What's New - January 2025 | Zoho Backstage

What's New - January 2025 | Zoho Backstage

Hi there!
 
As we step into a brand-new year, we’re thrilled to bring you some exciting updates to make event management more enjoyable and efficient. Here’s what we rolled out in January to kick off 2025:
 

Backstage 2.0 now enforced for all users 

We've officially transitioned all users to Backstage 2.0, effective January 31, 2025. This upgrade brings enhanced performance, a refined user experience, and new features to streamline your event management. Read more about it 
 

Braintree payment gateway     

We’ve added Braintree as a payment gateway in Zoho Backstage! Process transactions across multiple currencies and countries, making it easier to cater to a global audience.


 
How to connect Braintree in Backstage  
 
You can configure Braintree from:
  • Portal Settings > Payments & Tax > Add Payment Gateway
  • Or, directly within the event settings 
Required details for setup  

To connect your Braintree account, enter the following details:
  • Merchant ID: Found in the API Keys section of your Braintree account 
  • Public key and private key: Provided in the API Keys section
  • Currency: Must match the currency in your Braintree account
  • Client-side encryption key: Available in the API Keys section
  • Merchant account ID: Specifies where the received payments should be credited
Supported regions and currencies

      🌍 Countries: US, Canada, Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand
      💱 Currencies: AED, AUD, BND, CAD, CNY, EUR, GBP, INR, JPY, MMK, MXN, USD, SAR, ZAR

💳 Transaction fees will vary based on Braintree’s pricing structure.
   

New Stripe payment methods 

We’ve expanded Stripe payment options to include:
  • Alipay: A secure and widely popular payment option in China.
  • Klarna: Flexible global payment solutions with support for various currencies.
Activate these payment options directly from your payment settings.




Leaderboard full-page view   



Take your event experience to the next level by projecting the leaderboard on a big screen for everyone to see! Here’s how this simple yet impactful feature can make a difference:
  • Real-time updates: Keep the excitement alive as scores, rankings, and milestones are updated live for everyone to see.
  • Audience engagement: Transform your leaderboard into a centerpiece of your event, amplifying energy and encouraging healthy competition.
  • Seamless experience: Designed to work with any browser, setting up the projection is as simple as opening a web page—no additional tools required.
  • Customizable themes: Make it uniquely yours by tailoring the design to align with your event's theme and brand identity.
  • Password-protected:
    Maintain privacy and control by requiring a password for third-party users to access the leaderboard data.



Space-level favicon 

Customize your event spaces further by adding unique favicons. These small icons help make your event pages easily recognizable on browser tabs, elevating your Space's presence.




Other updates 

WhatsApp enhancements   

We’ve enhanced WhatsApp support to make communication with attendees even easier:
  • Per-event add-ons: Manage WhatsApp features on an event-specific level.
  • Pricing calculator: Provide attendees with clear pricing details directly through WhatsApp.


We’re excited about what 2025 has in store for Zoho Backstage, and we can’t wait to continue empowering you to create incredible events. For any questions or assistance, feel free to reach out to us at support@zohobackstage.com.
 
Here’s to a fantastic 2025 together!

The Zoho Backstage Team