Welcome to the first edition of The Zoho Report!
We're launching this new series to keep you updated on the latest changes and features across the Zoho ecosystem. Every week or so, we'll bring you a quick roundup of what's new, what's changing, and what you need to know to get the most out of your Zoho applications.
Let's dive into three important updates.
1. Zoho CRM Notes Badge Enhancement
Zoho CRM has introduced a new Notes Badge feature that makes managing record notes faster and more efficient.
This enhancement builds on the existing activity badge system, where activities like calls and tasks display as ribbon-like icons in list views. Now, notes get the same treatment with their own quick action button.
What this means for you:
View the latest note by simply hovering over the badge icon
Click the badge to see all notes and add new ones
No need to open individual records just to check or add notes
Hide notes or activity badges directly from the "manage columns "button if you prefer a cleaner view
Zoho has also released a client script event for this feature, ensuring you can maintain a consistent experience within your customised CRM setup. This is particularly useful if you've built custom workflows or interfaces.
2. Important: Zoho OAuth Connector Deprecation
This is a critical update that requires action from many Zoho users.
Zoho has officially deprecated their Zoho OAuth connector across all applications except Zoho Creator. The complete sunset is scheduled for 31st December 2026, giving you almost a year to make necessary changes.
The Zoho OAuth Connector previously allowed users to connect with multiple Zoho services using a single connection, supporting all scopes from these applications. This simplified cross-platform integrations but is now being phased out.
What you need to do:
Going forward, you'll need to create connections using the dedicated connectors available for each individual application.
However, there's a catch: this approach doesn't solve the challenge for cross-platform integrations that require connections to multiple Zoho applications. For these scenarios, you'll need to create a custom connector.
Action item: Check your connections page soon and start planning your migration strategy. We'll be releasing a detailed tutorial video on creating custom connectors in the coming weeks, so subscribe to stay updated.
3. Contactless Payments on iPhone via Zoho Books
Zoho Books has introduced an exciting feature for businesses using iPhones: the ability to accept contactless payments directly through the iOS app.
How it works:
With Tap to Pay on iPhone, you can accept contactless payments through the Zoho Books iOS app on an iPhone XS or later running the latest iOS version. At checkout, simply prompt your customer to hold their contactless credit or debit card, iPhone, Apple Watch, or other digital wallet near your iPhone. The payment is completed quickly and securely using NFC technology.
This effectively turns any compatible iPhone into a payment terminal without needing additional hardware like Square readers or traditional EFTPOS machines.
Important requirements:
Currently only available in select countries (more to be added throughout 2026)
Requires a Stripe payment gateway configured within Zoho Books
iPhone XS or later
Latest iOS version
Stay Updated
That's it for Episode 1 of The Zoho Report! We hope these updates help you work smarter with your Zoho applications.
Want these updates delivered directly? Watch Episode 1 on YouTube or subscribe to our channel for regular Zoho updates.