---
name: zoho-crm-automation
description: "Automate Zoho CRM tasks via Rube MCP (Composio): create/update records, search contacts, manage leads, and convert leads. Always search tools first for current schemas."
risk: critical
source: community
date_added: "2026-02-27"
---

# Zoho CRM Automation via Rube MCP

Automate Zoho CRM operations through Composio's Zoho toolkit via Rube MCP.

## Prerequisites

- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
- Active Zoho CRM connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `zoho`
- Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas

## Setup

**Get Rube MCP**: Add `https://rube.app/mcp` as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.


1. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds
2. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `zoho`
3. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Zoho OAuth
4. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows

## Core Workflows

### 1. Search and Retrieve Records

**When to use**: User wants to find specific CRM records by criteria

**Tool sequence**:
1. `ZOHO_LIST_MODULES` - List available CRM modules [Prerequisite]
2. `ZOHO_GET_MODULE_FIELDS` - Get field definitions for a module [Optional]
3. `ZOHO_SEARCH_ZOHO_RECORDS` - Search records by criteria [Required]
4. `ZOHO_GET_ZOHO_RECORDS` - Get records from a module [Alternative]

**Key parameters**:
- `module`: Module name (e.g., 'Leads', 'Contacts', 'Deals', 'Accounts')
- `criteria`: Search criteria string (e.g., 'Email:equals:john@example.com')
- `fields`: Comma-separated list of fields to return
- `per_page`: Number of records per page
- `page`: Page number for pagination

**Pitfalls**:
- Module names are case-sensitive (e.g., 'Leads' not 'leads')
- Search criteria uses specific syntax: 'Field:operator:value'
- Supported operators: equals, starts_with, contains, not_equal, greater_than, less_than
- Complex criteria use parentheses and AND/OR: '(Email:equals:john@example.com)AND(Last_Name:equals:Doe)'
- GET_ZOHO_RECORDS returns all records with optional filtering; SEARCH is for targeted lookups

### 2. Create Records

**When to use**: User wants to add new leads, contacts, deals, or other CRM records

**Tool sequence**:
1. `ZOHO_GET_MODULE_FIELDS` - Get required fields for the module [Prerequisite]
2. `ZOHO_CREATE_ZOHO_RECORD` - Create a new record [Required]

**Key parameters**:
- `module`: Target module name (e.g., 'Leads', 'Contacts')
- `data`: Record data object with field-value pairs
- Required fields vary by module (e.g., Last_Name for Contacts)

**Pitfalls**:
- Each module has mandatory fields; use GET_MODULE_FIELDS to identify them
- Field names use underscores (e.g., 'Last_Name', 'Email', 'Phone')
- Lookup fields require the related record ID, not the name
- Date fields must use 'yyyy-MM-dd' format
- Creating duplicates is allowed unless duplicate check rules are configured

### 3. Update Records

**When to use**: User wants to modify existing CRM records

**Tool sequence**:
1. `ZOHO_SEARCH_ZOHO_RECORDS` - Find the record to update [Prerequisite]
2. `ZOHO_UPDATE_ZOHO_RECORD` - Update the record [Required]

**Key parameters**:
- `module`: Module name
- `record_id`: ID of the record to update
- `data`: Object with fields to update (only changed fields needed)

**Pitfalls**:
- record_id must be the Zoho record ID (numeric string)
- Only provide fields that need to change; other fields are preserved
- Read-only and system fields cannot be updated
- Lookup field updates require the related record ID

### 4. Convert Leads

**When to use**: User wants to convert a lead into a contact, account, and/or deal

**Tool sequence**:
1. `ZOHO_SEARCH_ZOHO_RECORDS` - Find the lead to convert [Prerequisite]
2. `ZOHO_CONVERT_ZOHO_LEAD` - Convert the lead [Required]

**Key parameters**:
- `lead_id`: ID of the lead to convert
- `deal`: Deal details if creating a deal during conversion
- `account`: Account details for the conversion
- `contact`: Contact details for the conversion

**Pitfalls**:
- Lead conversion is irreversible; the lead record is removed from the Leads module
- Conversion can create up to three records: Contact, Account, and Deal
- Existing account matching may occur based on company name
- Custom field mappings between Lead and Contact/Account/Deal modules affect the outcome

### 5. Manage Tags and Related Records

**When to use**: User wants to tag records or manage relationships between records

**Tool sequence**:
1. `ZOHO_CREATE_ZOHO_TAG` - Create a new tag [Optional]
2. `ZOHO_UPDATE_RELATED_RECORDS` - Update related/linked records [Optional]

**Key parameters**:
- `module`: Module for the tag
- `tag_name`: Name of the tag
- `record_id`: Parent record ID (for related records)
- `related_module`: Module of the related record
- `data`: Related record data to update

**Pitfalls**:
- Tags are module-specific; a tag created for Leads is not available in Contacts
- Related records require both the parent record ID and the related module
- Tag names must be unique within a module
- Bulk tag operations may hit rate limits

## Common Patterns

### Module and Field Discovery

```
1. Call ZOHO_LIST_MODULES to get all available modules
2. Call ZOHO_GET_MODULE_FIELDS with module name
3. Identify required fields, field types, and picklist values
4. Use field API names (not display labels) in data objects
```

### Search Criteria Syntax

**Simple search**:
```
criteria: '(Email:equals:john@example.com)'
```

**Combined criteria**:
```
criteria: '((Last_Name:equals:Doe)AND(Email:contains:example.com))'
```

**Supported operators**:
- `equals`, `not_equal`
- `starts_with`, `contains`
- `greater_than`, `less_than`, `greater_equal`, `less_equal`
- `between` (for dates/numbers)

### Pagination

- Set `per_page` (max 200) and `page` starting at 1
- Check response `info.more_records` flag
- Increment page until more_records is false
- Total count available in response info

## Known Pitfalls

**Field Names**:
- Use API names, not display labels (e.g., 'Last_Name' not 'Last Name')
- Custom fields have API names like 'Custom_Field1' or user-defined names
- Picklist values must match exactly (case-sensitive)

**Rate Limits**:
- API call limits depend on your Zoho CRM plan
- Free plan: 5000 API calls/day; Enterprise: 25000+/day
- Implement delays between bulk operations
- Monitor 429 responses and respect rate limit headers

**Data Formats**:
- Dates: 'yyyy-MM-dd' format
- DateTime: 'yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss+HH:mm' format
- Currency: Numeric values without formatting
- Phone: String values (no specific format enforced)

**Module Access**:
- Access depends on user role and profile permissions
- Some modules may be hidden or restricted in your CRM setup
- Custom modules have custom API names

## Quick Reference

| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |
|------|-----------|------------|
| List modules | ZOHO_LIST_MODULES | (none) |
| Get module fields | ZOHO_GET_MODULE_FIELDS | module |
| Search records | ZOHO_SEARCH_ZOHO_RECORDS | module, criteria |
| Get records | ZOHO_GET_ZOHO_RECORDS | module, fields, per_page, page |
| Create record | ZOHO_CREATE_ZOHO_RECORD | module, data |
| Update record | ZOHO_UPDATE_ZOHO_RECORD | module, record_id, data |
| Convert lead | ZOHO_CONVERT_ZOHO_LEAD | lead_id, deal, account, contact |
| Create tag | ZOHO_CREATE_ZOHO_TAG | module, tag_name |
| Update related records | ZOHO_UPDATE_RELATED_RECORDS | module, record_id, related_module, data |

## When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.
