How to create a chatbot
Zoho CRM does not have a native chatbot. To create one you need Zoho SalesIQ, a separate product in the Zoho ecosystem that integrates with the CRM. The process includes activating SalesIQ, configuring a bot with automated responses, and installing the widget on your website. It takes approximately 45 minutes. In Teeo, one message activates your chatbot across all channels.
How to do it in Teeo
“Create a website chatbot that answers frequently asked questions about pricing, services, and the buying process”
Your chatbot is created, configured, and active across all your communication channels.
How to create a chatbot in Zoho CRM: step by step
Requirements
- ·Zoho CRM does not include a native chatbot. Zoho's chatbot solution is Zoho SalesIQ, a separate product with a free plan (up to 2 operators) and paid plans.
- ·Zoho SalesIQ integrates with Zoho CRM so that leads captured by the chatbot are automatically created in the CRM. This integration must be configured separately.
- ·The Zoho SalesIQ bot is called 'Zobot' and can be configured with rule-based conversation flows or artificial intelligence (on higher plans).
Activate Zoho SalesIQ from the Zoho panel
Go to accounts.zoho.com and in the apps panel find 'Zoho SalesIQ'. Click 'Activate' or 'Free Trial'. SalesIQ has a free plan that allows up to 2 operators and 100 chats per month. If you have Zoho One, SalesIQ is already included.
Configure your portal in Zoho SalesIQ
Once inside Zoho SalesIQ (salesiq.zoho.com), complete the initial portal setup: company name, timezone, and basic chat widget configuration. This wizard appears the first time you access the product.
Go to the Bots section (Zobot)
In the Zoho SalesIQ main menu, navigate to 'Settings' and then find the 'Bot' or 'Zobot' section. This is where chatbots are created and managed. Click 'Add Bot' or 'New Zobot'.
Choose the bot type and assign a name
Select the bot type: 'Answer Bot' (simple FAQ-based responses) or 'Zobot' with custom conversation flows. To answer frequently asked questions about pricing, services, and the buying process, 'Answer Bot' is the fastest option. Assign a name to the bot (e.g., 'Sales Assistant').
Configure the bot's questions and answers
In the bot configuration, add frequently asked questions with their answers. For each topic (pricing, services, buying process) create an entry with question variants and the corresponding answer. SalesIQ allows adding responses with text, images, and action buttons.
Configure the conversation flow
Define how the bot guides the user: what welcome message it shows, what options it offers (button menu), what it does when it doesn't understand a question (fallback to human agent), and when to escalate the conversation to a live agent.
Configure bot availability
In the bot configuration, set when it is active: always active, only outside business hours, or on a specific schedule. Also configure whether the bot should capture the visitor's email or phone before responding.
Integrate Zoho SalesIQ with Zoho CRM
For chatbot leads to pass to Zoho CRM, go to Settings > Integrations > Zoho CRM in SalesIQ. Authorize the connection with your Zoho CRM account and configure lead creation rules: what chat information maps to CRM fields.
Get the widget code for your website
In Zoho SalesIQ, go to Settings > Widget and copy the JavaScript widget code. This is the code you need to install on your website. You can also configure the widget's appearance: color, position, welcome message, and agent photo.
Install the widget on your website and test the bot
Paste the JavaScript widget code before the closing </body> tag on all pages of your website where you want the chat to appear. Once installed, visit your site and test the chatbot by starting a conversation to verify that automatic responses work correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Does Zoho CRM have a native chatbot or do I need another product?
Zoho CRM does not include a native chatbot. To create a chatbot you need Zoho SalesIQ, which is a separate product in the Zoho ecosystem. SalesIQ has a free plan with basic features and integrates with Zoho CRM to send captured leads directly to the CRM.
Is Zoho SalesIQ free?
Yes, Zoho SalesIQ has a free plan that includes up to 2 operators, 100 chats per month, and basic bot features. Paid plans (Basic, Professional, Enterprise) offer more operators, unlimited chats, more advanced AI bots, and additional analytics capabilities.
Can Zoho SalesIQ's chatbot integrate with WhatsApp?
Yes, on Zoho SalesIQ paid plans you can integrate the bot with WhatsApp Business API, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct, and other channels. This allows the same bot to automate responses on multiple messaging platforms in addition to the website chat.