Power of Automation :: SLA for Projects

Power of Automation :: SLA for Projects

Hello Everyone,

In this post, we would like to highlight the feature "Time-Based Workflow Rules for Projects"

Workflow rules help project managers organize tasks in a project by setting criteria and actions that meet the project requirements. Zoho Projects now allows users to schedule and streamline rules for projects based on date & time.

The SLA functionality is supported at the issue level. You can establish escalation protocols that specify which issues are escalated, the criteria for escalation that will be used, and the action that will be taken at a particular level of escalation.

Our client specifically requested that we construct SLA at the Projects level, and we were able to do so by combining the following functionalities. 'Time Based Workflow Rules for Projects' & 'Email Alerts & Templates for Projects' under Automation

Steps to be followed

1. Create a picklist type custom field 'Escalation Level' in the Project Layout
2. Create the required number of Email Alerts i.e. if you would like to have 3 levels of escalation, configure 3 email alerts
3. Configure the Workflow Rule and choose the trigger as 'Based on Date & Time'.
4. Select the criteria as to when the SLA must be executed for the Project.
5. Under Actions, choose the update fields option and select 'Escalation Level'. Also, Email Alert also be associated.

Likewise, you can configure multiple workflow rules and set the required number of escalation levels.

We have set 3 levels of escalation as per below and this is how it works :

5 days before due date -> Level 1 escalation :: Escalation Level field will be updated to 1 and Email Alert will be triggered to Project Owner
2 days before due date -> Level 2 escalation :: Escalation Level field will be updated to 2 and Email Alert will be triggered to Project owner & Admin Profile users
On due date -> Level 3 escalation :: Escalation Level field will be updated to 3 and Email Alert will be triggered to Project Owner, Admin profile users & Portal Owner

Below is a quick video demonstration of the above use case



We hope you found this post useful. If you have any questions, feel free to share them in the comments below.​

      • Sticky Posts

      • Introducing the Zoho Projects Learning Space

        Every product has its learning curve, and sometimes having a guided path makes the learning experience smoother. With that goal, we introduce a dedicated learning space for Zoho Projects, a platform where you can explore lessons, learn at your own pace,
      • Update on V2 API End-of-Life Timeline

        Dear Users, Earlier this year, we shared the launch of the V3 APIs and requested users to migrate from the older V2 APIs by December 2025. We have received valuable feedback from our users and partners regarding their migration timelines. We are happy
      • Automation Series: Auto-update Phase Status

        Hello Folks! You can auto-update your phase's status based on status of underlying tasks using custom functions. In this series, we will showcase how to create and run custom functions, using Deluge, with ease. Follow the steps below and automate your
      • Automate Timesheet Approvals with Multi-level Approval Rules

        Introducing Approval Rules for Timesheets in Zoho Projects. With this automation, teams can manage how timesheets are reviewed and approved by setting up rules with criteria and assigning approvers to handle submissions. Timesheet, when associated to
      • Accessibility Spotlight Series - 1

        Every user interacts with products differently, what feels intuitive to one may be challenging for another. Addressing this, accessibility is built into Zoho Project's design philosophy. This helps users navigate and perform actions with ease irrespective

        • Recent Topics

        • Tip #56- Accessibility Controls in Zoho Assist: Hearing- 'Insider Insights'

          As we begin the new year, it’s a great time to focus on making our tools more inclusive and accessible for everyone. Remote support often involves long hours in front of screens, varying lighting conditions, and users with diverse accessibility needs.
        • Zoho Desk Android app update: Table view for All Departments view, custom button

          Hello everyone! In the latest version(v2.9.25) of the Zoho Desk Android app update, we have introduced Table view for the 'All Departments' view in the ticket module. We also have supported an option that allows tickets in the Table view to be sorted
        • What's New - December 2025 | Zoho Backstage

          In December, Backstage introduced a focused set of updates that improve how you manage registrations, communicate with attendees, and track participation. These enhancements are designed to give organizers greater flexibility and clearer control across
        • Need code format to specify default values

          Can someone please direct me to the code syntax or the proper translation per the instructions circled below. These instructions don't seem correct.
        • Add multiple users to a task

          When I´m assigning a task it is almost always related to more than one person. Practical situation: When a client request some improvement the related department opens the task with the situation and people related to it as the client itself, the salesman
        • A Roundup of Zoho Sprints 2025

        • Issue with WhatsApp Template Approval and Marketing Message Limit in Zoho Bigin

          We are facing issues while creating and using WhatsApp message templates through Zoho Bigin, and we request your clarification and support regarding the same. 1. Utility Template Approval Issue Until December, we were able to create WhatsApp templates
        • Sorting Custom Date in API isn't working w pagination limit

          How can we sort a custom field with DATE using pagination? Starting at page=1 then moving to page=2 with a limit of 10 each, its all messed up and even shows some of the same records as page 1? https://www.zohoapis.com/crm/v2/INVOICE_MODULE/search?criteria=(FM_Contact_ID:equals:1234)&sort_by=Invoice_Date&sort_order=desc&per_page=10&page='
        • SAP Business One(B1) integration is now live in Zoho Flow

          We’re excited to share that SAP Business One (B1) is now available in Zoho Flow! This means you can now build workflows that connect SAP B1 with other apps and automate routine processes without relying on custom code. Note: SAP Business One integration
        • Enhancement in Role and Profile mapping of agents in Sandbox

          Hello everyone! We have brought in a modification in the way users are mapped to a particular role and profile in Sandbox. What has changed? When agents are copied from production to Sandbox: If a user's current role and profile is available in Sandbox,
        • The reason I switched away from Zoho Notebook

          My main reason for switching to Zoho was driven by three core principles: moving away from US-based products, keeping my data within India as much as possible, and supporting Indian companies. With that intent, I’ve been actively de-Googling my digital
        • Decimal places settings for exchange rates

          Hello, We are facing issues while matching vendor payments with banking feeds. As we often import products/services exchange rate comes into play. Currently, ZOHO allows only six digits for decimal places. We feel that conversions like JPY to INR require
        • Zoho removed ability to see all Scheduled Reports!

          If you are not the owner of a scheduled report, Zoho recently removed the capability to see each scheduled report. As an admin who relies on seeing all scheduled reports being sent, this is a terrible update. Now I cannot see ANY scheduled reports...even the ones I am being sent!!  This should be a setting for admins to control.  This is a bad update.
        • Please can the open tasks be shown in each customer account at the top.

          Hi there This has happened before, where the open tasks are no longer visible at the top of the page for each customer in the CRM. They have gone missing previously and were reinstated when I asked so I think it's just after an update that this feature
        • Automate Backups

          This is a feature request. Consider adding an auto backup feature. Where when you turn it on, it will auto backup on the 15-day schedule. For additional consideration, allow for the export of module data via API calls. Thank you for your consideration.
        • GCLID and Zoho Bookings

          Is there anyway to embed a Zoho Bookings signup on a landing page and pass the GCLID information? More specifically, can this be done using auto-tagging and not manual tagging the GCLID? I know Zappier has an integration to do this but is there a better
        • Merge Items

          Is there a work around for merging items? We currently have three names for one item, all have had a transaction associated so there is no deleting (just deactivating, which doesn't really help. It still appears so people are continuing to use it). I also can't assign inventory tracking to items used in past transactions, which I don't understand, this is an important feature moving forward.. It would be nice to merge into one item and be able to track inventory. Let me know if this is possible.
        • Create PO from an invoice

          We are a hardware and software sales company which receives orders over the internet. We drop ship most of our products from a warehouse outside of our company. Our orders get sync'd into Zoho from our store via onesaas as invoices. It would be great
        • Blueprint or Validation Rules for Invoices in Zoho Books

          Can I implement Blueprint or Validation Rules for Invoices in Zoho Books? Example, use case could be, Agent confirms from client that payment is done, but bank only syncs transactions tomorrow. in this case, Agent can update invoice status to done, and
        • Resetting auto-number on new year

          Hi everyone! We have an auto-number with prefix "D{YYYY}-", it generates numbers like D2025-1, D2025-2, etc... How can we have it auto-reset at the beginning of the next year, so that it goes to D2026-1? Thanks!
        • Delivery 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 these
        • The Social Wall: December 2025

          Hello everyone! As we wrap up the final edition of the Social Wall for 2025, it’s the perfect time to look at what went live during December. QR code generator From paying for coffee to scanning metro tickets, QR codes are everywhere and have made everyday
        • Custom AI solutions with QuickML for Zoho CRM

          Hello everyone, Earlier, we introduced Custom AI Solutions in CRM that let you access QuickML for your custom AI needs. Building on that foundation, we’ve now enabled a deeper integration: QuickML models can be seamlessly integrated into CRM, and surface
        • Helper Functions and DRY principle

          Hello everyone, I believe Deluge should be able to use 'Helper functions' inside the main function. I know I can create different standalones, but this is not helpful and confusing. I don't want 10000 different standalones, and I dont want to have to
        • Add specific field value to URL

          Hi Everyone. I have the following code which is set to run from a subform when the user selects a value from a lookup field "Plant_Key" the URL opens a report but i want the report to be filtered on the matching field/value. so in the report there is
        • Introducing workflow automation for the Products module

          Greetings, I hope all of you are doing well. We're happy to announce a few recent enhancements we've made to Bigin's Products module. The Products module in Bigin now supports Workflows, enabling you to automate routine actions. Along with this update,
        • Power up your Kiosk Studio with Real-Time Data Capture, Client Scripts & More!

          Hello Everyone, We’re thrilled to announce a powerful set of enhancements to Kiosk Studio in Zoho CRM. These new updates give you more flexibility, faster record handling, and real-time data capture, making your Kiosk flows smarter and more efficient
        • Zia Formula Expression Generator for Formula fields

          Hello everyone! Formula fields are super useful when you want your CRM to calculate things for you but writing the expression is where most people slow down. You know what you want, but you’re not fully sure which function to use, how the syntax should
        • Where 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. regards
        • CRM 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 associate
        • Issue with Zoho Creator Form Full-Screen View in CRM Related List Integration

          Hi Team, We have created a custom application in Zoho Creator and integrated it into Zoho CRM as a related list under the Vendor module, which we have renamed as Consignors. Within the Creator application, there is a form named “Pickup Request.” Inside
        • Wrapping up 2025 on a high note: CRM Release Highlights of the year

          Dear Customers, 2025 was an eventful year for us at Zoho CRM. We’ve had releases of all sizes and impact, and we are excited to look back, break it down, and rediscover them with you! Before we rewind—we’d like to take a minute and sincerely thank you
        • Directly Edit, Filter, and Sort Subforms on the Details Page

          Hello everyone, As you know, subforms allow you to associate multiple line items with a single record, greatly enhancing your data organization. For example, a sales order subform neatly lists all products, their quantities, amounts, and other relevant
        • 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
        • 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.
        • Projects custom colors replaced by default orange

          Since yesterday, projects uploaded to Zoho, to which I had assigned a custom color, have lost the customization and reverted to the default color (orange). Has anyone else had the same problem? If so, how did you resolve it?
        • How 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.
        • Restrict Users access to login into CRM?

          I’m wanting my employees to be able to utilize the Zoho CRM Lookup field within Zoho Forms. For them to use lookup field in Zoho Forms it is my understanding that they need to be licensed for Forms and the CRM. However, I don’t want them to be able to
        • Introducing Connected Records to bring business context to every aspect of your work in Zoho CRM for Everyone

          Hello Everyone, We are excited to unveil phase one of a powerful enhancement to CRM for Everyone - Connected Records, available only in CRM's Nextgen UI. With CRM for Everyone, businesses can onboard all customer-facing teams onto the CRM platform to
        • Unknown table or alias 'A1'

          I would like to create a subquery but i am getting the following error: Unknown table or alias 'A1' used in select query. This is the sql statement:  SELECT A1.active_paying_customers, A1.active_trial_customers, A1.new_paying_signup, date(A1.date_active_customers), 
        • Next Page