Migration
How to migrate to Zoho CRM: a step-by-step guide
By Harikrishnan, Founder & Chief Zoho Consultant, Flowpeak · 10+ years in Zoho · Published · Last updated
To migrate to Zoho CRM, decide what to move, clean the data, set up Zoho CRM's modules and fields first, map old fields to new ones, run a test migration on a sample, check it, then run the full migration at an agreed cut-over date, retrain users and keep the old system read-only for a while. Zoho CRM has a migration wizard for common CRMs and an import tool for files.
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A CRM migration is a business change, not just a file transfer. Done as an export and import, it moves the old problems into the new system. This guide covers how to migrate to Zoho CRM step by step, what to move and what to leave behind, and how to avoid the usual mistakes.
How do you migrate to Zoho CRM, step by step?
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Scope | List what moves: accounts, contacts, leads, open deals, activities, notes, files, products and history. Decide how many years of history you need. |
| 2. Clean | Remove duplicates, fix missing emails and phone numbers, retire unused fields and stale records. |
| 3. Design | Set up Zoho CRM's modules, fields, picklists, pipelines, users and roles before any data moves. |
| 4. Map | Match each old field to its Zoho field, including picklist values and record owners. |
| 5. Test | Migrate a sample, check record counts, relationships and attachments, then fix the mapping. |
| 6. Cut over | Pick a date, freeze changes in the old CRM, run the full migration and re-check counts. |
| 7. Train and go live | Train each team on its daily work in Zoho CRM, and keep the old system read-only for a few weeks. |
Which tools does Zoho provide for migration?
Zoho CRM includes a migration wizard for moving from common CRMs such as Salesforce and HubSpot, and an import tool for CSV and Excel files from any other system or spreadsheet. Check Zoho's help pages for the current list of supported sources.
The wizard handles the mechanics. It does not decide what to keep, clean your data, or design your Zoho setup. Those decisions are where most migrations succeed or fail.
What usually goes wrong?
- Copying every old field, so Zoho CRM starts as cluttered as the old system
- Importing duplicates, then spending months merging them
- Losing the links between contacts, accounts and deals because of bad mapping
- Forgetting activities, notes and attachments until after cut-over
- Skipping a test run, so problems are found by users on day one
- No training, so the team keeps working in spreadsheets
How long does a Zoho CRM migration take?
A small, clean migration with a standard Zoho CRM setup can go live within about two weeks. Larger data volumes, several source systems, custom objects or complex integrations take longer and are scoped after looking at the data.
Migrating from a specific CRM
- From Salesforce: map custom objects and record types carefully, and plan for attachments and activity history
- From HubSpot: decide how lifecycle stages, deals and email history map into Zoho CRM modules and pipelines
- From Pipedrive: map pipelines, stages and activities, and recreate automations in Zoho workflows
- From spreadsheets: clean and de-duplicate first, then import in the right order: accounts, then contacts, then deals
Fixed-price migrations to Zoho are listed on our migrations page, starting from USD 380 for a standard data volume.
How Flowpeak helps
Flowpeak is a registered Zoho partner. We plan the scope, clean and map the data, set up Zoho CRM, run test migrations, cut over and train your team, with 30 days of free fixes after go-live. See data migration to Zoho.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I migrate to Zoho CRM?
Scope what moves, clean the data, set up Zoho CRM, map fields, run a test migration, then cut over on an agreed date and train users.
Does Zoho CRM have a migration tool?
Yes. It has a migration wizard for common CRMs such as Salesforce and HubSpot, and an import tool for CSV and Excel files.
Will we lose our email and activity history?
Not if it is in scope and mapped. Decide early which activities, notes and attachments you need, and check them in the test run.
Can we keep using the old CRM during migration?
Yes, until cut-over. Then freeze changes in the old CRM and keep it read-only for a few weeks.
How much does a migration to Zoho CRM cost?
Our fixed-price migrations start from USD 380 for a standard data volume. Larger data costs more and is confirmed in writing after we look at it.
Related
- Data migration to Zoho
- Fixed-price migrations to Zoho
- How to migrate data to Zoho CRM
- Zoho CRM implementation