New leads, without opening the CRM
Ask who’s come in this week and where from: Ugo searches leads, contacts and accounts.
How to connect Zoho CRM to WhatsApp
The simplest way to use Zoho CRM from WhatsApp is Ugo, an AI assistant with its own WhatsApp number: switch on Zoho CRM on the Ugo portal, sign in with your Zoho account and from then on you ask it about leads, deals and tasks in the chat. Leads, notes, tasks and stage changes only go ahead once you confirm.
Why connect Zoho CRM to WhatsApp
Leads come in from your website, trade shows and word of mouth, and they need calling back quickly. But when you’re out and about, opening Zoho CRM on your phone to see who’s come in or to log a task is one of those things you leave until the evening.
With Ugo you ask in the chat “any new leads in?” or “how’s the pipeline looking?” and get the answer in a few lines. When you meet someone or finish a call, you dictate what to record: Ugo shows you the lead, the note or the task and waits for your “Confirm”.
How to connect Zoho CRM to WhatsApp, step by step
It takes a few minutes. You do the first two steps only once, then you connect as many apps as you like.
- 1
Create your Ugo account
Sign up at app.ciaougo.com with your email and password and enter your company name.
- 2
Link your WhatsApp
In Settings → WhatsApp, generate a code and send it in a chat to Ugo’s number: from then on Ugo recognises your number.
- 3
Switch on Zoho CRM
On the Ugo portal, open Skills and connect Zoho CRM.
- 4
Sign in with Zoho
Sign in with your Zoho account and authorise Ugo with the official sign-in: Ugo uses your account’s data centre automatically. Accept all the permissions requested, otherwise Ugo can’t use the CRM.
- 5
Message Ugo on WhatsApp
Send “Any new leads in?” in your chat with Ugo: if it replies with your leads, the connection works.
What you can do with Zoho CRM on WhatsApp
The pipeline in two lines
Ugo summarises deals by stage, with amounts and expected closing dates.
Today’s tasks
It tells you what you need to do today and creates new tasks with a due date, linked to the right lead or deal.
Log the people you’ve met
After a trade show, dictate name, company and details: Ugo first checks whether they already exist, then creates the lead once you confirm.
The first messages to send
- Any new leads in?
- How’s the pipeline looking?
- Add a note to the Robinson deal
How’s the pipeline looking?
You’ve got 7 open deals worth €38,200: • Qualification: 3 (€9,500) • Proposal: 2 (€14,700) • Negotiation: 2 (€14,000) Next to close: Robinson Interiors, by the 15th.
Add a note to the Robinson deal: they want delivery in January
I’ll add this note to “Robinson office fit-out”: “They want delivery in January.” Shall I go ahead?
What Ugo doesn’t do (yet)
- It doesn’t convert leads into contacts: it creates leads, contacts, accounts and deals, adds notes and tasks and moves deals between stages.
- It doesn’t delete records from the CRM.
- It doesn’t send emails to your leads or contacts from Zoho.
Other ways to connect Zoho CRM to WhatsApp
Ugo isn’t the only option. Here are the most common alternatives, and when they make sense.
Automations with Zapier or Make
They can send a WhatsApp message when a lead comes in, but you need the WhatsApp Business API and some set-up, and you can’t ask your CRM questions.
WhatsApp extensions for Zoho CRM
The Zoho Marketplace has extensions for messaging customers on WhatsApp from the CRM. They’re for communicating with customers, not for checking and updating the CRM from your chat.
The Zoho CRM mobile app
It has the full CRM on your phone, but you have to open it and navigate it: handy for looking things up, less so for quick updates.
Questions about Zoho CRM and WhatsApp
Can I connect Zoho CRM to WhatsApp for free?
There’s no free direct connection for checking Zoho CRM from WhatsApp. Ugo costs €50 a month per person (or €550 a year), excl. VAT, with Zoho CRM and every other app included.
Does it work with every Zoho data centre?
Yes: Europe, United States, India, Australia and the others. Ugo uses your Zoho account’s data centre.
Does Ugo change the CRM without asking me?
No. Leads, contacts, deals, notes, tasks and stage changes are shown to you first, and Ugo only saves them after you tap “Confirm”.
Can Ugo convert a lead into a contact?
Not yet: to convert a lead, use Zoho CRM. Everything else (notes, tasks, stage changes) you can do from WhatsApp.
More guides: CRM
Connect Zoho CRM to WhatsApp
Create your account, link your number and switch on Zoho CRM from the portal. Every app is included in the subscription.
