliq iOS is able to display shared screen, or is it somewhere else to be found ? Regards
      • Cliq does not sync messages after Sleep on Mac

        I'm using the mac app of Cliq. When I open my mac after it was in sleep mode, Cliq does not sync the messages that I received. I always have to reload using cmd + R, which is not what I want when using a chat application.
      • Free Webinar : Unlock AI driven business insights with Zoho Inventory + Zoho Analytics

        Are you tired of switching between apps and exporting data to build customized reports? Say hello to smarter & streamlined insights! Join us for this exclusive webinar where we explore the power of the Zoho Inventory–Zoho Analytics integration. Learn
      • PO receive quantities

        At last, Zoho has finally got around to allowing us to receive a larger qty than recorded in the PO :-) Saves us all from editing the PO's before receiving larger quantities ( usual for us ) ! It's still in "beta" but available upon request, I've tested
      • Link to images

        I have added images in pages. I would like to link those images with linked in URL so that they open in new window. There is an option of image -> link but I am not able to use the same to open URL in new window. Please check the attached image. Can you
      • Canvas View - Print

        What is the best way to accomplish a print to PDF of the canvas view?
      • What's New in Zoho Analytics - October 2025

        Hello Users! We're are back with a fresh set of updates and enhancements to make data analysis faster and more insightful. Take a quick look at what’s new and see how these updates can power up your reports and dashboards. Explore What's New! Extreme
      • Respond faster and smarter with Zia in your IM Inbox

        You’re in the middle of a busy chat queue. New messages keep popping up. One customer sounds upset. Another is asking a long list of questions. You need context. You need speed. You need help. That’s exactly when Zia Insghts jumps into action. It shows
      • Meeting impossible to use when sharing screen

        he Meeting tool in Brazil is practically unusable when sharing anything, whether it’s a presentation or simple navigation. When accessed via Cliq, the situation gets even worse: even basic calls fail to work properly, constantly freezing. And as you are
      • Let's Talk Recruit: Meet Zia, your all-in-one AI assistant (Part-2)

        Welcome back to Let’s Talk Recruit series. In Part 1, we introduced Zia and how AI is reshaping the way recruiters work. This time, we’re taking a closer look at how far Zia has come and how each update continues to simplify your everyday tasks. When
      • WARNING : Smart list automatically unsubscribes your contacts.

        I created a smart list of my team members based on the criterion that their email domain was @_____. The list refreshed as expected — but it ended up unsubscribing almost all members of my team. I contacted support, but it took two months to get a reply,
      • Export Purchase orders as Excel

        Is it possible to export purchase orders as excel rather than PDF? Our suppliers don't want orders made in PDF, they need it to be excel
      • 5名限定 課題解決型ワークショップイベント Zoho ワークアウト開催のお知らせ (10/31)

        ユーザーの皆さま、こんにちは。Zoho ユーザーコミュニティチームの中野です。 10月開催のZoho ワークアウトについてお知らせします。 今回はZoomにて、オンライン開催します。 参加登録はこちら(無料):https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BGYTysOnSqa9LA9eY2IKww ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Zoho ワークアウトとは? Zoho ユーザー同士で交流しながら、サービスに関する疑問や不明点の解消を目的とした
      • Subforms in Stateless Forms

        Stateless Forms are very useful, but we can't build complex data entry pages without Subforms. Can this be implemented? This would make Stateless Forms truly powerful.
      • Billing Preferences per Account

        Hello, We are trying to setup Billing Preferences in Zoho Desk to set up a different pricing per account. We charge different pricing per hour per customer/account. Account A = 100 per hour Account B = 125 per hour In the Billing Preferences in Time Entry
      • Time entry preview for custom time entry templates.

        Our company needed time entries in a specific format to document our client interactions. Since we are using a custom time entry layout, we have lost the "preview" on the time entry tab. Using the default time entry layout, you get a small preview of
      • Set to Review for all

        We are testing the use of Writer as part of an internal review process for statement of work documents and have found that when the document is changed from Compose to Review by one person, that is not reflected for all others who view the document. Is
      • How to copy value from a single line field into a picklist field within a module's subform?

        Hello there, I have a single line field in a module's subform. I would like the value in the field to automatically update a picklist field within the same subform (both have items with the same names). Is this possible via function? Unfortunately, workflows
      • Implementing a Self-Invoicing/Vendor Portal in Zoho Creator

        Hello Zoho Community / Creator Experts, We would like to build a Self-Invoicing Portal (Vendor Portal) in Zoho Creator for our external contractors. Our goal is to allow approved contractors to log in, submit their invoice details (hours worked, project
      • Categorise Attachments

        We take ID, proof of address, right to work documentation and more.  I can upload a single file in to field, but we often receive multiple files for each category e.g. someone may send a separate file for the front and back of their national ID card.  My team don't have time to manipulate the files in order to upload them as a single file. The options, as far as I can tell, would be to create additional fields on attachments in order to categorise what the file is, or to be able to upload single
      • Blocked Email

        We are a Zoho One subscriber and use Yahoo as our MX provider. A few times each year, for the past four years, CRM blocks one or more of my Zoho One users from receiving internal email from CRM. This includes "@mentions" in all modules, and emails from
      • Able to change project on timelog entries

        Ability to move the timesheet entry from one project to another. When a user adds a wrong entry a manager can change/update the timesheet entry to the correct project.
      • What formula to use in computing total hrs and decimal hrss

        So , my data includes log im column , 2 breaks with 2 columns that says back and lunch and 1 column that says back and logged out. What formula should i use to be able to automatically have my total hours as I input time in each column? Thankyou
      • i cannot use <b></b> to bold the message in Creator C6!!!!???What?

        Dear experts and friends, Now Creator 6 blocking us from using <b></b> Anyone facing this issue? I faced it on Creator C6 Previously, it used to work. Now failed to work. Faint~ Seek guidance from everyone on how to bold the message. The super simple
      • Knowledge base: The nitty-gritty of SEO tags

        A well-optimized knowledge base with great SEO can benefit your company by allowing customers to find help articles and support resources using search engines. This enables customers to quickly and efficiently find the information they need without direct
      • Content Security Policy

        Is there a place in ZOHO CRM to add a Content Security Policy to allow for a call to a google.com map, from inside our current app? Or, how do I resolve the issue below?? jquery.js:1 Refused to load the script 'https://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?v=3.41&libraries=places&sensor=true&key=AIzaSyAyQzKeKSbLci4LwZhn9oXvtCkbUo1Ae4g&callback=map_loader'
      • Option to select location?

        As a business coach, I meet with clients at various public locations. I have two or three pre-determined locations that I meet at. I would like the client to choose the location when booking an appointment. Is there a way to do that with a single service, or is the best way to accomplish this by creating one service for each location offered?
      • Next Page