Actions APIs - Field Updates
Hello all!!
Welcome back to a fresh Kaizen week.
In the previous weeks, we covered Workflow Rules APIs, Actions APIs - Email Notification APIs, and Tasks Update APIs.
This week, we will continue with another Actions API - the Field Update API in Zoho CRM.
Field Updates in Zoho CRM
The Field Update option helps you automatically update specific field values in records when the associated workflow rule is triggered.
Note: Field Updates can also be used in Blueprint and Approval Processes, but in this post, we will focus only on Field Updates used with Workflow Rules in Zoho CRM.
When multiple leads enter Zoho CRM each day, from small to large industries, the Sales team manages all these entries inside a module. Every single lead is important for a company, whether it comes from a small or large industry. High-profit leads should not be missed and must be treated with high priority, frequent follow-ups, and faster actions to convert them into won deals.
High-profit deals without Field Update
There are chances of missing or failing to prioritize high-profit deals when all entries are cluttered inside the same module. This leads to manual mistakes and confusion for the Sales team. It becomes manual work, which increases the possibility of missing high-profit Leads.
High-profit deals with Field Update
A Field Update + Workflow Rule can solve these issues by creating an automated process. This avoids manual intervention and reduces errors.
Use case
Zylker, an IT solutions provider, wants to give high-priority attention to leads coming from large industries or leads that have a high lead score, especially when the Lead Status is Not Contacted.
Whenever a lead has a Lead Score ≥ 80 and is Not Contacted, the system should automatically update a field called Profit Category and set it to High Profit.
Why Lead Score for our use case?
Lead Score shows how active and interested a lead is. A score of 80 or above means the lead is highly engaged and more likely to convert. This makes it a dependable way to identify important leads that need quick attention.
Scenario
Whenever a lead meets the following conditions:
- Lead Score ≥ 80
- Lead Status = Not Contacted
The system should automatically update the Profit Category field to High Profit, and add a Contact Immediately tag. This helps the Sales team quickly identify high-profit records even when many records are cluttered in the module.
This can be achieved using a Field Update combined with a Workflow Rule.
Why not just use a Custom View?
A custom view can filter and display leads that meet these conditions, but it still depends on the Sales team to open the view and take action. In a busy Leads module, important leads can be missed or delayed. Also, if you want to perform dependent actions, you will need to create and schedule a custom function manually.
With a Workflow and Field Update, the system emails and also trigger many other actions like Field Update, Webhooks, and so on to your executives about these leads automatically. In our case, the Profit Category and tag are updated the moment the lead meets the condition, making high-profit leads stand out everywhere in CRM - without relying on manual checks or someone remembering to look at a view.
Profit Category mapping based on Lead Score
Profit Category is a custom picklist field in the Leads module.
The following table shows how Zylker classifies profit categories based on Lead Score:
Lead Score | Profit Category |
20-40 | Minimal Profit |
40-60 | Average Profit |
60-80 | Good Profit |
80+ | High Profit |
In this use case, we focus only on the High Profit category.
Let us now see how to enable a Field Update in Zoho CRM through the UI.
Creating a Field Update via UI
To create a Field Update in Zoho CRM, follow the steps below:
- Go to Setup > Automation > Actions > Field Updates.
- Click Create Field Update.
- Enter the Name of the field update.
- Select the Module.
- Choose the Field that should be updated.
- Provide the value to be updated that must be applied.
- Save the Field Update.
Field Update Configuration
In this use case, a Field Update is created to modify the Profit Category field when the workflow rule is triggered.
Field Update Details:
- Name: Profit Category
- Module: Leads
- Field to Update: Profit Category
- New Value: High Profit
This Field Update will be used as an action inside the workflow rule.
How to create the workflow for this use case and associate this Field Update with the workflow has been covered in the following section of this post.
UI - Field Update Creation ViewCreating a Field Update via API
You can create a Field Update using the Create Field Update API available from Zoho CRM API version 8.
Request URL: {{api-domain}}/crm/v8/settings/automation/field_updates
Request Method: POST
Input JSON
{ "field_updates": [ { "name": "Profit Category ", "module": { "api_name": "Leads", "id": "5725767000000002175" }, "type": "static", "feature_type": "workflow", "field": { "api_name": "Profit_Category", "id": "5725767000008570298" }, "value": "High Profit" } ] } |
Keys explanation
Key | Explanation |
field_updates
| Holds all details to create a field update. |
name | Field Update name |
module | Specify the module details |
module.api_name | Represents the module API name. In our case, it is "Leads" module. |
module.id | Represents the System ID for the module |
type | Represents the Update type. Usually “static” for fixed-value updates. |
feature_type | Represents that this Field Update is for workflow Rules. |
field | Represents which field should be updated. |
field.api_name | Represents the field API name. |
field.id | Represents the unique ID of the field. |
value | The value to be updated |
Sample Response
{ "field_updates": [ { "code": "SUCCESS", "details": { "id": "5725767000008604002" }, "message": "field update deleted successfully", "status": "success" } ] } |
A note on the unique ID
You can add:
- You need this ID to retrieve, update, and delete the Field Update later.
Retrieve your Field Update
You can retrieve a Field Update by using the Get Field Update API. It lists all available Field Update actions available in your org.
Request URL: {{api-domain}}/crm/v8/settings/automation/field_updates/5725767000008604002
Request Method: GET
Sample Response:
Below is the sample response returned by Zoho CRM.
{ "field_updates": [ { "created_time": "2025-11-15T07:57:39-08:00", "update_type": null, "lock_status": { "locked": false }, "apply_assignment_threshold": false, "editable": true, "module": { "api_name": "Leads", "id": "5725767000000002175" }, "related_module": null, "deletable": true, "source": "crm", "type": "static", "created_by": { "name": "Patricia Boyle", "id": "5725767000000411001" }, "notify": false, "feature_type": "workflow", "modified_time": "2025-11-15T07:57:39-08:00", "field": { "api_name": "Profit_Category", "id": "5725767000008570298" }, "dependent_fields": null, "associated": false, "related_records": null, "name": "Profit Category Leads", "modified_by": { "name": "Patricia Boyle", "id": "5725767000000411001" }, "id": "5725767000008604002", "value": "High Profit" } ] } |
Note: This API helps you fetch all the details of a specific Field Update using its unique ID. Also, you can create a workflow and associate the created Field Update action using its unique ID.
Workflow Rule Configuration
Trigger:
- When a Lead is created or edited.
Condition:
- Lead Score is greater than or equal to 80.
- Lead Status is currently Not Contacted.
Actions:
- Associate the created Field Update action: High Profit
- Add a Contact Immediately tag to the record.
Workflow Rule and Field Update action via UI
Configuring Workflow and associating the Field Update actionWorkflow Rule and Field Update action via API
Create a Workflow:
You can use the Configure Workflow Rule API to create a workflow.
Associate the Field Update:
You can associate the Field Update action with the workflow by using the unique ID of the Field Update.
Retrieve the Field Update ID using the Get Field Updates API.
Request URL: {{api-domain}}/crm/v8/settings/automation/workflow_rules
Request Method: POST
Sample Input:
{ "workflow_rules": [ { . . . "execute_when": { "details": { "trigger_module": { "api_name": "Leads", "id": "5725767000000002175" }, }, "type": "create_or_edit" }, "module": { "api_name": "Leads", "id": "5725767000000002175" }, "conditions": [ { "instant_actions": { "actions": [ { "name": "Profit Category", "details": { "module": { "api_name": "Leads", "id": "5725767000000002175" } }, "id": "5725767000008604002", //associating the created Field Update with the Workflow. "type": "field_updates" }, { "name": "High Priority Deal", "details": { "module": { "api_name": "Leads", "id": "5725767000000002175" }, "over_write": false, "tags": [ { "name": "High Priority Deal", "id": "5725767000008570458", "color_code": "#63C57E" } ] }, "id": "5725767000008570470", "type": "add_tags" } ] }, "criteria": { "group_operator": "AND", "group": [ { "comparator": "greater_equal", "field": { "api_name": "Entity_Scores__s.Score", //Lead Score's API name "id": "5725767000002324045" }, "type": "value", "value": "80" }, { "comparator": "contains", "field": { "api_name": "Lead_Status", "id": "5725767000000002611" }, "type": "value", "value": "Not Contacted" } ] } } ] . . . } ] } |
For more details on Workflow Rules using APIs, refer to Kaizen #213 - Workflow APIs - Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Edit your existing Field Update
You can update an existing Field Update using the Update Field Update API. To update it, use the unique ID of the Field Update in the request URL. Use Get Field Update API to get the required Field Update ID.
Request URL: {{api-domain}}/crm/v8/settings/automation/field_updates/5725767000008599001
Request Method: PUT
Input JSON
{ "field_updates": [ { "name": "Profit Category - Updated", //updated the response "field": { "api_name": "Profit_Category", "id": "5725767000008570298" }, "value": "Good Profit" //updated value } ] } |
Note:
- Only the configured modules cannot be updated using the PUT - Field Update API call. The rest of the fields can be updated.
- The updated value must be valid for the field type. For example, picklist fields accept only existing picklist options.
- After updating a Field Update, any workflow linked to it will automatically start using the updated configuration.
Delete Your Existing Field Update
You can delete an existing Field Update using the Delete Field Update API. To delete it, you must use the unique ID of the Field Update in the request URL.
If you do not know the ID, use the Get Field Update API to retrieve it.
Request URL: {{api-domain}}/crm/v8/settings/automation/field_updates/5725767000008599001
Request Method: DELETE
Sample Response:
{ "field_updates": [ { "code": "SUCCESS", "details": { "id": "5725767000008604002" }, "message": "Field update deleted successfully", "status": "success" } ] } |
Note
- You cannot delete a Field Update if it is currently associated with any Workflow, Blueprint, or Approval Process. Remove the Field Update from the workflow first, and then try deleting it.
We hope this post helps you understand how to use Field Updates through the Zoho CRM Actions API - Field Update API.
Try it out, and let us know your experience in the comments section or reach out to us at support@zohocrm.com.
Stay tuned for more insights in our upcoming Kaizen posts!
Cheers!
Workflow Rules and Actions APIs on Kaizen series:
Workflow Rules:
- Kaizen #213 - Workflow APIs - Part 1
- Kaizen #214 - Workflow APIs - Part 2
- Kaizen #215 - Workflow APIs - Part 3 - Create and Update Workflow Rules
Actions APIs:
Topic Participants
Subramanian K
Sticky Posts
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 areKaizen #152 - Client Script Support for the new Canvas Record Forms
Hello everyone! Have you ever wanted to trigger actions on click of a canvas button, icon, or text mandatory forms in Create/Edit and Clone Pages? Have you ever wanted to control how elements behave on the new Canvas Record Forms? This can be achieved
Recent Topics
Task Deletion Restriction & Strict Stage Control
Hello Zoho Community, We have the following two issues currently pending and under testing, for which we require a workable and reliable solution: 1. Task Deletion Restriction We are testing ways to ensure that staff users are not able to delete tasksUnable to mass update a picklist field
Hello, I have the records within our Accounts module divided between two account types: Parent Accounts & Member Accounts. I am attempting to mass update accounts from one picklist value to the other (within other specific criteria in our custom fields)Process checklist in CRM
Hi We've created a new sales process that I'm mapping into the CRM - issue I have is that some of the tasks / milestones I would like to capture require very simple tick box responses but there are quite a few under a variety of sub categories so I don'tCRM project association via deluge
I have created a workflow in my Zoho CRM for closing a deal. Part of this workflow leverages a deluge script to create a project for our delivery team. Creating the project works great however, after or during the project creation, I would like to associateHolidays - Cannot Enter Two Holidays on Same Day
I have a fairly common setup, where part-time employees receive 1/2 day's pay on a holiday and full-time employees receive a full day's pay. Historically, I've been able to accommodate this by entering two separate holidays, one that covers full-timeWhere is the settings option in zoho writer?
hi, my zoho writer on windows has menu fonts too large. where do i find the settings to change this option? my screen resolution is correct and other apps/softwares in windows have no issues. regardsFile emails in Shared email folder
Hi, I am unable to allow users to collaborate in Shared email folders: User 1 shares a folder let's say "SharedTopic" with full permissions Users 2 and 3 can see this folder but are unable to add emails to this folder or search in this folder. For example,This user is not allowed to add in Zoho. Please contact support-as@zohocorp.com for further details
Hi Team, when I,m trying to create a email account (imagixmidia.com.br) it's showing this error >> This user is not allowed to add in Zoho. Please contact support-as@zohocorp.com for further details plz help me thanksHow to manage task lists in Zoho Desk?
Hello, I use Zoho Desk for IT customer support. I have a list of standard operating procedures (SOPs), including SOPs for onboarding new users, offboarding users, losing a device, etc. These are lists of tasks to be performed depending on the situation.User
If user is already part of manage engine endpoint central , what hapens when i try to add them to another Zoho org / directory? Are these users added as external users?Activating Zobot instead of chat
Hi folks, I know this will be obvious, but I have not been able to locate the details on this via google or youtube. We've had SalesIQ life chat set up for a while now and it is working perfectly. I have just finished development of a Zobot (using codeless)Adding a new section to the related details sidebar when creating a new ticket.
Hello, I was wondering if you can add a new section to the related details sidebar when creating a new ticket. I was wanting to have it to where it also shows the account information related to the contact chosen as well. This is the section I am referringDisplaying only unread tickets in ticket view
Hello, I was wondering if someone might be able to help me with this one. We use filters to display our ticket list, typically using a saved filter which displays the tickets which are overdue or due today. What I'd really like is another filter thatOne Contact with Multiple Accounts with Portal enabled
I have a contact that manages different accounts, so he needs to see the invoices of all the companies he manage in Portal but I found it not possible.. any idea? I tried to set different customers with the same email contact with the portal enabled andIs Zoho Shifts included in the Zoho One plan?
In case the answer is no: there's any plan to make it available via One? Thank youZoho Tracking Image location
So we've been having an issue with tracking email opens. Specifically in Gmail. Our emails are not that long either, maybe 4 sections of image/250 characters of text/button per section. But all my test accounts I used via Gmail we're showing opens. But then come to find out the tracking image is at the very bottom of the email. So If the message is clipped (It always just clips our social icons on the bottom) and the user doesn't click the show more button it never tracks the open. Looking at otherCreating an invoice to be paid in two installments?
Hi there, I own a small Photographic Services business and have not been able to find a way to fit my billing system into Zoho, or any other Accounting software. The way my payments work is: 1. Customer pays 50% of total price of service to secure theirZoho Tables is now live in Australia & New Zealand!
Hey everyone! We’ve got some great news to share — Zoho Tables is now officially available in the Australian Data Center serving users across Australia and New Zealand regions! Yes, it took us a bit longer to get here, but this version of Zoho TablesDelivery and handling of documents e-stamped using Zoho Sign
Hello everyone! Zoho Sign makes it easy to pay non judicial stamp duty online and automatically attach the digitally generated e-stamp challan to electronic documents. We also manage the delivery of physical e-stamped papers. We periodically receive theseIntroducing Dedicated Modules for Plans, Addons, and Coupons in Zoho Billing
We’ve enhanced the way you manage Plans, Addons, and Coupons in Zoho Billing. Previously, all three grouped together under Subscription Items. Now, each one has its own dedicated module, giving you a cleaner and more intuitive experience. This updateSortie de Zoho TABLE ??
Bonjour, Depuis bientôt 2 ans l'application zoho table est sortie en dehors de l'UE ? Depuis un an elle est annoncée en Europe Mais en vrai, c'est pour quand exactement ??Drop Down Value
Hi, May I know why Zoho Flow treat this drop down as number and not as string. If so, how can I fetch the right value for filtering. This field is from Creator, in Creator upon checking by default it is a string since it's not a lookup field.Zoho CRM's mobile apps: A 2025 Recap
2025 marked a year of steady progress for Zoho CRM's mobile apps. We rolled out several updates and features to improve usability and make everyday CRM work a lot easier to manage. Here’s a look back at some of the key releases from 2025. Android releasesFacebook follower count doesn't match FB Analytics
Hi all, I am wondering if anyone else has issues with follower counts for Facebook not matching FB's native analytics tool. On the Zoho dashboard, it's showing 1,007, but FB shows 1,060. All the other channels match up. Any insights are much appreciated!Meta and Facebook data report discrepancy
I have been currently gathering manually facebook follower data thru meta. In zoho marketing plus the social media reporting only allows for page likes, and so there is a discrepancy with the data. please the difference in files attached. Is there wayUnlocking New Levels: Zoho Payroll's Journey in 2025
Every year brings its own set of challenges and opportunities to rethink how payroll works across regulations and teams. In 2025, Zoho Payroll continued to evolve with one clear focus: giving businesses more flexibility, clarity, and control as they grow.Can I export all attachments from Zoho CRM?
Can I export all attachments from Zoho CRM?Community Digest — Noviembre y Diciembre 2025
¡Hola, Comunidad de Zoho en Español! Cerramos el año de la mejor forma con nuestro último Community Digest de 2025, donde podrás encontrar las últimas novedades de nuestros productos. ¿Todo listo para empezar 2026 con el mejor pie? ¡Vamos a ello! ZohoZoho Projects Plus’ 2025- the year we launched
We’ve been building project management tools for the past 19 years, and a question we often hear is: Different teams in our organization prefer different project management methods; while the development team prefers agile, the marketing and sales teamsZoho Books emails suddenly going to Spam since 11 Nov 2025 (Gmail + now Outlook) — anyone else?
Hi everyone, We migrated to Zoho Books in July 2025 and everything worked fine until 11 Nov 2025. Since then, Zoho Books system emails are landing in customers’ Spam (first Gmail, and now we’re seeing Outlook/Office 365 also starting to spam them). ImpactedHow do you print a refund check to customer?
Maybe this is a dumb question, but how does anyone print a refund check to a customer? We cant find anywhere to either just print a check and pick a customer, or where to do so from a credit note.Company Multiple Branch/ Location Accounting
Hi All, anyone know whether company can maintain their multiple Branch Accounting in Zoho Books. It will be chart of Accounts & Master Data will be same but different report available as per per Branch. Thanks & regards, Vivek +91 9766906737Zoho Books Invoices Templates
It would be really helpful to have more advanced features to customise the invoice templates in Zoho Books. Especially I´m thinking of the spacing of the different parts of the invoice (Address line etc.). If you have a sender and receiver address inEmail Administrators! Join our tips & troubleshooting series
Greetings to all the admins out there! This announcement is exclusively for you. As we step into the New Year, we’re excited to start a dedicated series of admin-specific tips curated to support you. These posts will help you overcome everyday challengesDeprecation of the Zoho OAuth connector
Hello everyone, At Zoho, we continuously evaluate our integrations to ensure they meet the highest standards of security, reliability, and compliance. As part of these ongoing efforts, we've made the decision to deprecate the Zoho OAuth default connectorFree 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. LearnImport Function: ONLY update empty fields
When setting up an import from a spreadsheet to CRM, there is a checkbox "Don't update empty values for existing contacts" (see screenshot below). While I see some limited benefit from this functionality, I think there should also be an "ONLY update emptyBegin the year with best practices in the Zoho Desk mobile app : Part 2
In focus: Optimizing collaboration and supervision Let's begin 2026 with Part 2 of our tips series on driving your ticketing operations at your fingertips. In Part 1, we explored streamlining operations within tickets. This helped individuals at OmniserveHow to update "Lead Status" to more than 100 records
Hello Zoho CRM, How do I update "Lead Status" to more than 100 records at once? To give you a background, these leads were uploaded or Imported at once but the lead status record was incorrectly chosen. So since there was a way to quickly add records in the system no matter how many they are, we are also wondering if there is a quicker way to update these records to the correct "Lead Status". I hope our concern makes sense and that there will be a fix for it. All the best, JonathanJWT Token authentication problem that sometimes generates infinite redirect loops
Description : Nous proposons un bouton sur notre plateforme permettant de rediriger l'utilisateur vers le portail ZohoDesk via un jeton JWT pour une authentification transparente. Cependant, il arrive que certains utilisateurs soient pris dans une boucleNext Page