Report of the Week - What-If Analysis (Influence of Discount over Sales)

When an archer is aiming to hit the bullseye (or a sniper, her target), she has to consider external factors like gravity, wind direction and wind speed. Similarly, when running your business, you will have to ask various questions. Have you aligned yourself against all external factors, when it comes to meeting your target? Should you raise the price, or increase the production to make more money in the current market trend? By how much percentage? Is it the right time to run a marketing campaign?

Would it not be easier if you knew what the outcome can be when you undertake such a change? What-if Analysis helps you evaluate such options. It shows you how external changes might affect the outcome of a decision you are about to take.

What can be done?

What-if Analysis shows what might happen if one or more factors change. It lets you know the impact of various factors on your business and gives you an idea of what needs to be done.

Here are a few scenarios where What-if Analysis can help you.

• You are planning for a sales day. Based on your previous sales, you can measure the impact of discount percent on your revenue and learn what percent of discount makes people buy more. And you can set your discount percentage to an optimal value so that it leads to maximum profit for you.
  

• You have spent various amount on marketing over the months, which affects the leads gained in each month. With What-If analysis, you can learn what will happen if you increase or decrease the expenses.
  

• You have multiple teams working on different projects. There will be different billing prices and hours per week, each team member might be working for.  You can check the time and money needed for each member - project combination and choose the best combination out of it to assign projects.
  

• You have projected sales for the next six months. There is a possibility of your revenue increasing or decreasing and you can know with What-if analysis how much your revenue would be, based on percentage increase/decrease.
  

• And much more...
  

Now, let's see how to implement the first example of measuring the impact of discount percentages on your revenue.

How to do What-if Analysis

You can easily set up a What-if report by following the steps here.

Step 1: Creating Variables

As we said earlier, What-if Analysis is to show the outcome when one or more parameter value changes. To parameterize dynamic inputs, you need to store all the possible values in a placeholder named Variable.

Here, we have created two variables to apply the change in discount percentage and sales volume. 

Discount Percentage

Create a variable with a range of discount percentages you are planning to provide. We have set the Range between 5 to 50 with an Increment Size of 5. And the Default Value is set as 10. 

If you plan to have different discounts for each product category, you need to create different variable for each category.

Sales Volume

Create a variable with a range of possible sales volume change. We have set the Range between -50 to +50 with an Increment Size of 5. And the Default Value is set as 0.

Step 2: Creating Aggregate Formulas

Construct an Aggregate Formula to compute your metrics. Insert the variables appropriately in the formula to visualize the impact as the dynamic value changes. You can specify different calculations for each value or a range of values.  

The following is the formula to calculate the sales after discount.

 

‌ sum( "Sales"."Sales" )-(sum( "Sales"."Sales" )/ 100 )* ${Discount %} *(1+${Sales Volume}/100

If you have different product categories, then use the following formula to calculate the Sales after discount for all products with different discounts. 

‌ Sum( "Sales"."Sales" ) -(sumif( "Sales"."Product Category" = 'Furniture' , "Sales"."Sales",   0 )/ 100 * ${Furniture Discount %} ) -(sumif( "Sales"."Product Category " = 'Stationery',   "Sales"."Sales",   0 )/ 100 * ${Stationery discount %} ) -(sumif( "Sales"."Product Category" = ' Grocery', "Sales"."Sales",   0 )/ 100 * ${Grocery Discount %}))*(1+${Sales Volume}/100 )

Step 3: Creating Report

Create the What-if report using the Aggregate Formula in Step 2.

• X-Axis - Date with Month & Year
• Y-Axis - Sales with Sum and Sales After Discount (Aggregate Formula with variable) with Actual

Report will be created as shown below. Sales after Discount will be calculated with a 10% discount based on the Variable's default value.

Apply Forecast for next one month to see the prediction for the upcoming month. 

Now, how do you dynamically change the input for the reports? We will see how it's to be done in the following step.

Step 4: Adding Variable as User Filter

Add the discount variables we had defined in Step 1 as User Filters in the report. Each User Filter will be in the form of a slider and will list the discount values in steps of 5. As you change the input (discount percentage) by moving each slider, the report will get re-generated dynamically based on the appropriate calculations defined in Step 2.

The final report will be as shown here. As you drag the What-If Variable sliders (the User Filters at the top), the total sales after discount will be calculated based on the values.

Now you have the privilege to know what might be the outcome of your sale month. And you are one step closer to a discount campaign run successfully!

• Topic Participants

• Janani Thakshayani

  

• Sticky Posts

• Tip of the Week - Spot Risky Sales with Conditional Formatting

  In Zoho Analytics, small tweaks can lead to big insights. One such feature is Conditional formatting based on other columns, your key to instantly spotting where sales success is overshadowed by product returns. Our tip this week shows you how to apply

• Recent Topics

• Task/Activity indicator in SalesPipeline overview has disappeared

  I Just logged in my ZOHO CRM first 2026 checking my salespipeline overview , Every record card used to show an indication that there was an open task (Yellow if the expiry date was close, red if the expiry date was today and grey when it had expired).

• 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

• Next Page