Relocating from Zoho Connect External to Zoho Connect Internal or Zoho CommunitySpaces... or move off of Connect completely.

Relocating from Zoho Connect External to Zoho Connect Internal or Zoho CommunitySpaces... or move off of Connect completely.

This conversation is aimed at Zoho clients that currently use Zoho Connect's External network platform. As I discovered in the comment section of another post, Zoho Connect is halting development of Zoho Connect EXTERNAL networks in favor of the new Zoho CommunitySpaces. Let's discuss if relocation is the best option, and if so to which version; Zoho Connect Internal (included w/Zoho One) or Zoho CommunitySpaces. 

I'm hopeful that many of you, as well as @Anonymous User and @Anonymous User (from the Zoho Connect team) will contribute to this conversation. (I will likely participate from two accounts. This account is my day job and I am also active under my own business account... both show my name.)

Background on the use case at my day job... which prompted this conversation:

We (INCBA) are a two-person non-profit trade association paying for an External Zoho Connect Network ($1,150 annually for unlimited members) plus an all employee Zoho One membership. While exploring the feasibility of relocating the population of our existing External Zoho Network (2 employee Members + ~400 External Users) to the Internal Connect Network which comes with our Zoho One subscription, I discovered the news that External networks will not be developed any further.

We like the additional features included with Internal Connect Networks such as the ability to share task boards publicly and also the Social Advocacy Post type. However, we also very much like the idea of being able to bring members into our community without the need for them to have a Zoho account. Please help this conversation by adding whatever you feel is important or whatever you need answers to. 

Initial Questions Regarding Moving from External to Internal:
  1. Is it possible to relocate/migrate from External to Internal with the help of the Zoho Connect team?
  2. What would the timeline look like for relocating?
  3. How much would it cost us to pay for that many External Users via the "add on" packs? (If I recall, External Users are available in packs of 20 at an affordable rate.)
  4. How much would it cost per External User once we expand past the 400 External Users discussed herein? (The answer to question 3 may answer this as well.)
Initial Questions Regarding Moving from External to CommunitySpaces:
  1. Will we be able to relocate/migrate easily? (please elaborate)
  2. Will CommunitySpaces be included with Zoho One?
  3. What will the Z1 limitations be? 
  4. How much will the stand-alone version of CommunitySpaces cost and what will the limitations be?
Personally, I need to move this conversation along quickly as the External Connect Network we use at INCBA comes up for annual renewal later this month (August 2024). Hopefully my initial questions can be answered quickly by staff and or community members. Beyond that, I'd like to see this conversation expanded upon by community members with the same or similar situations. 

Lastly, I've considered moving off Connect completely, but am a fan of the features and their team. I've considered moving to Zoho Desk Community, but it is underdeveloped/antiquated (IMO) and I really would prefer to remain within the Zoho One ecosystem to control costs. We're a small non-profit at my day job and I'm a boot-strapped solopreneur on the side. 

I look forward to seeing feedback and questions from others. 

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