This recap highlights key updates from leading CRM platforms: Zoho, HubSpot, and Salesforce, across their 2024 releases. Let's quickly start our yearly recap
ZOHO CRM UPDATES
1. General Updates:
Rich Text Fields: Allows enhanced visual appeal using various font styles, colors, and highlights.
2. Zoho CRM Updates: Zia CRM
Caden Studio: Automates and streamlines customer follow-up processes for targeted sequential communications (emails, calls, tasks).
Process Flows: Provides simpler and faster ways for users to follow processes and best practices.
Web Forms as Links/QR Codes: Expose web forms as links or QR codes with customisable submission actions (e.g., splash messages or thank-you pages).
- Customisable tables in related lists.
- Sub-tabs with multi-expand and single-expand functionalities.
Activity Extraction Enhancements:
- Multi-activity support.
- Capture commitments from sent emails.
CPQ Rules Support: Now available for custom subforms and custom modules.
- Send mass emails.
- Track email conversations with vendors.
Data Model: Visual representation of CRM data relationships.
3. Zoho Bigin Updates:
Owner Assignment: Assign owners based on roles, users, and fields using a round-robin approach.
- Resize and rearrange columns (drag and drop).
- Create fields directly from the list view.
- Action menu per column (sort, filter, rename, bulk update, etc.).
Dashboard Drill-Down: Access underlying data for in-depth analysis.
- Enhanced "Details View" and "Edit."
4. Zoho Desk Updates:
- Instant Messaging Enhancements:
- Multi-number support for WhatsApp.
- Template messages for outreach beyond the 24-hour messaging window.
- Custom Actions Gallery for instant messaging.
- Auto-response for businesses.
2. Parent-Child Ticketing: Combine repetitive/interconnected tickets for parallel resolution.
3. Ticket Management Enhancements:
- Mastery Work Blueprint.
- Reply-based Blueprint transitions.
5. Zoho Creator Updates:
- Cross-platform test automation software for web, mobile, APIs.
- Features include a flexible test case builder, AI self-healing, and insightful reports.
2. Zoho Creator Enhancements:
- Kanban report, QR code/barcode generator.
- Device-type deluge functions, multi-column updating.
- Enhanced custom apps for marketplaces.
- AI assistance, hybrid deployment.
- Async functions, private extension sharing.
6. Zoho Finance Apps:
- Enhanced transaction number series for branch-specific settings.
- Customer Aging Summary in statements.
- Unique customer/vendor IDs.
- One-time invoices with plans/add-ons.
- Subscriptions from quotes.
- Apple Pay via Stripe integration.
- Customer Aging Summary in statements.
7. Zoho Project Management Updates:
- Standardised UI, enhanced list views, backlog, and Scrum Board.
- Improved filtering, themes, and mobile app capabilities.
- Android app update with global calendar functionality.
8. Zoho HR Apps:
- Outlook integration for email association and attachments.
- QR codes for web forms and career sites.
- LinkedIn premium job posting integration.
- Advanced filtering for placement searches.
- Fixed/flexible shift patterns.
- Mandatory photo capture for clock-in/out.
9. Other Zoho Applications:
- Desktop apps for macOS and Windows.
- Live connect for HyperSQL databases.
- Auto-merge user filters.
- Enhancements for OpenAI formula suggester.
- Post approval for admins.
- Alternative text for Facebook/LinkedIn posts.
Thumbnail selection for videos.
- Custom character styles (font, boldness, italics, etc.).
- Bulk document generation via Zapier.
- WordPress integration for direct posting.
- Enhanced help widget with screen recording/live chat.
- Copy/Move services between workspaces.
- Partnership with Ideology for knowledge-based authentication.
- Automated field detection in PDFs.
HUBSPOT CRM UPDATES
JANUARY
- Custom Object Limits Increased: Higher limits for all Enterprise tiers. Custom Object Add-on introduced for further expansion.
- Custom Properties Add-on: Available for Professional and Enterprise to increase custom property limits.
- Calculated Properties: Professional tier limit increased. Calculated Properties Add-on available for Enterprise.
- Visualise Associations: Improved visualisation of object relationships.
- Conditional Property Options: Define conditions for HubSpot-defined properties.
FEBURARY
- Median Aggregation: Added to Single Object and Custom Report Builders.
- CRM Email Threading: Improved logic for email threading.
- Configure Specific Association Limits: Admins can set custom limits for associations.
- Customise Default Deal Name: Admins can customise default deal names.
- New Source Property: Added to all CRM records.
- Additional Mathematical Functions: Expanded formula editor with new functions.
- "View All Associations" Link: Added to index pages.
- View Products Purchased: View purchased products from Contact or Company records.
MARCH
- Import Preview Validation: Expanded to check the first 1000 rows.
- New Detail Properties: Added to all records for enhanced filtering.
- CRM Email Permissions: New permissions to control access to logged emails.
APRIL
- Refreshed Global Navigation Menu and Sidebar: Improved user interface and navigation.
- Data Trends: New chart and table to analyse record creation, deletion, and updates.
- Improved File Property Experience: Enhanced file management within the CRM.
- Association Label History and API Details: Improved visibility and management of association labels.
- Record ID Location Change: Record ID moved to the "HubSpot Property" column during import.
- Advanced Filters Redesign: Improved performance and consistency of index page filters.
- Improved Record Attachments Experience: Enhanced file management and sorting capabilities for attachments.
- More Flexible Repeat Imports: Improved flexibility for repeating imports.
- New Filters for Reports: New filtering options for single object reports.
- Conditional Display Logic in CRM Preview Sidebar: Conditional display logic for property cards in the preview sidebar.
MAY
- Data Setup Checklist: Introduced for new admins to guide data model setup.
- Deal Velocity & Contact Lifecycle Stage Velocity: Added to Stage Tracker card.
- Property Lists of Associated Data: New card to display properties from associated records.
JUNE
- New Statistics Card: Create custom metrics and track key data points on the record page.
- A Shortened Import Flow: Streamlined import process by removing unnecessary steps.
JULY
- Order and Cart Lists: Create lists of orders and carts based on properties and events.
- Ticket Lists: Create lists of tickets based on properties and events.
- Stage Tracker for Associated Records: Display stage trackers for associated records on the record page.
- Quick Create: Create relevant objects directly within the context of other records.
- Set validation rules for HubSpot default properties: Enforce data consistency and accuracy.
- Unified Record Page Editor: Streamlined customisation of record pages.
- View remapped enumeration options on the post-import screen: Improved visibility of data remapping during imports.
- Specify the Timezone of Your Date and Time Picker Properties In Import: Improved data quality for date and time imports.
AUGUST
- Streamlined filter editing in lists, workflows and views: Improved filtering capabilities with easier entry of multiple values.
- Pipeline Rules for Custom Objects: Set and manage guardrails for custom object pipelines.
- Improved text string filtering on CRM index pages: Enhanced text string filtering with new operators.
- Dynamic Example Files in Import: Download pre-built example files tailored to your import needs.
- Contextually turn off pop-up notifications: Turn off notifications directly from the pop-up.
- Contextually turn off bell notifications: Turn off bell notifications directly from the notification.
- Translate custom CRM data: Translate custom properties into multiple languages.
- Auto-remapping, Owner Remapping, and Association Label Remapping in Import: Improved error handling and data correction during imports.
SEPTEMBER
- "Freezing" Multiple Columns: Freeze up to three columns in Index tables for easier data analysis.
- CRM Data Backup: Manual export of CRM data for backup purposes.
- Associated Record Labels for Objects in CRM Index Page Filters: Enhanced filtering capabilities for associated records.
- Inline editing on Association tables: Edit associated records directly within the table.
- Upcoming changes to AI settings: Introduction of a centralised AI settings page.
- Property date tracker: Track progress of date-based properties.
- Navigation UI Update: Improved navigation UI for better efficiency and ease of use.
- Quick actions card: Customise the quick actions card for easy access to common tasks.
- Store HIPAA data in HubSpot: Store and manage HIPAA-compliant data within HubSpot.
- Search & Filter Duplicate Records: Improved search and filtering capabilities for duplicate records.
- Orders and Cart Object Enhancements: Introduced record pages, association cards, and object data management for orders and carts.
OCTOBER
- Manage Field-Level Permissions during Property Creation: Manage property access directly during property creation.
- Portal level unsubscribe link setting: Control unsubscribe links for 1:1 emails at the portal level.
- Email reply logging when switching from team to personal email: Improved email reply logging across different email accounts.
- Dataset and custom event imports can now be started from within the import tool: Streamlined import process for custom events and datasets.
- View updates scheduled to released to your account: View upcoming product updates in a calendar and table format.
- Display Relative Time from 'today' for Date and DateTime Properties:?Display relative time for the date and DateTime properties.
- Enhanced support for DateTime Properties in workflow, Sequences, and Snippets:?Improved personalisation with DateTime properties.
- Configure Activity Association Defaults: Configure default logic for logging activities across records.
- Object Form Customisation Events in the Audit Log: Track changes to object forms in the audit log.
- Expand your data model: new objects and data templates: Access new objects and data templates to expand your CRM data model.
NOVEMBER
- Quickly Exclude Records from Active Lists: Easily exclude records from active lists.
- Create note workflow action: Automate the creation of notes within workflows.
- Task workflows: Create and manage task-centred processes with automated workflows.
- Custom Object Pipelines Automation: Automate actions based on custom object pipeline stages.
- Team Email respects team Never Log list: Ensure consistent email logging exclusions for team emails.
- Admins will now be notified once their private beta request has been approved or rejected: Receive notifications for private beta request approvals.
- 'Remove' action for bulk edits to properties: Remove property values from "multiple checkbox" properties in bulk.
- Restore from Data Backup: Restore CRM data to a previous state from backups.
- Additional Record Page Tabs for Enterprise: Add extra tabs to the record page for enhanced customisation.
- Passkeys: Log in to HubSpot using passkeys for enhanced security and convenience.
- Required Association Labels for Manual Record Creation: Enforce the use of required association labels during record creation.
- Recommended Product Updates: Access personalised product updates tailored to your account usage.
SALESFORCE CRM UPDATE
Spring 24 Release
Spring '24 gives you more reasons to love Lightning Experience.
Reassign multiple appointments for service resources as per your organisation’s business needs. Add concurrency to the topics that are added to a shift. Use Salesforce Scheduler Troubleshooter to identify and fix various setup issues and the issues that occur during appointment scheduling.
Work faster, complete tasks directly from the search results, and get results that are most relevant to you. Use Search Manager and Search Settings to configure search features and enhance results.
4. Salesforce Data Pipelines
Preview your hierarchical data before running your recipe. Get information on when each data prep job started and was canceled.
5. Trust Site Enhancements
The Trust site has made some major improvements to help customers stay informed about the availability of their products at Salesforce.
Summer 24 Release
Summer ’24 gives you more reasons to love Lightning Experience.
Create group appointments and invite customers to enroll to service appointments. Provide unauthenticated users with the flexibility to modify or cancel their appointments. Generate personalised emails for appointment invitations.
Customise search, provide relevant results, and ensure security in Search Manager. Improve search with Search Manager and Search Analytics, and see more results with advanced lookup search.
4. Salesforce Data Pipelines
Connect to more data sources with the new Parquet connector and support for Virtual Private Connections on Snowflake.
Winter 24 Release?
Winter ’24 gives you more reasons to love Lightning Experience.
Manage customers who visit your business locations for in-person appointments. Use an actionable list to send out appointment invitations to potential customers. Assign a different service resource for a scheduled appointment when the assigned resource is unavailable.
Improve how you receive your search results. In Search Manager, configure searchable standard and custom objects, and capture search storage insights. You can also receive specific answers from a knowledge article with Einstein Search Answers.
4. Salesforce Data Pipelines
Decrease data processing time by using staged data instead of datasets. Take advantage of Google’s new event-based GA4 property framework with the Google Analytics 4 connector. Load larger data objects with the Salesforce Bulk API 2.0.
2024 has seen significant advancements in CRM solutions. These updates reflect a growing focus on AI, improved user experience, enhanced data management capabilities, and increased security. As businesses continue to evolve, these CRM platforms will play a crucial role in driving customer engagement, improving operational efficiency, and achieving business goals.
