Bidirectional sync between Zoho Bookings and Zoho CRM - Part 1

Bidirectional sync between Zoho Bookings and Zoho CRM - Part 1

Hey, community members!

The default integration between Zoho CRM and Zoho Bookings is unidirectional, which means that any appointments booked, rescheduled, or deleted in Zoho Bookings will be reflected in Zoho CRM. However, any modifications made to events in Zoho CRM that originated from Zoho Bookings will not be reflected back in Zoho Bookings. Hence, as we're announcing in this community post, we've made the sync bidirectional.

This community post will cover the process of configuring appointment bookings from Zoho CRM in Zoho Bookings, as well as managing appointment statuses such as Canceled, No Show and Completed. We have addressed the rescheduling action in a separate post. To view it, please click on the following link: Reschedule Action

This community post will be beneficial for active Zoho CRM users who handle all their meetings within Zoho CRM. Additionally, you can use this community post as a reference to explore various automation possibilities tailored to your business requirements. For instance, with this post's guidance, when you update a booking's status field to "Completed" in Zoho CRM, it will automatically sync with Zoho Bookings and trigger an automated "Mark as completed" email to customers. This enhancement will improve your Zoho Bookings and Zoho CRM synchronization experience, making appointment management easier.

Prerequisites of bidirectional sync: 
  • Zoho Bookings Premium subscription
  • Zoho CRM paid subscription
  • Enable Zoho CRM integration within Zoho Bookings
The purpose of enabling the Zoho CRM integration within Zoho Bookings is to transfer booking details from Zoho Bookings to Zoho CRM. In this configuration, the mandatory field is the Booking ID, which is passed from Zoho Bookings to Zoho CRM through the integration. Whenever an appointment is booked, customer details will be sent to the designated CRM module, and a corresponding record will be created in the Meetings module within Zoho CRM, which will help in automating the workflow.

Here's the complete demo video that covers all the configurations discussed in the community post below:

Timestamps for your reference: 

0:35 - Purpose of this community post
1:26 - Zoho CRM plugin installation
4:43 - Custom field creation
7:20 - Function creation
9:22 - Connection creation
10:24 - Configuring arguments 
11:06 - Workflow creation
13:33 - Argument mapping
14:41 - Output verification
17:41 - Conclusion



How we're approaching this bidirectional sync

1. Booking an appointment from Zoho CRM

Install the Zoho Bookings for Zoho CRM plugin within your Zoho CRM application. This plugin enables the creation of a "New Appointment" button within the Zoho CRM Leads and Contacts module, which enables you to select the desired booking page you wish to open. You can choose from various workspace, service, or staff booking pages. After configuration, you can initiate the process of scheduling bookings directly from within your Zoho CRM account. 
2. Booking status: Completed or No Show

To update a booking's status (Completed or No Show), we've added a new picklist properties field named "Booking Status" in the Meetings module and configured it with two options: "completed" and "no show". Depending on the booking status chosen, the corresponding booking in Zoho Bookings will be updated.
  • Details on how to add a custom field to the Meetings module : Customizing modules

  • Here's a video that demonstrates how to add a field to a module in Zoho CRM: Adding fields
Reference:




3. Booking status: Canceled 

Whenever a meeting is deleted from the Meetings module, the corresponding booking in the Zoho Bookings app will also be canceled automatically. The meeting can be deleted either from the Meetings module or directly from the calendar.





To enable bidirectional sync between Zoho CRM and Zoho Bookings

Complete these steps in Zoho CRM.

Step 1: Creating connections

You first need to establish a connection between Zoho CRM and Zoho Bookings. Zoho Bookings is listed as one of the default connections in Zoho CRM, making it simple to set up. Select the Zoho Bookings connection, define the connection name and scope, and you'll be all set. This connection will enable you to link both applications and facilitate the seamless transfer of data. 
Read here for more details on how to create connection in Zoho CRM: Connections

Step 2: Creating functions

In this context, we'll be creating three functions: one for marking appointments as completed, another for canceling appointments, a third for marking appointments as no shows, and a fourth for rescheduling appointments. For each function, we must also configure arguments, which pass values or data into a function when making a call. Here, we'll pass the booking ID to the function as an argument to update the necessary booking status.

i. To create a function for marking appointments as completed:
 
     1. Go to Setup > Developer Space > Functions.
     2. In the Functions page, click + Create New Function.

     3. Configure the function name, display name, and description.
     4. Set the category as automation.

More details:  Functions

This opens the Deluge script page.

     5. Next, configure the function's arguments:
          A. Click on Edit Arguments on the Deluge script page.

          B. Set the Parameter Name as bookingID. (Please note that the "bookingID" value is case sensitive and must match 
               the term used in the code).
          C. Set the type as string.

Reference:


Please configure the below code in the Deluge script page. 

Code link: Completed



By completing these steps, we've configured a function that will mark appointments as completed.

ii. To create a function for marking appointments as no shows

      1. Go to Setup > Developer Space > Functions.
      2. In the Functions page, click + Create New Function.

      3. Configure the function name, display name, and description.
      4. Set the category as automation.

More details:  Functions

This opens the Deluge script page.

      5. Next, configure the function's arguments:
           A. Click on Edit Arguments on the Deluge script page.

           B. Set the Parameter Name as bookingID. (Please note that the "bookingID" value is case sensitive and must match
                the term used in the code).
           C. Set the type as string. 

Reference:


Please configure the below code on the Deluge script page.

Code link: No show



By completing these steps, we've configured a function that marks appointments as no shows.

iii. To create a function for marking appointments as canceled

      1. Go to Setup > Developer Space > Functions.
      2. In the Functions page, click + Create New Function.

      3. Configure the function name, display name, and description.
      4. Set the category as automation.

More details:  Functions

This opens the Deluge script page.

      5. Next, configure the function's arguments:
            A. Click on Edit Arguments on the Deluge script page.

            B. Set the Parameter Name as bookingID. (Please note that the "bookingID" value is case sensitive and must match
                 the term used in the code).
            C. Set the type as string. 

Reference



Please configure the below code on the Deluge script page.

Code link: Cancel appointment 



By completing these steps, we've configured a function that marks appointments as canceled.

Code explanation

Below is an explanation of the code that covers all the configurations present in the three functions mentioned above (cancel, mark as completed, and mark as no show).

Line 1: Based on the Zoho Bookings account's data center, we're setting up the API endpoint URL configuration. 
Lines 2 - 4: To update appointments, we utilize the Zoho Bookings API. Within the update appointment API, there are two mandatory fields that need to be included: BookingID and action (completed/cancel/noshow). 

Lines 5 - 10: We use the invokeURL task for API calls. To learn more about the invokeURL task, please refer to the following document: InvokeURL task for API calls

Now, let's proceed and learn about the process of creating a workflow and linking the established functions to it. This will enable us to automate the entire appointment status updating process.


Step 3: Creating a workflow

Workflow rules are sets of actions (email notifications, tasks and field updates) that are executed when specified conditions are met. Here, we'll generate workflow rules for each action to activate the respective function, thereby automating the appointment status updating process.

More details: Workflow overview

i. Creating a workflow for "canceling" appointments in Zoho Bookings when a meeting is deleted in Zoho CRM

Part 1: Creating the rule

      1. Go to Setup > Automation > Workflow Rules.
      2. In the Workflow Rules page, click Create Rule.

      3. Select "Meetings" under Module and configure rule name and description as required.

More details: Create Rule

Reference: 


Part 2: Specifying the rule trigger

More details: Specify rule triggers

      1. Select Record Action > Delete > Done to execute the rule when meetings are deleted.

      2. Configure condition > All Meetings.

      3. Instant Actions > Function.

      4. Click the New Function button.


      5. In the Configure custom function page, select the "cancel" function you created from among the functions users in your organization have created.


Part 3: Argument mapping

      1. Press # to choose an argument value.

      2. Select Meetings under Module and BookingId in the field.

      3. Click the Save and Associate button.

Reference:


Below is the final flow of the cancel booking workflow:


At the end of Part 3, we will have created a workflow that will be executed automatically when meetings are deleted in Zoho CRM. Simultaneously, the bookings associated with the meeting will also be canceled in Zoho Booking.

ii. Creating workflow for updating an appointment's status as "no show" in Zoho Bookings when the meeting's booking status is marked as no show in Zoho CRM

Part 4: Creating the rule

      1. Go to Setup > Automation > Workflow Rules.
      2. In the Workflow Rules page, click Create Rule.

      3. Select Meetings under Module and configure the rule name and description as required.

More details: Create Rule

Reference:

 
Part 5: Specifying the rule trigger

If you encounter difficulties while navigating through the steps mentioned below, please refer to Part 2 above, where we have provided step-by-step screenshots for clarification.

      1. Record Action > Edit. 

      2. Enable the Specific field(s) gets modified and configure it per the screenshot below.
          a. This is to ensure that the workflow is executed only when the booking status under the meeting module is
              updated to "No Show".

      3. Configure condition > All Meetings.
      4. Instant Actions > Function > New Function.
      5. In the Configure custom function page, select the "no show" function you created from among the functions
          users in your organization have created.

Part 6: Argument mapping:

If you encounter difficulties while navigating through the steps mentioned below, please refer to Part 3 above, where we have provided step-by-step screenshots for clarification.

      1. Press # to choose an argument value.
      2. Select Meetings under Module and configure the field as "BookingId".
      3. Click Save and Associate button.

Reference:


Below is the final flow of the "No Show" booking status workflow:


At the end of part 6, we will have created a workflow that automatically executes when the booking status field within the Zoho CRM Meetings module is updated to "No Show." This action will result in the associated bookings for that meeting also being marked as "No Show" in Zoho Bookings.

iii. Creating workflow for updating appointment status as "Completed" in Zoho Bookings when the booking status field of the meeting is marked as completed in Zoho CRM.

Part 7: Creating the rule

      1. Go to Setup > Automation > Workflow Rules.
      2. In the Workflow Rules page, click Create Rule.

      3. Select Meetings under Module and configure rule name and description as required.

Reference:



Part 8: Specifying the rule trigger

If you encounter difficulties while navigating through the steps mentioned below, please refer to Part 2 above, where we have provided step-by-step screenshots for clarification.

      1. Record Action > Edit.

      2. Enable the Specific field(s) gets modified setting and configure it per the screenshot below.
            a. This serves to ensure that the workflow is executed only when the booking status under the Meetings module is
                updated to "Completed".

      3. Configure condition > All Meetings.
      4. Instant Actions > Function > New Function.
      5. In the Configure custom function page, select the "completed" function you created from among the functions users
          in your organization have created.

Part 9: Argument mapping:

If you encounter difficulties while navigating through the steps mentioned below, please refer to Part 3 above, where we have provided step-by-step screenshots for clarification.

      1. Press # to choose an argument value.
      2. Select Meetings under Module and configure the field as "BookingId".
      3. Click Save and Associate button.

Reference:


Below is the final flow of the "Completed" booking status workflow:


At the end of part 9, we will have created a workflow that is automatically executed when the booking status field within the Zoho CRM Meetings module is updated to "Completed." As a result, the associated bookings for that meeting will also be marked as "Completed" in Zoho Bookings.

Conclusion

We've reached the end of this community post. With the integration mentioned above in place, you'll be able to book, cancel, and update the status of appointments in Zoho Bookings directly from your Zoho CRM application. This will help you effectively manage your appointments in one place. As mentioned above, we've covered the rescheduling action in a separate post, which you can access by clicking on the following link: Reschedule Action

Furthermore, we've outlined a method for automating appointment statuses in detail. You can use this document as a reference to explore the various possibilities that suit your needs.
 
If you have any questions or need assistance with your configuration, please email us at hello@zohobookings.com or support@zohobookings.com.

    • Recent Topics

    • Multi-Page Forms in Zoho Creator!

      Let’s make long applications easier to handle by dividing them into pages, adding a progress bar, and guiding users step by step through complex data entry. This would be a total game-changer for the user experience and could significantly boost completion
    • Email login error

      Login successfully but email page error
    • Shared Mailboxes Disappeared

      Zoho Mail users in our company haven't been able to see their Shared Mailboxes for the past few hours. I've checked with App and Web Access, but they can't access them. When I send emails to their addresses, I get no error messages. They're still visible
    • Remote Server is misconfigured

      Dear Team, I am unable to use email id as remote server is misconfigured. It would be really great if you could help on this and get this resolved. Thanks & Regard Rohit Gupta
    • why cant i access my email account. it keeps asking me for reverifiying my account by entering my password.

      I cant access my account. it keeps asking me for reverifcaton by entering my password. once its entered it asks for it over and over.
    • Free webinar alert on October 16 - Less Complexity, More Security: Workplace + Directory

      Hello Zoho Workplace Community! Security and productivity shouldn't be at odds—and with Zoho, they're not. Discover how Zoho Workplace + Directory delivers seamless collaboration with enterprise-grade security, all in one integrated ecosystem. Join our
    • Email Recall Feature In Zoho Mail Which Should Also Work For Outside Organisation Members

      Add a feature to recall or undo sending an email within a configurable short time window (e.g., 30 seconds to 2 minutes) after hitting send, similar to Gmail’s undo send. Currently the sent email can not be recall If the recipient is not from within your
    • Workdrive and ChatGPT Team Synced Connectors

      Hi, we want to be able to integrate Zoho Workdrive with OpenAI’s ChatGPT Team plan. Google Drive and OneDrive both offer this, zoho please catch up asap. We dont want to have to put our company files in google drive, we want to allow chatgpt Team edition
    • Alias Name (on items) use case in Zoho inventory

      Hey, Hope everyone is well. Wondering if anyone can shed some light on the use case of Alias Names on Products in Zoho Inventory? Cheers, Chris
    • Updating an Invoice Line Item's Discount Account via API Call / Deluge Custom Function

      I need help updating an invoice line item's discount account via API. Below is a screenshot of the line item field I am referring to. Now the field to the left of the highlighted field (discount account) is the sales income account. I am able to modify
    • Send e-mail with attachments

      Dear Zoho, How is that possible in Zoho Flow to send an e-mail with attachment?  Just a simple example: Zoho Flow checks my Zoho mails and if the conditions starts the trigger then I would like to send an email with the original email's attachment. Any idea? BR, Adam
    • How to I get checkboxes on a subform to update via deluge

      Hello, would someone be able to tell me what I'm doing wrong here? I am trying to take the contents of a Deals subform and add them to an invoice then update the checkbox on each row so that 'add to invoice' is unticked and 'invoiced' is ticked. The output
    • Your bot just got smarter: AI-Powered routing that reads between the lines

      What if your bot could tell the difference? Between a visitor who just needs a quick answer, someone actively comparing options, and a frustrated customer one click away from leaving? Most bots can't. They deliver the same response to everyone, missing
    • Urgent Security Feature Request – Add MFA to Zoho Projects Client Portal Hello Zoho Projects Team,

      Hello Zoho Projects Team, We hope you are doing well. We would like to submit an urgent security enhancement request regarding the Zoho Projects Client Portal. At this time, as far as we are aware, there is no Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) available
    • Unified customer portal login

      As I'm a Zoho One subscriber I can provide my customers with portal access to many of the Zoho apps. However, the customer must have a separate login for each app, which may be difficult for them to manage and frustrating as all they understand is that
    • Zoho Projects - Task Owner filter at Project level

      Hi Projects Team, The feature requests I would like to raise is the ability to create a custom view at the project level for projects with tasks owned by a user or users. For example "Ashley's Projects" custom view might contain a list of project in which
    • Cadences

      I have just started using Cadences for follow-up up email pipeline. Is it just me or do you find the functionality very basic? For example, it will tell me (if I go looking for it) if someone has replied to a follow-up and been unenrolled; but it won't
    • Zoho Books-Accounting on the Go Series!

      Dear users, Continuing in the spirit of our 'Function Fridays' series, where we've been sharing custom function scripts to automate your back office operations, we're thrilled to introduce our latest initiative – the 'Zoho Books-Accounting on the Go Series'.
    • Custom Fonts in Zoho CRM Template Builder

      Hi, I am currently creating a new template for our quotes using the Zoho CRM template builder. However, I noticed that there is no option to add custom fonts to the template builder. It would greatly enhance the flexibility and branding capabilities if
    • Would be really awesome to have Created Time and Modified Time showing for custom functions list

      It would be SO HELPFUL to be able to sort custom functions by created time/ modified time. Also seeing a created by/ modified by with the little profile picture would be supremely helpful as well. Just really hard sometimes to find a function you were
    • 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
    • Ticket Export Does Not Include Ticket Threads

      Dear Zoho Desk Support Team, I hope you’re doing well. I would like to report an issue regarding the ticket export functionality in Zoho Desk. Currently, when exporting tickets, the ticket threads or conversation history are not included — only the ticket
    • Payments made notification

      This is a really wonderful feature but we can only use it for about 50% of payments made & have to revert to sending statements which is a real chore. Credits applied to the bills paid in the notification aren't included & this causes great confusion in the accounts receivable departments. Please, please add this required feature asap ! .....
    • Ability to add VAT to Retainer Invoices

      Hello, I've had a telephone conversation a month ago with Dinesh on this topic and my request to allow for the addition of VAT on Retainer Invoices.  It's currently not possible to add VAT to Retainer Invoices and it was mutually agreed that there is absolutely no reason why there shouldn't be, especially as TAX LAW makes VAT mandatory on each invoice in Europe!   So basically, what i'm saying is that if you don't allow us to add VAT to Retainer Invoices, than the whole Retainer Invoices becomes
    • ZOHO DESK link with Power BI

      HI, I am using ZOHO Desk for last two years and now my client is asking to integrate ZOHO desk data to Power BI so that they can use Data for reporting. Kindly guide in details so that i can give access to ZOHO desk export data for more visibility.
    • Introducing AWS authentication for connections in Deluge

      Hello everyone, We're incredibly excited to announce the all-new AWS authentication for connections in Deluge! This highly anticipated feature simplifies connecting to Amazon Web Services, opening up a world of possibilities and allowing you to seamlessly
    • URLs being masked despite disabling tracking

      Hey, We had disabled click tracking from an email update we are sharing with our users. Despite this, the URL the end user is receiving is masked, and looks like "https://qksyl-cmpzourl.maillist-manage.net/click/1d8e72714515cda6/1d8e72714515ca70" instead
    • Zoho CRM - Calendar Cards View - Let Users Decide What Is Displayed On Calendar Entries

      Imagine planning your week of face-to-face meetings across three counties. You’re trying to group appointments by location to make the best use of your time, but Zoho CRM’s calendar doesn’t show where each meeting is happening. You’re left trying to remember
    • 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
    • Dashboard Autorefesh

      Good day, I am a dashboard that displays the number of tickets based on "Product Name". This dashboard is displayed on a big TV for the team to monitor. Can the dashboard auto-refresh every few minutes to display the new values? Currently, we have closed
    • Deferred/ Unearned revenue

      Dear Zoho Team, Just in case you have missed out my query posted few days ago: We issue invoices relating to 12-month web hosting service. When we issue the invoice, we should record the entire amount of the invoice as DEFERRED/UNEARNED REVENUE (ie. $10
    • Report Hover Setting

      Would be great if we will able to show information to the user while hovering a record in a report.
    • Bigin Android app update: Zoho Books integration

      Hello everyone! We’re excited to introduce Zoho Books integration on the latest version(v1.8.5) Bigin Android app. Once the integration is completed in the web(bigin.zoho.com), the Zoho Books tab will be visible in detail View of Contacts, Companies,
    • Audit Log enhancements: Increased retention period, better user visibility, and more

      Hello everyone, The Audit Log brings in the following enhancements which improve the overall ability to manage data. Why did we make these updates? Extended Data Retention: Audit data can now be filtered and exported for a 60-day period, doubling the
    • Question Regarding Managing Sale Items in Zoho Books

      Good day, I was wondering about something. Right now, Zoho Books doesn’t seem to have a way to flag certain items as being on sale. For example, if I want a list of specific items to be on sale from October 1 to October 12, the user would have to export
    • [WEBINAR] Smooth year-end closure with Zoho Books (KENYA)

      Hello there, This webinar is for all Kenyan businesses looking to wrap up their financial year smoothly! Join our free session to learn how Zoho Books can simplify your year-end process. What to expect from this webinar: - All the latest updates in Zoho
    • System flaws and lack of response from Zoho

      I have had to go on here as no-one is replying to my emails regarding my problem (been 10 days and no email reply) and your chat facility online through your Zoho Books software opens and closes immediately, so not functioning properly. I actually called
    • Customer Grouping

      Hi, how can I group multiple customers into single group. So that I can have idea of accounts receivables of all the customers in single group. Like if there are multiple subsidiaries of same company we have having a business with, and want to view the
    • Two currencies

      More and more I am finding that internattional payments' fees are unpredictable. I would like, on my invoices that are in a foreign currency (eg. USD$ or EUR€) for there to be a GBP£ TOTAL display alongside the invoice's currency total. This would make
    • Zoho Books | Product updates | September 2025

      Hello users, We’ve rolled out new features and enhancements in Zoho Books. From PayNow payment method to applying journal credits to invoices and bills in other locations, explore the updates designed to enhance your bookkeeping experience. Integrate
    • Next Page