Zoho Project for CRM is clumsy and not intuitive

Zoho Project for CRM is clumsy and not intuitive

Zoho Pdoes a lot of things right as a platform provider and I have to say the support we have received has been better than many of the other SaaS platforms we work with.  However, they do need to improve the diagnosing experience with their customers and get rid of old streams of discussion that really only help to confuse many people using the most current version of Zoho products.   

That being said, Zoho Projects promises a lot of fantastic integration within the CRM and the users of the CRM, so not being able to embrace it is disappointing.  The interface for creating multi-tiered or structured project templates is clumsy and time consuming.   Can it be done?  Yes, but it will take more time and effort than most people can justify.    It is much easier and faster in manty ways to build your project in Google Sheets and then use a Gantt Chart add on then work with Zoho Proejcts.   Another alternative is Smartsheets, it is perhaps the best example of how a project management tool should be able to be built from scratch using a simple spreedsheet type interface.  

Zoho should know where the line is when it comes to training users to use their platform and when they need to reevaluate their interface and instead use coding to make their platform easier to work with for their users.   Simply put.  Zoho you need to emulate a best in class leader, such as Smartsheets for their Zoho Projects platform.   Do that and you will get people migrating over and adopting its use.   Keep what you got now and you will continue to frustrate and chase away users.  

      Zoho Campaigns Resources


        • Desk Community Learning Series


        • Digest


        • Functions


        • Meetups


        • Kbase


        • Resources


        • Glossary


        • Desk Marketplace


        • MVP Corner


        • Word of the Day


        • Ask the Experts


          • Sticky Posts

          • Automation Series: Auto-create Dependent Task on Status Change

            In Zoho Projects, you can automatically create and assign a dependent task when a task’s status is updated. This helps teams stay aligned, ensures reviews happen on time, and reduces manual effort. In this post, we’ll walk through an easy setup using
          • Time Log Reminder

            Tracking the time spent on tasks and issues is one of the most important functions of a timesheet. However, users may forget to update the time logs because they have their own goals to achieve. But, time logs must be updated at regular intervals to keep
          • 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

          Zoho CRM Plus Resources

            Zoho Books Resources


              Zoho Subscriptions Resources

                Zoho Projects Resources


                  Zoho Sprints Resources


                    Zoho Orchestly Resources


                      Zoho Creator Resources


                        Zoho WorkDrive Resources



                          Zoho CRM Resources

                          • CRM Community Learning Series

                            CRM Community Learning Series


                          • Tips

                            Tips

                          • Functions

                            Functions

                          • Meetups

                            Meetups

                          • Kbase

                            Kbase

                          • Resources

                            Resources

                          • Digest

                            Digest

                          • CRM Marketplace

                            CRM Marketplace

                          • MVP Corner

                            MVP Corner




                            Zoho Writer Writer

                            Get Started. Write Away!

                            Writer is a powerful online word processor, designed for collaborative work.

                              Zoho CRM コンテンツ



                                ご検討中の方

                                  • Recent Topics

                                  • zoho.inventory.getRecords returns no records

                                    I running a custom function (Deluge) in Zoho Flow with a connection to Zoho Inventory. To debug the problem, I created the test function below. It returns "Number of contacts fetched: 0". This confirms that there's no issue with the org ID or connection
                                  • Feature announcement - Simplifying document creation with Zoho Sign

                                    Hi there, We are pleased to announce the release of our document creation feature, enabling you to create, edit, and finalize documents like agreements, purchase orders, and contracts without relying on external tools or applications. <br> This
                                  • Integrating File Attachments in Zoho Flow Email Notifications

                                    Hi, I would like to be able to send an email once an entry is made in a form, and in this email, I would like to attach a file that has been added to the form using the ImageUpload (or FileUpload) widget. So, I started by creating a flow that will trigger
                                  • Zoho project purchases

                                    Hi Folks, I think having a purchase module in projects will help in putting together a project p and L. Project wise purchases and expenses.  Do let me know your thoughts.
                                  • How can I restore all the deleted Time entries of a Task in Zoho Projects

                                    How can I restore all the deleted Time entries of a Task in Zoho Projects? Query: In Zoho Projects, I cloned a task and deleted the time entries from the cloned task. However, this also deleted the time entries from the original task. How can I restore
                                  • Is there a way to make an account inactive in ZoHo Desk

                                    We have a few Clients "Accounts" that we no longer do business with. It would be beneficial for them to not show up in lists. However, we want to go back and view tickets, time, etc.
                                  • How to set the value of the Phone field importing contacts in Zoho Desk

                                    Hi everyone, i'm new in Zoho Desk, we're setting up the environment and i'm importing contacts from another CRM using a file CSV and i'm getting a problem with phone numbers (italian): the leading zero is cut away, also if the value is inside double quotes.
                                  • How to center a field inside a section?

                                    I’ve been trying to center a field inside a section in Zoho Canvas. When I align it visually, it looks centered in the editor, but after clicking Save, the field appears misaligned on the actual canvas. I also tried setting the field to full width, but
                                  • Kaizen #192 - Implementing Custom Token Persistence in Python SDK

                                    Welcome back to another week of Kaizen! Last week, we discussed how to implement Login with Zoho using OAuth 2.0 and saw how to bring it to life in a real-world application with the Zoho CRM Python SDK. We also discussed how Zylker Academy built a custom
                                  • Showing the map along with mileage expense

                                    When you use the GPS to track mileage, it shows you the map of the actual path travelled. It would be very useful and practical to save that map with the mileage expense, so that when the report is created, it provides a map of each mileage expense associated
                                  • Enable Validation Rule for Multi-Select Picklist Field

                                    Zoho, Please allow validation rules for multi-select fields.
                                  • File Upload field not showing in workflow

                                    Hi, I have added a field on Zoho CRM. I want to use it in a workflow where that particular field is updated based on another field, however it is not showing up in the field list to select it in the workflow. Why is this please?
                                  • CRM Custom function updating a module record shows the Super Admin user as the record modifier

                                    Dear Zoho CRM Team, Is there any way to update this so that when a custom function has updated a record the Super Admin user doesn't become the modifier? This happens on the record as a modifier and shows up in the audit logs. It would be more useful
                                  • Best way to fetch employee names from Zoho People into Zoho Creator Inventory Stock Form field Employee Name Lookup

                                    Hi Team, I have a requirement in my Zoho Creator application (Inventory Stock Adjustment) where I need to fetch employee names from Zoho People and use them as a lookup in a form. Currently, I am considering using an integration field to fetch this data
                                  • get file api is returning Junk data

                                    I am working on extension development where at one point I need to retrieve attachments on records I found out I can use only invokeconnection and not invokeurl in extension development The invoke connection returns the image in raw binary format. When
                                  • Need help with message box

                                    End user updates many records at once. Each have unique serial number. They want a confirmation box that says starting number, ending number and qty. Is there any way to do this? I been searching and asking support but seems like no great solution.
                                  • [Webinar] The Transformative Power of Gen BI

                                    Traditional decision-making tools are no longer enough. The integration of generative AI into business intelligence (BI) is proving to be a true game changer—enabling businesses to make faster, smarter, and better informed decisions. Early adopters of
                                  • Backorder process review - Automating Removal of Sales Order from "On Hold" When PO is Received

                                    Hello Zoho Inventory Team, Currently, sales orders in On Hold status are released only when the bill for the purchase order is created. In our workflow, it would be much more efficient if the sales order could automatically move out of On Hold as soon
                                  • How to access the saved Query using API?

                                    I have created a query in setting. Is it possible to access it from a API? What's the endpoint? I tried /v8/queries/important_deals but didnt' work.
                                  • création d'une base de données

                                    base de donnee d'un lycée
                                  • User Session variables to recall after form submit & redirect to menu

                                    Hey, Forgive me if this is a simple answer I have overlooked. I have built a big onboarding process for my SAAS platform which is built and managed by an external Dev team. I am hoping to embed my new creator app on the SAAS platform. I have a menu page
                                  • Zoho Writer Merge Template with data from Zoho Analytics Views

                                    Hello, Is there any way to pull information from Zoho Analytics and put it into a Merge Template? I am trying to create a bulk export of one report that filters on a field to create a single document for each of the filter fields.
                                  • Having to enter bill before stock shows as available.

                                    Hi, Am I right in thinking you must create a bill from the purchase order receipt before the goods are available for shipping?
                                  • Agent Availability Report

                                    From data to decisions: A deep dive into ticketing system reports Businesses need to track when their support agents check in and check out from work. This report, titled Agent Availability, is one of the static reports that helps managers track the number
                                  • AI-driven construction analytics using Zoho Projects Plus

                                    Construction projects thrive on timelines; if a project is completed on or before the expected time, it makes headlines, but if it gets delayed, the company’s credibility will be at risk. Such projects require precise planning and constant monitoring,
                                  • Canadian payroll

                                    Hello ZOHO, is any updates on when payroll for Canada will be available?
                                  • Unified customer view: Bringing product intelligence into your CRM data

                                    For businesses today, applications and digital interfaces are the main touch points in the customer journey. While Zoho CRM data already tells who your customers are and what they buy, Zoho Apptics tells you how they interact and engage with your product.
                                  • Zoho Creator SaaS app with multiple client AND multiple users

                                    I am close to finalizing a Zoho Creator app that will be used by different companies to manage sale info, and each company can have multiple users using the app. Things were going perfectly until I tried a search on a report. I use a database field in each table to separate the data for each company, which works great. BUT when I do a search, I get to see ALL the data. This means that Company A could easily see the data from Companies B and C via the built-in search. Is there a way to set up the
                                  • Possible to send Zoom AI Companion transcripts and summaries to contacts in CRM?

                                    Title says it all. Is it possible to send Zoom AI Companion transcripts and summaries to contacts in Zoho CRM?
                                  • Clarity on extended contract status

                                    Clarity on “extended” status- How does Zoho “extend” a contract?  E.g. if client extends by 1 month, can the “end date” be adjusted accordingly in Zoho and tagged as “Extended” with a clear audit trail that also captures the client’s email? Note- Email
                                  • Customizing contract status

                                    Can we customize/add/remove status on Zoho contracts ourselves or does Zoho needs to do this? Context- There is a long list of status on Zoho but not all of them are relevant for us . There are few status which are missing and needs to be added. E.g-
                                  • Set Custom Business Calendars and Holidays for Global Teams

                                    Managing a project across diverse teams means accounting for more than just tasks and deadlines; it means acknowledging how and when each team actually works. Users might follow different working days or observe region-specific holidays that cannot be
                                  • [Integration edition] Deluge learning series - Integrations between Zoho apps and Third-party services with Deluge | 28 August 2025

                                    We’re excited to welcome you to the Deluge learning series: Integration edition! The Integration edition will run for three months: Session 1 – Integrating Zoho Apps with Deluge using inbuilt integration tasks Session 2 – Integrating Zoho Apps with Deluge
                                  • Critical Vulnerability in all major password manager plugins - is Zoho Vault affected?

                                    Hi Zoho, a security researcher found a critical clickjacking vulnerability in all major browser password managers: DOM-based Extension Clickjacking: Your Password Manager Data at Risk | Marek Tóth Is Zoho Vault affected as well? Apparently the Vault extension
                                  • Need Your Insights

                                    Hi Zoho, I'm confused why the flow only sends to one output. setVariable15 is from a list. It doesn't consider the 2nd entry. Any thoughts?
                                  • Map Dependency Fields - How can can I limit picklist values from a multi-select Parent field?

                                    I know the "Map Dependency Fields" feature doesn't allow a multi-select parent field. However, I need the functionality. Can I do it through a deluge function, and would it still support color coding picklists? We need the color coding for quick scanning
                                  • DYK 1 - Color Palette for Enhanced Visual Identification of Status

                                    Introducing the Did You Know series of posts. The goal of this series is to familiarize users with certain features or enhancements in Zoho Projects that may not be evident at first glance. The first post in this series deals with color palettes for indicating
                                  • Invalid field in the COQL query

                                    Dear Zoho Support! I believe that you already helped me with a similar problem a few years ago. One of my clients has a custom field named "LOB" in the "Deals" Module (see the field's metadata below). The COQL query using this field: : "select id, Deal_Name,
                                  • Transferring domain registration to new registrar and switching email hosting at the same time?

                                    I need to transfer an existing domain uv cure adhesive that's currently with SiteGround to Porkbun. I also need to move the existing custom email addresses from SiteGround to Zoho Mail. I'm not sure if I should transfer the domain first and then tackle
                                  • Split deposits

                                    Can Zoho do split deposits. One deposit, two checks for two separate invoices from different customers. This is one of the most common tasks I can imaging. When I mark the two invoices paid, there are two deposits in bank register. When I try to match,
                                  • Next Page