How do I build a customer portal on top of Zoho CRM?

You have three main options. Zoho CRM's built-in portals let customers log in and see chosen modules such as quotes, cases or orders, with permissions you control, on supported editions. Zoho Creator portals give fully custom screens and logic linked to CRM data. Zoho Desk's help centre suits support-led portals. Pick based on what customers must see and do.

CRM portals are the quickest route. You choose which modules portal users can see, set read or edit rights per field, and invite contacts. Each portal user sees only records linked to them. It suits customers viewing quotes, invoices, projects or service requests. Portal user limits and features depend on your CRM edition, so check the current terms.

Creator portals suit cases where customers need forms, approvals, uploads or calculations that CRM layouts cannot handle. Creator syncs with CRM through built-in connections, so the portal can read and write CRM records. It takes more build time and adds Creator portal licences, but the result can look and work exactly as you want.

If the portal is mostly about raising and tracking support tickets plus a knowledge base, Zoho Desk's help centre already does this. For any option, decide early what data customers see, how they log in, and who maintains it. If you would rather have this set up for you, Flowpeak can help choose the option and build it.

Written by Flowpeak, a Zoho implementation partner. Zoho pricing and features change, so confirm current details on the official Zoho site. Free checklists | Ask us a question