Why does Zoho Analytics show IDs instead of names from lookup fields?

Lookup fields in apps like Zoho CRM store the ID of the linked record, not its name. When that data lands in Zoho Analytics, you see the raw ID until the lookup column is joined to the table that holds the names. Fix it by making sure the related table is synced and the lookup relationship is defined, then pull the name column from that table in your report.

In Zoho CRM, a field such as Account Name on a deal is a lookup. Behind the scenes it holds the unique ID of the account record. The CRM screen shows you the name because it resolves the link for you. Zoho Analytics imports the stored value, which is the ID, and relies on table relationships to bring in the readable name.

The usual cause is that the related module was not selected during the sync, or the lookup column is not linked to the right table. Open the table, check the column's data type and lookup settings, and confirm it points to the ID column of the parent table. Once the relationship exists, Analytics can auto-join the tables when you drag in columns from both.

If auto-join does not give you what you need, build a query table with an SQL join on the ID, and report from that. Query tables are also useful when you need several lookups resolved at once, such as owner, account and contact on one deal report. Keep the query simple so it refreshes quickly after each sync.

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