Kaizen 213 - Workflow APIs - Part 1
If you have ever managed complex business processes, you know that Workflows are the quiet backbone of any well-run business process. They keep things moving; assigning owners, sending alerts, keeping deals on track, and much more. But until now, you could not manage them via APIs. That changes with the release of Workflow APIs.
In this series, we will work through a real-world scenario together, showing you how to transition from manually managing workflows to governing them using APIs. We’ll look at Zylker Cloud Services, an IT solutions provider trying to bring order to its growing CRM automations.
The use case: Scaling the sales process at Zylker Cloud Services
Zylker’s sales process touches multiple teams and modules like Leads, Deals, Calls, Appointments, etc. Over time, different team members created their own workflows. The result is familiar to anyone who has scaled fast:
Multiple versions of what should be the same process
Old, unused workflows still running.
Now, Zylker wants to bring structure and visibility to this automation sprawl. Their system administrators are building a custom admin dashboard to monitor and manage CRM workflows, without needing deep CRM expertise.
They want to:
Display a real-time list of all workflows with their status
Gain insights into workflow distribution across modules
Identify inactive or outdated workflows that may need cleanup.
However, the CRM UI only allows viewing one workflow at a time. There is no consolidated view to see all workflows, their triggers, and their status across modules. That makes auditing and governance tedious and error-prone, especially at scale.
This is exactly what the Workflow APIs solve. With this, they can:
Audit all existing workflows.
Review how and when they trigger.
Identify which modules and actions are supported before creating new rules or updating existing ones.
Update existing rules and create new rules.
Delete the rules that are no longer needed.
You can not build a dynamic admin dashboard or an automated audit system for Workflows through just clicks. But you can do this now, with Workflow APIs.
STEP 1: Discover and audit existing workflows
Before changing anything, we need to understand what we are working with. How many workflows do we have? What do they do? How many more can we create?
To get a complete inventory of Workflow rules, we can use the GET Workflow Rules API. This API returns a list of all the Workflow Rules configured for the CRM account.
Sample Request:
GET {api-domain}/crm/v8/settings/automation/workflow_rules
This initial audit acts like a master list, giving us an overall picture. It helps understand the scope of the automation landscape and identify obvious redundancies, like multiple workflows with similar names or purposes.
Sample Response:
{ "workflow_rules": [ { "created_time": "2024-01-15T14:20:30+05:30", "execute_when": { "details": { "trigger_module": { "api_name": "Deals", "id": "4876876000000002181" }, "repeat": false }, "type": "create_or_edit" }, "editable": true, "module": { "api_name": "Deals", "id": "4876876000000002181" }, "deprecated": false, "deletable": true, "description": "Alert VP of Sales for high-value opportunities", "source": "crm", "created_by": { "name": "Matthew Mayers", "id": "4876876000001360001" }, "last_executed_time": null, "modified_time": "2024-01-23T12:23:12+05:30", "name": "VP Alert - High Value Deal", "modified_by": { "name": "Matthew Mayers", "id": "4876876000001360001" }, "lock": { "locked_by": null, "message": null, "status": false }, "id": "4876876000016390024", "category": "default", "conditions": [ { "sequence_number": 1, "instant_actions": { "actions": [ { "related_details": null, "name": "VP notified", "details": { "module": { "api_name": "Deals", "id": "4876876000000002181" } }, "id": "4876876000016390063", "type": "field_updates" }, { "related_details": { "best_time": true }, "name": "High value deal alert", "id": "4876876000016390015", "type": "email_notifications" } ] }, "scheduled_actions": [ { "execute_after": { "period": "business_days", "unit": 1 }, "id": "4876876000016390074", "actions": [ { "related_details": null, "name": "Confirm VP follow-up", "id": "4876876000016390067", "type": "tasks" } ] } ], "criteria_details": { "relational_criteria": { "module_selection": null, "criteria": null, "module": null }, "criteria": { "group_operator": "AND", "group": [ { "comparator": "equal", "field": { "api_name": "Amount", "id": "4876876000000002557" }, "type": "value", "value": "50000" }, { "comparator": "equal", "field": { "api_name": "Stage", "id": "4876876000000002565" }, "type": "value", "value": "Negotiation/Review" } ] } }, "id": "4876876000016390025" } ], "status": { "active": true } }, { "id": "4876876000012015001", "name": "Lead Assignment - North Region", "module": {"api_name": "Leads"}, "status": {"active": true}, "execute_when": {"type": "create"}, "last_executed_time": "2025-10-14T11:56:20+05:30" // ... other keys omitted for brevity }, { "id": "4876876000012020001", "name": "Lead Assignment - South Region", "module": {"api_name": "Leads"}, "status": {"active": true}, "execute_when": {"type": "create"}, "last_executed_time": "2025-10-14T10:30:15+05:30" // ... other keys omitted for brevity } // ... additional workflows ], "info": { "per_page": 200, "count": 71, "page": 1, "more_records": false } } |
The response gives us a comprehensive overview of all configured workflows. For each rule, we get the metadata including its unique ID, name, description, the module it operates on, its activation status, and details about when it triggers. We also get audit information like creation timestamps and which user made changes.
Working with large results
When you have hundreds of workflows, pagination helps. The response includes an info object with pagination details:
count: The number of workflows on the current page
per_page: The maximum number of records per page (default and max is 200)
page: The current page number
more_records: Indicates if there are additional records to fetch.
If the more_records key is true, we can retrieve the next page by using the page parameter in the request.
While getting all workflows gives you the big picture, we may often want to focus on specific areas. This API offers several parameters to narrow down our search:
Parameter type | Description |
module | Filters workflows by the primary module they operate on. |
trigger_module | Filters by related modules that can trigger workflows. Use this when you want workflows that are triggered by changes in related records. |
execute_on | Filters by the specific action that triggers the workflow. |
status_active | Filters by activation status to see only active or inactive workflows. Useful for audits and cleanup operations. |
filter | Searches workflows by name using a JSON filter. |
page | Specifies which page of results to return. Use this for pagination when you have a large number of workflows. |
per_page | Limits the number of workflows returned per page. The default and maximum value is 200. |
sort_by | Sorts the workflows based on a specific field. The only supported value is modified_time. |
sort_order | Sorts the workflows in ascending (asc) or descending (desc) order. |
include_inner_details | Includes the inner details like conditions and actions of the workflows in the response. |
For example, to find all active lead workflows containing "Assignment" in their name, use:
Here is the API-call-ready version of the same, after URL encoding the filter value:
Now, if you inspect the response closely, you can see that we have two similar workflows: "Lead Assignment - North Region" and "Lead Assignment - South Region." And there is also an older workflow named "VP Alert - High Value Deal."
This workflow was created almost a year ago by a former team member, and it has not been modified for a long time. Is it still relevant? What exactly does it do? What criteria define a "high-value deal," and who exactly gets notified?
To answer these questions and understand the workflow's complete logic, we must examine it closely using the Get a Workflow API. This API returns the full configuration including all conditions, criteria thresholds, and specific actions for an individual workflow.
STEP 2: Inspect a single workflow using Get a Workflow API
Sample Request:
GET {api-domain}/crm/v8/settings/automation/workflow_rules/4876876000016390024
Here, 4876876000016390024 is the unique ID of the Workflow rule whose details we want to fetch, obtained from the response of Get all Workflows API.
Sample Response:
{ "workflow_rules": [ { "created_time": "2024-01-15T14:20:30+05:30", "execute_when": { "details": { "trigger_module": { "api_name": "Deals", "id": "4876876000000002181" }, "repeat": false }, "type": "create_or_edit" }, "editable": true, "module": { "api_name": "Deals", "id": "4876876000000002181" }, "deprecated": false, "deletable": true, "description": "Alert VP of Sales for high-value opportunities", "source": "crm", "created_by": { "name": "Matthew Mayers", "id": "4876876000001360001" }, "last_executed_time": null, "modified_time": "2024-01-23T12:23:12+05:30", "name": "VP Alert - High Value Deal", "modified_by": { "name": "Matthew Mayers", "id": "4876876000001360001" }, "lock": { "locked_by": null, "message": null, "status": false }, "id": "4876876000016390024", "category": "default", "conditions": [ { "sequence_number": 1, "instant_actions": { "actions": [ { "related_details": null, "name": "VP notified", "details": { "module": { "api_name": "Deals", "id": "4876876000000002181" } }, "id": "4876876000016390063", "type": "field_updates" }, { "related_details": { "best_time": true }, "name": "High value deal alert", "id": "4876876000016390015", "type": "email_notifications" } ] }, "scheduled_actions": [ { "execute_after": { "period": "business_days", "unit": 1 }, "id": "4876876000016390074", "actions": [ { "related_details": null, "name": "Confirm VP follow-up", "id": "4876876000016390067", "type": "tasks" } ] } ], "criteria_details": { "relational_criteria": { "module_selection": null, "criteria": null, "module": null }, "criteria": { "group_operator": "AND", "group": [ { "comparator": "equal", "field": { "api_name": "Amount", "id": "4876876000000002557" }, "type": "value", "value": "50000" }, { "comparator": "equal", "field": { "api_name": "Stage", "id": "4876876000000002565" }, "type": "value", "value": "Negotiation/Review" } ] } }, "id": "4876876000016390025" } ], "status": { "active": true } }, { "id": "4876876000012015001", "name": "Lead Assignment - North Region", "module": {"api_name": "Leads"}, "status": {"active": true}, "execute_when": {"type": "create"}, "last_executed_time": "2025-10-14T11:56:20+05:30" // ... other keys omitted for brevity }, { "id": "4876876000012020001", "name": "Lead Assignment - South Region", "module": {"api_name": "Leads"}, "status": {"active": true}, "execute_when": {"type": "create"}, "last_executed_time": "2025-10-14T10:30:15+05:30" // ... other keys omitted for brevity } // ... additional workflows ... ], "info": { "per_page": 200, "count": 71, "page": 1, "more_records": false } } |
The detailed response gives us a complete blueprint of the workflow. We can now see the exact business logic: the workflow triggers when deals are edited and meet two specific conditions; when the amount equals exactly $50,000 AND the stage is Negotiation/Review.
More importantly, we can see all the actions that execute: an immediate field update to mark deals as "VP notified," an email notification sent at the optimal time, and a follow-up task scheduled for one business day later. Here's what is really interesting about this detail; this workflow has never actually executed, despite being active for nearly a year, because the last_executed_time is null in the response.
Now we are left with some important questions. Is that $50,000 threshold too narrow? What if a $49,000 deal is just as important? And is the VP still the right person to alert? Are there additional stakeholders who should be notified beyond just the VP? These are the type of questions you can start answering once you inspect your workflows closely.
STEP 3: Check limits and distribution
Before making any changes, we must understand our automation capacity and how workflows are distributed across the organization. The Workflow APIs provide two key endpoints for this:
1. Get Workflow limits API
This API provides a comprehensive view of your organization's workflow capacity across multiple dimensions.
Sample Request:
GET {api-domain}/crm/v8/settings/automation/workflow_rules/actions/rules_count
Sample Response:
{ "rules_count": { "scheduled_actions_per_rule_limit": 5, "total_rules_limit": 2500, "active_rules_configured": 71, "rules_per_process_limit": 10, "total_actions_per_rule_limit": 50, "total_rules_limit_per_module": 125, "active_rules_limit": 2000, "total_rules_configured": 82, "active_rules_limit_per_module": 75 } } |
This response gives the following information:
Total Capacity: Zylker has a generous limit of 2,500 total workflows, with only 82 currently configured. This means that they are using just 3 percent of their total capacity.
Active Workflows: There are 71 active workflows, well below their 2,000 active workflow limit
Module-level Limits: Each module can support up to 125 total workflows, with 75 of those allowed to be active simultaneously.
Action Limits: Each condition in the Workflow can contain up to 50 total actions, with a maximum of five scheduled actions.
For Zylker, this is excellent news. Only 71 active workflows out of a 2,000 limit. This means we have substantial room for growth and can confidently create new workflows without worrying about capacity constraints.
2. Get module-wise counts API
This API tells you exactly how many workflow rules you have in each module. It shows both the total number of rules and how many are currently active. This helps you see where your automations are concentrated and where you might be missing opportunities.
Sample request:
GET {api-domain}/crm/v8/settings/automation/workflow_rules/actions/module_specific_count
Sample Response:
{ "module_specific_count": [ { "active_rules_configured": 2, "module": { "api_name": "Products", "id": "4876876000000002213" }, "total_rules_configured": 2 }, { "active_rules_configured": 2, "module": { "api_name": "Deals", "id": "4876876000000002181" }, "total_rules_configured": 2 }, { "active_rules_configured": 4, "module": { "api_name": "Contacts", "id": "4876876000000002179" }, "total_rules_configured": 5 }, { "active_rules_configured": 2, "module": { "api_name": "Appointments__s", "id": "4876876000002362026" }, "total_rules_configured": 3 }, { "active_rules_configured": 4, "module": { "api_name": "Calls", "id": "4876876000000033015" }, "total_rules_configured": 5 }, { "active_rules_configured": 43, "module": { "api_name": "Leads", "id": "4876876000000002175" }, "total_rules_configured": 51 }, { "active_rules_configured": 14, "module": { "api_name": "Emails", "id": "4876876000000014163" }, "total_rules_configured": 15 } ] } |
Looking at this response, we can see 43 active workflows in Leads but only two in Deals. This tells us that Zylker is heavily focused on lead management but might be missing opportunities to automate their sales process later in the pipeline.
Together, these two APIs give a complete picture of the automation capacity and distribution.
What's next: From understanding to action
Now that we have our foundation, we are ready to start building and refining.
In the next part of this Kaizen series, we will move from discovery to design. We’ll use the Workflow Configuration, Create, and Update APIs to standardize Zylker’s automation management, create new workflow rules, and update existing ones for consistency and efficiency.
We hope that you find this post on Workflow APIs useful. If you have any feedback, or if there are any pain-points that you would like us to address in our Kaizen series, please let us know in the comments, or reach out to us via support@zohocrm.com. We will be happy to help!
Until we meet again next Friday, Happy coding!
Topic Participants
Anu Abraham
Sticky Posts
Kaizen #198: Using Client Script for Custom Validation in Blueprint
Nearing 200th Kaizen Post – 1 More to the Big Two-Oh-Oh! Do you have any questions, suggestions, or topics you would like us to cover in future posts? Your insights and suggestions help us shape future content and make this series better for everyone.Kaizen #226: Using ZRC in Client Script
Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of Kaizen. In today's post, lets see what is ZRC (Zoho Request Client) and how we can use ZRC methods in Client Script to get inputs from a Salesperson and update the Lead status with a single button click. In thisKaizen #222 - Client Script Support for Notes Related List
Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of Kaizen. The final Kaizen post of the year 2025 is here! With the new Client Script support for the Notes Related List, you can validate, enrich, and manage notes across modules. In this post, we’ll explore howKaizen #217 - Actions APIs : Tasks
Welcome to another week of Kaizen! In last week's post we discussed Email Notifications APIs which act as the link between your Workflow automations and you. We have discussed how Zylker Cloud Services uses Email Notifications API in their custom dashboard.Kaizen #216 - Actions APIs : Email Notifications
Welcome to another week of Kaizen! For the last three weeks, we have been discussing Zylker's workflows. We successfully updated a dormant workflow, built a new one from the ground up and more. But our work is not finished—these automated processes are
Nederlandse Hulpbronnen
Recent Topics
Unable to attach Work Order / Service Appointment PDF to Email Notifications (Zoho FSM)
I’m trying to include the Work Order PDF or Service Appointment PDF as an attachment in Email Notifications (automation/notification templates), but I don’t see any option to attach these generated PDFs. Is this currently supported in Zoho FSM? If not,local file csv import problem
The issue occurs when I upload a CSV file via Databridge. In the preview, everything looks correct — the values are in the proper columns. However, after clicking Import, the first column becomes empty, and the values from that column appear in a newFunción Deshacer y Rehacer
Hola. Soy un reciente usuario de Zoho Notebook que he migrado desde Evernote. He encontrado en falta una función que considero muy importante: un botón para "deshacer". Es frustrante cuando se borra un parte del texto o un archivo de una nota, generalmenteTip #59- Technician Console: Exploring View option- 'Insider Insights'
Hello Zoho Assist Community! Ever wondered how technicians adapt quickly during a live support session? Imagine a customer reaching out with an issue that’s disrupting their work. The technician starts a remote session and begins troubleshooting rightMRP or Manufacturing Module for Zoho
We have been searching for options for a production planning or MRP that will integrate with Zoho. Zoho Creator is pushed as a platform that can have an MRP built from scratch but we would like to find more of an out of the box solution and modify it to fit our needs. Are there any recommendations? Would Zoho consider creating a custom solution in Creator to support this need?encountering an error when attempting to associate an email with a Deal using the Zoho CRM extension in Zoho Mail.
When I click "Yes, associate," the system displays an "Oops!! Something went wrong" error message. I have attached a screenshot of the issue for reference.Can 1 Zoho CRM instance sync with 2 Zoho Marketing Automation instances?
Can 1 Zoho CRM instance sync with 2 Zoho Marketing Automation instances?Can I add Conditional merge tags on my Templates?
Hi I was wondering if I can use Conditional Mail Merge tags inside my Email templates/Quotes etc within the CRM? In spanish and in our business we use gender and academic degree salutations , ie: Dr., Dra., Sr., Srta., so the beginning of an email / letterZoho mail account ownership transfer
We recently took over another company and have assumed responsibility for its Zoho account, including Zoho Mail and all related services. We would like to formally transfer ownership of this account to our organization. Could you please outline the completeEmail Authentication is Failing
I'm trying to setup gitlab with email authentication. I used the following configs picked up from: https://docs.gitlab.com/omnibus/settings/smtp/ gitlab_rails['smtp_enable'] = true gitlab_rails['smtp_address'] = "smtp.zoho.com" gitlab_rails['smtp_port']DMARC reports for mail I didn't send: how to deal with?
I know the enthusiastic amateur's bare minimum about e-mail; am able to set up a Thunderbird account and know the basic acronyms. I have a Zoho Mail account connected to my domain, and have set up SPF, DMARC and DKIM successfully according to Zoho's instructionms
Email set up for communicationWorkDrive issues with Windows Explorer Not Responding
We are using WorkDrive to collaborate on editing video content. We have a lot of files and quite a few are a few gigs. Recently anytime I try and work with the files Explorer freezes for a couple minutes whether it's dragging the files into Premiere orFix the speed
It takes ages to load on every step even though my dataset is quite small.Capture Bank Charges for Invoice Payments
We've added the Bank Charges field in the "Add Payments" page both in Zoho Invoice & Zoho Books. So all you need to do is to enter the bank charges when you record a payment for the invoices. This bank charge will be included to the amount paid for that invoice. Steps to add the bank charges while you record the payment: 1. Click the "Invoices" sub-tab under the "Money-In" tab. 2. Click the 'add payment' link for the invoice that you wish to record the payment for. 3. On the addConditional Layouts On Multi Select Field
How we can use Conditional Layouts On Multi Select Field field? Please help.Fill Mail Merge document up with subform fields of an Inventory module record being in the Related List
Hi, I try to insert subform fields from an inventory module record being on the Related List of another inventory module record into a Mail Merge template without success. For example: we use ratecards in licensing and this ratecard items are availableHow can we add products using a Wizard?
We want to create a Wizard to add products. Why is there no possibility to use the products module when creating a wizard?Image field in custom module
Hi guy, Is there any hope of adding a custom image field in the custom module? We created a custom module to keep track of assets, and it would be helpful if we could attach an image to the record. Thanks RudyDeluge Function to Update Custom Field
I'm trying to get a Deluge function (which will run as part of a Schedule in Desk) that retrieves all tickets with the status "Recurring" and updates the custom field checkbox "cf_recurring" to "true". Here's what I have, which doesn't work: searchValue"View ticket" link is broken
The "View ticket" link in our Zoho ticketing system confirmation emails is broken (please see attached). Impacts ability to update/review details, and, refresh recollection at a later date. Any help would be much appreciated.import data from Apollo.ai into zoho crm via zoho flow
I might be asking this question in the wrong forum. We use Apollo.ai to find potential new leads for our business, there are around 10000 leads that we have initially found. We have an Apollo.ai account but just to do searches, we dont use it as a crm.Woocommerce Line Item Information
I'd like to add each line item from a Woocommerce order to a zoho creator form record. The line items are found within the line items array, but I'm not sure how to get each item out of the array? Any help would be much appreciated.Synching changes to Stripe when changes are made in Zoho Billing
We have a situation where we have merged customers in Zoho BIlling and then found out later that the payment in Stripe was not updated and still associated with the old customer record. The card gets updated and billed, but that payment is still associatedHow do I fix this? Unable to send message; Reason:554 5.1.8 Email Outgoing Blocked.
How do I fix this? Unable to send message; Reason:554 5.1.8 Email Outgoing Blocked.Disable Smart Filters By Default
The smart filters "feature" is causing confusion for Zoho Mail users. New emails should be delivered to the inbox unless they have specifically opted to redirect them somewhere else. People don't understand that new emails might be waiting in a randomME SALE ESTE ERROR: No fue posible enviar el mensaje;Motivo:554 5.1.8 Email Outgoing Blocked
Ayuda!! Me sale este error al intentar enviar mensajes desde mi correo electronico de Zoho! Tampoco recibo correos pues cuando me envia rebotan. Ayuda, Me urge enviar unos correo importantes!! Quedo atenta MAGDA HERNANDEZ +5731120888408Client Script | Update - Client Script Support For Custom Buttons
Hello everyone! We are excited to announce one of the most requested features - Client Script support for Custom Buttons. This enhancement lets you run custom logic on button actions, giving you greater flexibility and control over your user interactions.Zoho Mail not working
Zoho Mail not workingProduct line search in quotes
Is there a way to change the search setting when you add a product line to a quote. We have created a field in products called 'Part Number' and I would like when I'm adding a product line to the quote that I can search on that field. At the moment it only searches on product description. In products I can search on the 'Part Number' field Any help welcome.CRM x WorkDrive: File storage for new CRM signups is now powered by WorkDrive
Availability Editions: All DCs: All Release plan: Released for new signups in all DCs. It will be enabled for existing users in a phased manner in the upcoming months. Help documentation: Documents in Zoho CRM Manage folders in Documents tab Manage filesQueries on Project-Based Inventory Consumption and Proforma Invoice in Zoho ERP
We would appreciate your clarification on how Zoho ERP plans to handle the following: Project-based inventory consumption without itemized sales orders Accurate project cost tracking along with inventory reduction Proforma Invoice usage We look forwardI can't add a new customer in Zoho invoice? Anyone had this issue before?
Ive been using Zoho invoice for over 6 years. Today I wanted to add a new customer to send an invoice to but it doesn't save when I try to access it from the pulldown menu when you go to send a new invoice.Spreadsheet View click & focus issue in Arabic (RTL) localization
Hello Zoho Support Team, I am facing an issue in Zoho Creator Spreadsheet View when using Arabic localization (RTL). Scenario: My app supports English (LTR) and Arabic (RTL). I created a Spreadsheet View for a form. In English, everything works correctly.Customer address in Zoho Bookings
Hello, Is it possible to add customer address information to the Zoho bookings appointment screen? Or have it pull that information automatically from the CRM? We are wanting to use this as a field management software but it is difficult to pull the address from multiple sources when it would be ideal to have a clickable address on the appointment screen that opens up the user's maps. It would also be advantageous for the "list view" to show appointment times instead of just duration and bookingGhost email notification on a form
Hello, We have recently encountered an error where I can not see a email notification set up for a form which I am currently the owner, although neither the form nor the notification were created by me. However, neither can the Super Admin access thebulk edit records and run internal logic
hi there is few logics in manner "it this than that" logics work well when i edit entry openning it one by one (via workflow "on add/edit - on success" , for custom field "on update/on user input") but when i try bulk edit records - logic does not work. how can i turn on logic to work as programmed - for mass editing records via bulk edit?Dheeraj Sudan and Meenu Hinduja-How do I customize Zoho apps to suit my needs?
Hi Everyone, I'm Meenu Hinduja and my husband Dheeraj Sudan, run a business. I’m looking to tweak a few things to fit my needs, and I’d love to hear what customizations others have done. Any tips or examples would be super helpful! Regards Dheeraj SudanBulk bank rule creatioin
Hi team, I am exploring Option to create a multiple bank rule. Could please suggest the option to implement this?Limitations on editing a message in Cliq
Hi I've checked the documentations and there's no mention of how many times a message can be edited. When trying with code, I get various numbers such as ~1000 edits or so. Please mention if there's a limit on how many times one can change a message viaNext Page