Aplikasi | Zoho Premium Partner - Blog

Taking Advantage of Holiday Marketing

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:44:36 +0800

Taking Advantage of Holiday Marketing

Why do you have to plan your holiday content a year ahead and how?

The holidays are a busy time for everyone, especially businesses. Customers are out shopping for gifts, holiday gatherings, and businesses planning for holiday merchandises. This is the perfect time to increase your brand awareness, reach new audiences, and engage customers.

Plus, holidays are usually on fixed dates; so you can plan your social media calendar way ahead!

Our social media calendar on Zoho Social

Our scheduled posts on Zoho Social

Four tips for holiday-inspired social media posting

1. Touch their emotions

The holidays bring out strong feelings in people. Take advantage of these emotions to make campaigns that connect with what your business is all about: your main services, products, and what your brand stands for.

2. Be friendly

Pay attention to people who mention your brand, or simply put, be friendly. Connect with them, monitor conversations, and so on. All of these actions can help you understand your brand’s position in the community. The holidays are a time when you can build deeper and more authentic relationships with your customers by appealing to the human side of your business.

3. Build relationships

Shift your focus! Selling should not be your top priority now, remember that building a strong brand reputation is crucial for long-term success. Take advantage of the holiday season to be active on social media that reflects your values, personality, and appreciation for your customers.

4. Impactful story-telling

Holidays are the best time for you to share natural stories to get more people seeing and watching your content. This is the time to boost your creativity! Those short/not-so-long videos, impactful copywriting could be your strategy. It’s a fantastic way to show-off your brand’s personality and make yourself different from other businesses.

In conclusion, planning your holiday content well in advance is essential for maximizing your marketing efforts and capitalizing on the opportunities that the holiday season brings. By utilizing social media planning platforms like Zoho Social and implementing strategies such as emotional connection, friendliness, relationship-building, and impactful storytelling, you can effectively engage with your audience, strengthen your brand reputation, and differentiate yourself from competitors.

Remember, the holidays present a prime opportunity to showcase your brand’s personality and values while fostering deeper connections with your customers. So, don’t wait any longer—start planning your holiday social media content now and set yourself up for success!

From a Solid Start to a Fully Streamlined CRM

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:35:36 +0800

From a Solid Start to a Fully Streamlined CRM

Zoho CRM Enhancement for a High-Performance Digital Marketing Team

Quick Read

Problem Statement

LOCUS-T had been actively using Zoho CRM on their own and had already built a solid foundation for managing their sales and marketing activities. As their operations scaled, their existing configuration needed a more structured and automated approach.

Proposed Solution

Aplikasi collaborated with LOCUS-T to enhance their current CRM setup. We refined workflows, improved lead routing, strengthened the quotation approval process, organised product data, and ensured the platform better aligned with the company’s operational requirements.

Implementation & Results

LOCUS-T’s sales process was streamlined by refining their full sales cycle, implementing structured lead acceptance and reassignment rules, automating follow-up reminders, and strengthening quotation approvals with a more organised product catalogue. We also integrated Zoho Campaigns and provided user training, enabling consistent outreach and improved overall lead management.

Full Case Study

Business Case at a Glance

LOCUS-T is no stranger to Zoho CRM, they had been using it independently and had already developed an internal workflow based on their sales processes. As their business expanded, they recognised the need to enhance what they had built to support more volume, clearer data structures, and smoother collaboration.

Aplikasi served as the expert partner to elevate their CRM foundation and fine-tune it to match their growing operational needs.

What apps have been deployed

Zoho CRMZoho Campaigns

Company Background

Established in the 90s, LOCUS-T stands as one of Malaysia’s leading digital marketing agencies, trusted by over 7,000 SMEs and MNCs across 50 industries. Offering a wide range of solutions—from SEO to web development—their success reflects both deep industry expertise and strong client demand.

As a Google Premier Partner and Meta Business Partner, LOCUS-T operates in a high-performance environment where internal systems must be agile, structured, and scalable. Optimising Zoho CRM was a strategic move to support continued growth.

The Challenge

LOCUS-T had long used Zoho CRM to manage leads and client relationships. Their teams were familiar with the system, but with increased sales volume and more complex workflows, they identified several areas where expert refinement would help:

Ensuring timely lead follow-ups

Creating clearer sales cycle visibility

Reducing manual coordination

Improving data accuracy

Establishing stronger approval structures

Enhancing the link between leads, contacts, and campaigns

They had already built the foundation—now they needed a stronger, more scalable structure.

Finding The Solution

Aplikasi assessed LOCUS-T’s existing CRM setup and focused on elevating what they had created. Instead of rebuilding from scratch, we strengthened their workflows, clarified their sales stages, and added key automations to reduce manual effort.

Our enhancements included:

Smart lead reassignment and acceptance flow
Automated reminders for better response discipline
Refined roles and permissions for clearer data access
Product catalogue structuring
Quotation approval logic
Integration of CRM with Zoho Campaigns
User training to ensure smooth adoption

Implementations & Results

1. Refining Lead Management & Follow-Ups

Having built their lead process internally, LOCUS-T wanted to improve speed and accountability. Aplikasi reinforced their setup by introducing:

A structured lead acceptance step
Automated reassignment when leads go untouched
Reminders to prompt timely follow-ups
Smoother capture of website enquiries directly into CRM

These improvements helped LOCUS-T maintain stronger lead hygiene and faster response times without increasing manual work.

2. Organising Product Information

Aplikasi also helped clean up and import LOCUS-T’s product catalogue into Zoho CRM, giving their sales team access to structured and accurate product data. This made the quotation process more consistent and minimised manual referencing or outdated documents.

3. Strengthening Quotation Approvals

Previously, approval coordination required manual communication. Aplikasi implemented a structured approval flow that ensures quotes with discounts or special conditions reach the right decision makers. Notifications now keep teams aligned, and once deals are confirmed, billing is alerted automatically.

4. Enhancing Zoho Campaigns Integration

To support LOCUS-T’s ongoing marketing initiatives, Aplikasi integrated Zoho Campaigns with CRM and provided training to ensure the team could create targeted, data-driven campaigns using accurate CRM insights.

By enhancing their existing self-built CRM setup, LOCUS-T gained:

Clearer processes

Improved cross-team alignment

Faster lead response cycles

More confidence in their quotation flow

Cleaner campaign segmentation

A CRM system that grows with their business

Conclusion

Aplikasi’s role was to help LOCUS-T elevate the strong foundation they had already created—empowering them with structure, automation, and scalability for their next stage of growth.

What our client says about our service?

Big shoutout to Nurul Asyiqin for always being so quick and reliable with Aplikasi Support! She consistently responds promptly to any questions or issues, ensuring that solutions are delivered without delay. Her reliability and consistent speed make a significant difference in our experience, and her helpful nature is always reassuring. We truly appreciate the effort and support!
— LOCUS-T Sdn Bhd

Ready to turn your business challenges into success stories? Let’s explore how Aplikasi can simplify and streamline your operations—just like we’ve done for businesses across various industries.

Get Started Now

What SME Owners Should Know About the Future of Business Payments

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:20:06 +0800

What SME Owners Should Know About the Future of Business Payments

Apple Tap to Pay in Malaysia

For many SMEs, payment collection is still treated as the final step of a sale.

In reality, it is one of the most important drivers of cash flow.

A deal may be closed, an invoice may be issued, and the customer may be ready to pay, but delays often happen because the payment process itself creates friction. A missing card terminal, a delayed bank transfer, an off-site sales appointment without payment tools, or disconnected payment records can all slow down revenue collection.

For growing businesses, these small operational gaps create larger financial consequences—delayed receivables, weaker cash flow visibility, slower reconciliation, and less confident business decisions.

This is why Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone launch in Malaysia matters.

It is not simply a payment feature. It represents a shift in how businesses can collect payments faster, reduce dependency on payment hardware, and improve financial visibility across the organisation.

For businesses using Zoho Books with Stripe integration, this shift becomes even more meaningful because payment collection can connect directly to finance operations, not just transactions.

Why Traditional Payment Terminals Are Becoming Less Attractive

For years, accepting card payments meant relying on separate payment terminals.

While effective, these systems often come with added costs and operational dependency—hardware rental, maintenance, onboarding, device management, and limited flexibility for businesses operating outside fixed counters.

This creates challenges for businesses such as:

Retailers managing pop-up stores or multiple outletsConsultants collecting deposits during client visitsEvent businesses handling registrations on-siteMobile sales teams closing deals outside the officeService providers collecting payments at customer locations

Every additional terminal creates another operational layer to manage.

Tap to Pay changes that model.

With Tap to Pay on iPhone, businesses can accept contactless payments directly from an iPhone without requiring additional card readers or payment terminals. Supported payment methods include physical debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets, making payment collection faster and more flexible.

For SMEs focused on speed and operational efficiency, this reduces unnecessary friction at the point where revenue matters most.

Payment Collection Is a Cash Flow Strategy

Many business owners still see payment collection as an administrative task.

Strong finance leaders see it differently.

The speed of payment collection directly affects working capital. The longer invoices remain unpaid, the more pressure builds across supplier payments, payroll planning, operational spending, and growth decisions.

Faster collections improve more than cash flow, they improve control.

Imagine a consultant completing a project review and collecting payment immediately on-site. Or a retail staff member processing payment directly during checkout without redirecting customers to another counter. Or an events team closing walk-in registration payments instantly during roadshows.

The sale closes faster. The receivable disappears sooner. The business gains liquidity earlier.

That is not just convenience, it is financial discipline.

The Stronger Business Case: Tap to Pay + Zoho Books

Image Credit: zoho.com/blog/books

The real value of Tap to Pay is not simply accepting payments on an iPhone.

It is what happens after the payment is collected.

For businesses using Zoho Books with Stripe integration, Tap to Pay can be used directly inside the Zoho Books mobile app.

The workflow is simple and operationally powerful:

1Invoice opened

→

2Tap “Tap to Pay”

→

3Customer makes contactless payment

→

4Invoice status updates

→

5Payment is recorded

→

6Reconciliation becomes faster

This matters because many SMEs still operate with disconnected payment systems:

Sales collects payment separately

Finance manually checks payment status

Reconciliation happens later

Report visibility is delayed

Service providers collecting payments at customer locations

This creates familiar problems:

Unclear outstanding invoices

Delayed payment matching

Manual reconciliation errors

Slower month-end closing

Limited real-time cash flow visibility

By connecting payment collection directly to accounting workflows, businesses reduce manual dependency and improve financial confidence.

That is where operational efficiency becomes strategic advantage.

Why Finance Teams Should Care About Payment Visibility

Collecting payment faster is important.

Knowing exactly where that payment sits inside your financial records is even more important.

Finance teams need visibility, not assumptions.

When invoice payments update faster and reconciliation becomes cleaner, decision-makers gain stronger control over:

Accounts receivableOutstanding collectionsCash flow forecastingSupplier planningMonth-end financial reportingBusiness expansion decisions

Without this visibility, leadership decisions become reactive.

With it, finance becomes proactive.

This is why modern SMEs should think beyond payment acceptance and focus on payment intelligence.

Tap to Pay is valuable because it shortens the gap between customer payment and financial clarity.

Malaysian SMEs Should Prepare for This Shift Now

Customer expectations are changing quickly.

People expect faster, smoother, and more flexible payment experiences. Whether in-store, on-site, or during mobile sales interactions.

Businesses that continue relying only on traditional payment flows risk creating unnecessary delays that customers increasingly notice.

This does not mean every SME should immediately replace every payment terminal.

It means leaders should start asking better operational questions:

Where are collections being delayed?

Where are teams dependent on fixed payment hardware?

Where is reconciliation slowing finance operations?

Where are customers abandoning purchases because payment feels inconvenient?

These are business questions, not technology questions.

And solving them often delivers immediate ROI.

Apple’s Tap to Pay launch signals a broader shift toward embedded finance operations, where payment collection, accounting visibility, and financial decision-making work together.

That is where competitive advantage lives.

Final Thought: The Future of SME Finance Is Operational Simplicity

The best financial systems are rarely the most complex.

They are the ones that quietly remove friction.

They make payments easier, collections faster, reconciliation cleaner, and decisions stronger.

Tap to Pay on iPhone matters not because it removes a card machine, but because it improves how businesses get paid. For Malaysian SMEs focused on growth, the real opportunity is not simply accepting contactless payments.

It is building finance operations that support faster decisions and stronger control. And when payment collection connects directly to platforms like Zoho Books through Stripe, businesses move beyond convenience into something far more valuable:

Financial clarity.

That is where sustainable growth begins.

Zoho Books Tap to Pay

Education Industry Digital Transformation

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:45:08 +0800

Education Industry Digital Transformation

Transforming Preschool Operations with Zoho One

Quick Read

Problem Statement

Naluri Kreatif faced challenges managing appointment bookings across 17 branches using only Google Forms. Appointment slots could not be confirmed in real time, causing overlapping bookings and inefficient coordination between branches. Their customer journey from inquiry to registration and payment was also disconnected, with sales, operations, and finance teams working in separate systems, resulting in delays and data gaps.

Proposed Solution

To improve efficiency, Aplikasi implemented Zoho One as a centralized business operating system. By integrating Zoho Bookings, Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Zoho Cliq, and WhatsApp automation, Naluri Kreatif was able to connect appointment scheduling, lead management, customer communication, and accounting into one seamless workflow.

Implementation & Results

With Zoho One, appointment slots could be managed in real time, preventing double bookings and improving parent experience. Customer data flowed automatically between departments, reducing manual work and improving collaboration across branches. Automated notifications, email reminders, quotations, and invoices also helped speed up operations, giving Naluri Kreatif a smoother customer journey from first inquiry to final registration.

Full Case Study

Business Case at a Glance

Naluri Kreatif is an institution consisting of a chain of preschools that leads project-based learning in Malaysia. After 30 years of establishment in Malaysia, they realized the need to further improve their business operations in line with today’s modern technological world.

Company Background

Naluri Kreatif is a preschool and playhouse that places strong emphasis on children’s growth and life experiences, focusing on Natural & Project-Based Learning as early preparation before children enter preschool or formal schooling.

Naluri Kreatif combines a learning concept that celebrates and brings joy to children through real-life experiences. They offer early childhood education programs for children aged 1 to 6 years old. They have been operating since 1993, with over 30 years of experience, and currently have 17 branches across Malaysia, with their headquarters located in Bangi.

Their mission is to provide children with opportunities to excel in a natural environment through the Natural Learning concept. Their vision is to connect children with general knowledge and positive values.

They are pioneers of project-based learning in Malaysia. They also successfully operated NALURI Online School (NOSH) during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2020. In addition, they regularly organize school holiday programs during every semester break across all branches.

Puan Noor Hayati Binti Abdul Hamid is the founder of Naluri Kreatif, with more than 35 years of experience in early childhood education and family development. She also gained seven years of direct education and experience in the United Kingdom in the field of early childhood education. Her specialty lies in establishing, testing, and implementing the “Natural Learning Concept” across all Naluri Early Excellence Centers, supported by complete Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) documentation for the concept.

The Challenge

Naluri Kreatif faced the challenge of not having an efficient booking system. They were only using Google Forms to coordinate all 17 branches across Malaysia. Parents used the form to book dates and times to visit their preferred branch before registering their child.

The issue occurred when appointment slots could not be confirmed in real time for each branch. This increased the risk of overlapping sessions, where more than one appointment could be booked for the same time slot at the same branch.

Not only that, the steps involved in each process were disconnected from one another, creating gaps between workflows. This made operations less efficient, consumed more time, and increased the risk of losing potential customers.

Additionally, problems also arose because their database information was not fully integrated across all business functions. For example, information collected by the marketing or sales team was not directly shared with the finance and accounting department, and vice versa. As a result, important information and data could not be accessed in real time.

Finding the Solution

One of the solutions to their manual appointment booking problem was to implement an Appointment Booking system that would simplify and organize the booking process more efficiently.

They also needed a system with a user-friendly interface. The system had to be capable of capturing data and transferring it to other systems for use in the next stages of the process. The system also needed to allow each kindergarten to set their preferred dates and times while giving Naluri Kreatif the flexibility to reject bookings for already occupied time slots.

In addition, they needed a system that could integrate every process such as registration, payment, and student management. The system should also be capable of sending automatic notifications through multiple channels such as email and WhatsApp. It also needed to be able to store large amounts of data while ensuring easy accessibility.

We also recommended that they use an accounting system capable of generating quotations and invoices, with integration into CRM so that it could be linked directly to parent and student records.

Implementation and Results

One of the key issues addressed was the lack of an efficient booking system. Aplikasi recommended the use of Zoho Bookings integrated with Zoho CRM to ensure users could easily access and manage appointments.

Zoho Bookings also allows each kindergarten to set their preferred dates and times easily. This enables both the kindergarten management team and parents to schedule appointments according to their convenience and needs.

The system can also reject bookings for already occupied time slots, ensuring more efficient appointment management and preventing overlapping sessions.

Zoho Bookings is also capable of capturing appointment data and sharing it directly with Zoho CRM. This allows different departments within the kindergarten to share information seamlessly while improving operational efficiency and collaboration. In addition to Zoho Bookings, Aplikasi also integrated Zoho CRM with Zoho Cliq and WhatsApp, allowing all systems to work together to send automatic notifications to users.

With these systems in place, information can be accessed and shared easily across departments, ensuring reliability and smooth business operations. Zoho CRM also supports efficient email automation, such as sending booking confirmations or reminders regarding customer changes and notices. Sent and received email records are also stored systematically for future reference.

Lastly, Aplikasi implemented Zoho Books as the accounting system, enabling easy quotation and invoice generation. This is managed accurately through integration with Zoho CRM, ensuring customer information remains precise while helping management align sales activities with the purchase history and interactions involving parents and students.

What our client says about our service?

Aplikasi has greatly assisted us in streamlining our customer journey flow, from lead management to deal closure, helping to improve operational efficiency and enhance the overall customer experience.
— Naluri Kreatif (NLI Education Sdn. Bhd)

What apps have been deployed

Zoho CRM

Zoho Bookings

Zoho Cliq

Zoho Books

Visit the support centre

Ready to turn your business challenges into success stories? Let’s explore how Aplikasi can simplify and streamline your operations—just like we’ve done for businesses across various industries.

Get Started Now

[Case Study] Innoveam Sdn.Bhd: Advanced Sales & Project Automation

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:54:59 +0800

[Case Study] Innoveam Sdn.Bhd: Advanced Sales & Project Automation

Innoveam Sdn.Bhd

Business Case at a Glance

From the get-go, Innoveam understood that there was a need to digitise their back-end processes. Data consolidation involved inter-departmental activities, but their top priority was to get their books in check.

Previously, they opted for whatever was available out there: Google Suite for their calendar, mail, Google Drive, Google Forms, PipeDrive for CRM, and spreadsheets. However, the information and data could not be consolidated, data integrity was an issue, and most importantly, they could not pull a report in real-time.

Innoveam's solution integrates numerous apps, including Zoho CRM Plus, Zoho Projects, Zoho Analytics, Zoho Books, Zoho People, and Zoho Expense. These programmes are integrated to manage sales, finance, and HR. Digitalization improves Innoveam's efficiency.

Company Background

Innoveam is a regional technology solutions provider that uses the latest ICT technologies to process, analyse, simulate, and visualise 3D datasets to provide business and operations improvement solutions for various industries. Their focus is on enterprise, and their experience in providing 3D data solutions within the region places them as a major player in the Industrial Revolution 4.0, specialising in Engineering Design, & Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality content development.

The company was founded in January 2013 by the Managing Director, Zamir Rashid and has about 20 employees in total. Technologies utilised by Innoveam include 3D Simulation (CFD, FEA, Game Engines), Motion Capture, Immersive Virtual Reality, Non-immersive VR/Interactive App, 360 Photo Capture, Augmented Reality Apps, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Cross-Platform Virtual Collaboration, and IoT/Smart Sensors.

The main industry they are involved in is the oil and gas industry, where they assist in conducting safety studies and equipment design with clients based locally in Malaysia and internationally, such as in Indonesia and Qatar.

The Challenge

As we are told, they were unable to generate their accounting report on the fly. They can't take traditional or semi-automated accounting with them. Accounting is tied back to orders; they need an easy and convenient way to invoice and receive payment right on the spot—even if that spot is miles from the office. The information that they had was also not in real-time and was handled in silos. As a result, data integrity was compromised, and the timeline for the information audit was questioned.

The problems include the consolidation of information across departments and tracking the number of hours taken to handle projects. Unreliable data is one of the most common hurdles companies face. Often, this is the result of manually inputting data across numerous locations and separate databases, a cumbersome task that results in human error. As for time tracking, they don't have the right tool to track how much time is spent on client work to bill it accordingly and are unable to track how much ROI they have when they invest in a project.

Finding the Solution

For Innoveam, we have implemented multiple applications into one solution. What is the solution? It consists of these applications: Zoho CRM, Zoho Project, Zoho Books, Zoho People, Zoho Expense, and Zoho Analytics. All these apps are integrated into one solution to manage their sales, finance, and HR. Innoveam has been digitalized, which allows them to be more efficient.

Implementations & Results

Zoho CRM was introduced to simplify the sales process, and custom functions were developed to automate the numbering of business transactions according to their respective conventions. Zoho CRM is integrated with Zoho Books to ensure sales transactions like quotations and invoices flow through finance for real-time consolidation and reporting.

Approvals were also put in place to increase data governance. Zoho People and Zoho Expense were configured to digitalize their HR management and claim management. Expenses in particular are integrated into Zoho Books. This has aided the finance team in managing all claims as expenses, resulting in a 10-day reduction in claim cycle time.

Zoho Projects was also integrated into task management and project tracking. With direct integration into Zoho Books, project profitability reports can easily be generated to identify any cost overruns earlier and also provide real-time reporting on each running project.

What our client says about our service?

We are glad about all the existing features and functions. It is user friendly, easy to understand and use, solving basic accounting/finance matters, good tools for a small to medium company.
— Innoveam Team

What apps have been deployed

Zoho CRM Plus

Zoho Projects

Zoho People

Zoho Expense

Zoho Books

Zoho Analytics

Visit the support centre

Ready to turn your business challenges into success stories? Let’s explore how Aplikasi can simplify and streamline your operations—just like we’ve done for businesses across various industries.

Get Started Now

[Case Study] AE Aequitas Sdn Bhd: Asset Movement & Management System

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 15:09:43 +0800

[Case Study] AE Aequitas Sdn Bhd: Asset Movement & Management System

AE Aequitas Sdn Bhd

Business Case at a Glance

AE Aequitas Sdn Bhd is a fast-growing safety services and engineering company in Malaysia that specialises in fire protection systems. Their services include maintenance of the fire protection system. For that, we offer Aequitas an efficient fire extinguisher management system powered by Zoho. They have been running things manually, and after a fateful meeting with Aplikasi, they decided to go with Zoho People and Zoho Expense for its 33 employees thus far. With the dedication and help from Aplikasi, the implementation was a success, covering two locations in just over a month.

Company Background

Aequitas is a fire extinguisher service company that has served and still serves reputable MNCs in Malaysia. With the recent advancement in technology and the pressing need to keep up, the company is desperate for a solution that would help. However, cost is a major concern for them, as it is for most SMEs. After a meeting in an unlikely venue—the hospital cafeteria—its CEO, Ridzuan, was awed by the depth of what Zoho People and Expenses had to offer at such an affordable price and decided to get on board right away.

AE Aequitas Sdn Bhd evolved from another company and is now primarily focused on providing fire extinguisher services throughout Malaysia. The company has three operations centres covering different parts of Malaysia. Currently, it has 33 dedicated employees, most of whom are on the field. Ridzuan, the CEO of the company, is the one who’s responsible for the start of the company’s digital transformation journey. With a lot more challenges coming their way, Ridzuan and his dedicated team aspire to fully transform their business with other Zoho apps as well.

The Challenge

Prior to their engagement with Aplikasi, all their jobs namely work monitoring, claim processing, attendance, and collaboration—were done manually. Because the operations team's jobs require a lot of traveling, there are a lot of claims. The whole process of applying for claims and approving them took the company two weeks per month to settle them. This job involves the finance department, the clerk, and also the HR department, and the 2-week cycle is killing their productivity.

The next phase involved heavily configuring and customising Zoho CRM to be a Fire Extinguisher Servicing System. Previously, as with their HR processes, everything was done manually, and there was no centralised database for all their assets. Technicians have their own logbooks for deliveries and pick-ups, and as the process is analogue, there is no transparency as well. Tanks' whereabouts cannot be traced should they be lost, and this is a major problem.

Finding the Solution

Ridzuan (Aequitas CEO) never knew about Zoho before he met us. All he knew then was that he needs to find a solution fast, but he needs to find the one he can pay for. He told this to his friend, who happens to be a mutual friend of Aplikasi’s founder, Azlan. In just two days, the meeting was set. Upon explanation and a short demo by Aplikasi, Ridzuan decided that every problem his company was having could be solved by Zoho People and Zoho Expense. On top of that, the price tag is exactly what he is looking for.

Aplikasi is a consultant partner for Aequitas, promising a smooth-sailing implementation of Zoho People and Zoho Expense. Aequitas does not have any IT-savvy personnel or change management professionals, so that’s where Aplikasi comes in. With years of experience in handling change management projects and SAP implementation and consultation, Aplikasi is convinced that they are able to help Aequitas end-to-end. Aplikasi also helped in redefining and restructuring Aequitas business processes that would otherwise be inefficient and time-consuming.

Implementations & Results

The whole implementation process which includes requirement gathering, customization and settings, review, fixes, training, and user acceptance test (UAT) only took a month to complete. The company notices an immediate improvement in their business processes after going live. In their claims process for example, it took them 2 weeks per month to settle everything; from claim applications to verification, approval, and reimbursement as the operation team’s work is mostly on the go. Hundreds of papers are documented every month to store the receipts and application forms. Three departments: Human Resource, Administration, and Finance would be busy handling the claim process. Zoho Expense immediately eliminates all the paperwork, and what’s most apparent is that it reduces 80% of the whole cycle process from 10 days to just 2 days.

With Zoho Expense, nobody has to be physically in the office to submit and approve the claims, and the capture receipt function in Zoho Expense makes it possible for the receipts to be stored without wasting papers and space. As for their leave management, the same benefit of saving paper can be observed. Now, with the convenience of the Zoho People mobile app, both requesters and approvers can do their jobs on the go. Attendance tracking and remote working monitoring are also possible now, promoting transparency and ensuring resources are being spent appropriately and responsibly.

The Fire Extinguisher Management System proved to be a challenging task indeed, as a lot of customization and configuration needed to be done to the CRM. The implementation focused on transparent and real-time database updates from each technician and each pickup and delivery. Having it integrated with Zoho Forms has made it possible for the technicians on the field to transfer information to the back office for further processing. The implementation also involves scanning devices and barcode printers, which would have the numbers generated from CRM automatically and later be used in asset tracing.

What our client says about our service?

I really hope that with Zoho People and Expense implementation, it can boost our productivity and save us valuable time and effort. With efficiency and transparency, I believe the application can help us to focus on business growth rather than spending most of our time managing small things.
— Mr. Ridzuan, CEO of AE Aequitas Sdn Bhd

What apps have been deployed

Zoho CRM

Zoho Form

Zoho People

Zoho Expense

Visit the support centre

Ready to turn your business challenges into success stories? Let’s explore how Aplikasi can simplify and streamline your operations—just like we’ve done for businesses across various industries.

Get Started Now

[Case Study] HRDCorp: Customer Service Automation

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:59:15 +0800

[Case Study] HRDCorp: Customer Service Automation

HRDCorp

Quick Read

Problem Statement

Not enough agents to handle tickets, resulting to bad customer satisfaction
Manual ticket transfer between departments which takes too much time and oversight
No convenient channel to reach actual agents
Unsystematic Knowledge Base management

Proposed Solution

Ticket automation to transfer between departments
Automatic replies in ticket management
Proper catelogue management for Knowledge Base
A chat tool to enable customers to reach actual agents

Implementation and Results

Auto-reply and convenient ticket transfer improved reply and resolution time.
No tickets are left to be uncategorized and unaccounted for.
Easier navigation and access to information for HRDCorp's customers.

Read the full case study here

Business Case at a Glance

HRDCorp has been using Zoho Desk to handle hundreds of tickets a day, but unfortunately, it has not been used to its full capacity. Although agents do have a place to look at all their tickets, no defined process was in place, and thus there was no automation possible that could have helped ease the burden on the support agents.

Company Background

HRDCorp is a government-linked company (GLC) in Malaysia that manages and promotes human capital development through various channels, methods, and events. When a company reaches a certain size in terms of the number of employees, they're required to be registered with HRDCorp and will be obligated to contribute a fraction of their revenue. In return, HRDCorp provides resources and means to improve the skills of the employees. Having said that, HRDCorp is a large organisation and is constantly addressing the issues and concerns of its contributors.

The Challenge

Zoho Desk was only used as a database to keep track of all the tickets and respond to them. However, when hundreds of tickets come in a day, it becomes too overwhelming for the service agents to keep track of them, which leads to unattended tickets. That, in turn, leads to unsatisfactory service quality, as seen by the contributors.

The agents are also faced with issues where they are overwhelmed with direct calls from employers and employees alike. More time spent answering calls means fewer issues that can be addressed per day. Most of the issues are solvable by referring to existing articles in the knowledge base.

Finding the Solution

As such, our focus when trying to solve this issue is on simplifying some of the processes, defining them, and taking a load off of their shoulders in general. Because HRDCorp cannot afford to have downtime, we do have to keep that in mind when offering our consultation and finding the best possible solution.

Implementations & Results

The first thing that we did was make clear distinctions between the numerous departments in the organisation and define teams in each of the departments. Then, an automation is being put in place to automate ticket assignment according to the defined criteria. This eliminates the need for the agents to do it manually, a task that consumes a lot of time, more so when the agent is relatively new.

Then, we implemented blueprints so that everybody, regardless of their role, could know what they had to do as instructed by the system. This allows less time for training agents and memorising the steps as the system has dictated what must be done step by step.

We make use of the Knowledge Base in Zoho Desk and integrate it with SalesIQ, where we built a chatbot that would entertain the visitors by default when they visit HRDCorp's website. This has reduced the agents' interaction time with the visitors considerably. This means that they can focus their resources on doing more important things.

What our client says about our service?

Aplikasi has been extremely helpful during the implementation period and they provide superb support. They have been supportive and accommodating, and this is especially crucial as we can't afford to have any downtime whatsoever.
— HRDCorp Team

What apps have been deployed

Zoho Desk

Zoho SalesIQ

Visit the support centre

Ready to turn your business challenges into success stories? Let’s explore how Aplikasi can simplify and streamline your operations—just like we’ve done for businesses across various industries.

Get Started Now

Rethinking the CRM Homepage

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:51:04 +0800

Rethinking the CRM Homepage

Introducing Canvas Home View in Zoho CRM

For most organisations, the CRM homepage is treated as a default starting point.

It shows activity. It shows numbers. It shows updates. But very few teams ever question whether it is actually helping people work better.

Over time, this becomes a blind spot. Teams adapt to the system instead of improving it. They click through multiple modules, rely on fragmented views, and spend unnecessary time navigating instead of acting.

At Aplikasi, we see this pattern consistently across SMEs and growing enterprises. The issue is not a lack of capability within the CRM. It is the absence of intentional design. Zoho CRM’s Canvas Home View addresses this directly.

Image Credit: Zoho CRM Official Page

From Static Dashboard to Operational Workspace

Canvas Home View introduces the ability to design your CRM homepage using a drag and drop interface, transforming it from a fixed dashboard into a configurable workspace.

This distinction matters.

A dashboard is passive. It displays information.

A workspace is active. It supports decision-making.

With Canvas, your homepage becomes a layer where data, actions, and priorities are structured in a way that aligns with how each role operates.

This is not about aesthetics. It is about operational efficiency.

Aligning CRM Experience with Role-Based Workflows

One of the most common inefficiencies in CRM usage comes from a one-size-fits-all interface. Sales, marketing, and support teams are often exposed to the same layout despite having fundamentally different priorities.

Canvas Home View enables organisations to design role-specific homepages that reflect how each function works.

Sales teams can prioritise pipeline visibility, deal progress, and follow-ups
Support teams can focus on ticket queues, response times, and workload distribution
Marketing teams can track campaign performance and engagement metrics

By structuring the homepage around role-specific needs, organisations reduce cognitive load and improve decision speed.

Users spend less time searching and more time executing.

Reducing Navigation Friction

In many CRM environments, valuable time is lost not in analysis, but in navigation. Users move between modules, open multiple tabs, and reconstruct context manually before taking action.

Canvas Home View reduces this friction by allowing key components such as dashboards, custom views, reports, and widgets to be assembled into a single, unified interface. Existing canvas list views can also be embedded directly into the homepage in different formats including card, tile, or table views.

This creates a consolidated working environment where information is already contextualised. The result is a shorter path from insight to action.

Enabling Business-Led Customisation

A common barrier to meaningful CRM customisation is technical dependency. Changes often require IT involvement, creating delays and limiting experimentation.

Canvas shifts this dynamic. With its drag and drop builder, business users can design and refine their own homepage layouts without coding.

This has two important implications:

Faster iteration
Teams can adjust their workspace as priorities evolve without waiting for technical resources
Closer alignment to actual workflows
The people using the system are the ones shaping it

This reduces the gap between system design and real-world usage.

Supporting Controlled Deployment

Flexibility without governance often leads to inconsistency. Canvas Home View balances both.

Organisations can design and test homepage configurations in a sandbox environment before deploying them to production.

Once validated, these configurations can be shared across users, roles, groups, and territories to ensure alignment at scale.

Additionally, the ability to associate queries directly with homepage components ensures that displayed data remains relevant and actionable. This approach supports both experimentation and standardisation.

Practical Impact on Daily Operations

To understand the impact, consider a typical sales workflow. Without optimisation, a sales manager may need to:

Navigate to the deals module to review pipeline
Open reports to track monthly performance
Check activities for follow-ups
Compile information mentally before prioritising actions

With Canvas Home View, these elements can be structured into a single interface.

Pipeline status, revenue progress, open deals, and pending follow-ups are visible immediately upon login.

This reduces context switching and enables faster, more informed decision-making at the start of the day.

Aplikasi’s Perspective

Technology alone does not create efficiency, structure does.

Canvas Home View is a powerful feature within Zoho CRM, but its effectiveness depends on how it is designed and aligned with your business processes.

At Aplikasi, our role is not just to implement systems, but to ensure they are structured in a way that supports how your teams actually work. This involves:

Defining what each role needs to see and act on
Designing layouts that reduce friction
Ensuring consistency across teams while allowing necessary flexibility

When done correctly, the CRM becomes more than a system of record. It becomes a system of action.

For teams looking to improve efficiency, reduce friction, and increase adoption, this is not just a feature update.

It is an opportunity to rethink how work gets done inside the CRM.

More info

[Case Study] Behind Carsome's Struggle

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:43:50 +0800

[Case Study] Carsome: Behind the Struggle with Customer Data

Behind the Struggle with Customer Data

Business Case at a Glance

Carsome encountered a significant challenge in retrieving historical client data, magnified by a specialized CRM module that treated each customer interaction as a distinct entity and not linking it back to any specific customer record, complicating service delivery and made it impossible to churn out meaningful demographical analytics.

Additionally, the integration of their old and new databases within the CRM system posed another obstacle, resulting in a cluttered database and complicating the consolidation of information. The challenge for Carsome extended beyond acquiring the right tools; it involved finding a seamless integration method to ensure operational smoothness.

Therefore there is a need for a solution that can help keep things organized and make it easier to look back at past information, which is especially important for big companies. The key is for the system to handle these challenges, making sure that keeping track of interactions and people's information works together smoothly. It's like a careful dance, and when done right, it turns managing information into a smooth and organized process.

Company Background

In the dynamic landscape of the automotive sales industry, one name stands out prominently which is Carsome. For over six years, this avant-garde company has been revolutionizing the used car subsector. Established in 2015, Carsome has etched its mark as a formidable player in the market. In 2017, the company expanded its operations across Southeast Asia, a move that underscored its growing regional presence. Not content with the status quo, Carsome made waves in 2020 by acquiring major competitors, iCar Asia, and 2ndLease, cementing its position as a dominant market force.

At the heart of Carsome's operations lies a mission to simplify the complexities of buying and selling used cars. The company's core values, built on transparency, trust, and innovation, define its commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience. Carsome offers a comprehensive suite of services, encompassing inspections, certifications, and a digital marketplace for pre-owned vehicles. Their commitment to quality and reliability ensures that every car that passes through their platform is thoroughly vetted and backed by a warranty, giving customers peace of mind.

While the company website provides a detailed roster of key leadership personnel, one noteworthy figure is Co-founder and CEO, Eric Cheng. His visionary approach and leadership have played a pivotal role in steering Carsome toward its current success. With a steadfast commitment to their mission and values, Carsome continues to be a driving force in the used car industry, offering innovative solutions and trustworthy services to customers in Southeast Asia and beyond.

The Challenge

One of the foremost problems that Carsome faced was the inability to access historical data of a particular client. This issue stemmed from the fact that they had a custom module in their CRM system that created each old customer as a new entity, rather than connecting them to their existing records. Thus, this resulted in a situation that made it impossible to see old conversations and past deals making it tough to give top-notch services to customers.

Furthermore, Carsome faced a formidable challenge as they tried to integrate their old database with the new one within their CRM ecosystem. The failure to establish a seamless connection between the two databases created a disconnect that impeded their ability to gain a comprehensive view of their clients. This not only made it difficult to consolidate information but also led to a cluttered database.

These two problems contributed significantly to their inability to produce any meaningful customer-centric analytics which is pivotal in driving strategic decision-making.

Adding to their list of conundrums was the sheer volume of data that required migration. Carsome found themselves wrestling with the task of splitting this colossal chunk of data into separate modules, all the while ensuring that they were linked together for historical data preservation. They needed to put all the pieces together in the right way, but it was really tricky, and they didn't have all the right pieces to the puzzle.

Apart from their CRM tribulations, Carsome also confronted hurdles when they attempted to develop and embed their live chat support widget into their mobile applications. This was a two-fold challenge. Firstly, they lacked clear and comprehensive directions to navigate this intricate process. Secondly, the absence of appropriate resources, both in terms of human expertise and technical support, further complicates the issue. The absence of a well-defined roadmap delayed their progress in enhancing their mobile applications with the live chat support widget, which had the potential to significantly improve customer engagement.

Finding the Solution

To solve these problems, Carsome knew they needed a smart plan. They realized that just using technology wouldn't be enough. Fixing these issues meant careful planning, getting help from experts, and being creative with new ideas.

Regarding the issue of historical data within their CRM system, our proposed solution involved a substantial revamping of their data management procedures. The recommendation was to implement a rigorous data entry system, emphasizing consistency and accuracy. This required a concerted effort to ensure that all customer data was entered uniformly and accurately into the CRM, eradicating the creation of redundant records. Additionally, a robust data linkage mechanism was established to amalgamate customer records over time, not only thwarting data duplication but also furnishing a holistic view of customer interactions.

In addressing the challenge of integrating old and new databases, Carsome sought us as the experts of CRM who could bridge the gap seamlessly. We devised a strategy for the smooth migration of the old database into their CRM while safeguarding data integrity and averting duplication. This strategic collaboration allowed Carsome to unify its data sources, optimizing operational efficiency and paving the way for more streamlined data management.

Facing the complexity of organizing data, we took a systematic approach where we migrated their data into relevant groups and used a strong tagging system. This method made it much easier for them to track each customer's history and connect related parts. As a result, not only was the improvement in data organization clear, but it also helped make better decisions based on complete information.

Facing challenges in adding the livechat widget to mobile apps, Carsome decided to be proactive. They need an appropriate resources, both in terms of human expertise and technical support. This combined effort could help them overcome the problems and offer a smooth experience to customers on their mobile apps, making their customer interactions even better.

Implementations & Results

A web untangled.

The issue arised when they had a custom module in their CRM system that created each old customer as a new entity, rather than connecting them to their existing records. The implementation process involved the introduction of key modules to enhance their operational efficiency and customer interactions. The focal point of this initiative was the introduction of the contacts and deals module, a strategic move to streamline the tracking of interactions. In this approach, each interaction was designated as a deal, and these deals were linked to the respective contact. This meant that every contact could potentially have multiple deals, reflecting the frequency of their interactions with Carsome. The system was designed to create a new deal and link it to an existing contact when a new interaction occurred. In cases where no existing contact was found, a new deal would be created.

Decluttering 700,000 of data.

Not only that, Carsome faced a formidable challenge as they tried to integrate their old database with the new one within their CRM ecosystem. The magnitude of this digital overhaul became evident during the migration of data. A staggering 700,000 records needed to be meticulously decluttered and migrated into the new modules. This intricate process required a meticulous separation of data into contacts and interactions, turning one massive dataset into two distinct databases which is contact and deal database. The complexity escalated as each interaction had to be linked back to the corresponding contacts, demanding a delicate balance between data organization and historical continuity.

Despite the challenges, the team successfully navigated this complex data migration exercise. The process involved linking the deals back to the contacts module, a feat that required meticulous effort and attention to detail. Through strategic implementation, we had seamlessly integrated their historical data into the new digital infrastructure, setting the stage for enhanced operational insights.

Right guidance leads to straight path.

Lastly, Carsome also confronted hurdles when they attempted to develop and embed SalesIQ support widget into their mobile applications. To ensure a smooth transition and ongoing support, routine weekly sessions were established. These sessions served as a platform for collaborative discussions and Q&A, providing a direct avenue for problem-solving. The proactive engagement of the team not only facilitated immediate issue resolution but also allowed for the conveyance of critical messages to Zoho when needed. As a result, Carsome successfully incorporated SalesIQ widget into their mobile applications, marking a significant milestone in their digital journey.

What our client says about our service?

Working with Aplikasi over the past 5 months has been an absolute delight. They have seamlessly implemented different Zoho applications tailored to our business and offered feedback on different use cases. What sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to understanding our unique challenges and pain points. Aplikasi immerses themselves in our problem statement and works tirelessly to provide effective solutions using Zoho, highlighting the flexibility of the Zoho ecosystem in the process. Their expertise and dedication have transformed the way we operate, making us more efficient and productive. I wholeheartedly recommend Zoho as well as Aplikasi to anyone seeking tech implementation partners in Malaysia who truly care about their clients' success.
— Carsome

What apps have been deployed

Zoho CRM

Zoho SalesIQ

Visit the support centre

Ready to turn your business challenges into success stories? Let’s explore how Aplikasi can simplify and streamline your operations—just like we’ve done for businesses across various industries.

Get Started Now

E-Invois Diwajibkan Bagi Semua Perniagaan - LHDN

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:58:26 +0800

E-Invois Diwajibkan Bagi Semua Perniagaan - LHDN

Beralih Kepada e-Invois

Pelaksanaan e-invois di Malaysia telah pun bermula dan tentunya ramai peniaga yang ingin mengetahui dengan lebih lanjut tentang usaha kerajaan untuk mendigitalisasikan pentadbiran cukai dan meningkatkan ketulusan cukai di negara kita ini.

Apa itu E-Invois?

E-Invois merupakan transaksi digital antara PENJUAL dan PEMBELI; menggantikan penggunaan invois yang biasa atau manual yang dipraktikkan dalam transaksi perniagaan.

Siapa yang wajib guna e-invois?

Jawapannya adalah semua pembayar cukai yang menjalankan aktiviti komersial di Malaysia; Perniagaan-ke-Perniagaan (B2B), Perniagaan-ke-Pengguna (B2C) dan Perniagaaan-ke-Kerajaan (B2G). Ini juga merangkumi perniagaan yang melibatkan penyediaan barangan dan perkhidmatan, serta beberapa urus niaga bukan perniagaan antara individu.

Contoh perniagaan/urus niaga terlibat:

PERSATUAN

KUMPULAN ORANG

CAWANGAN

AMANAH PERNIAGAAN

KOPERASI

SYARIKAT

PERKONGSIAN

PERKONGSIAN LIABILITI TERHAD (PLT)

TABUNG AMANAH HARTANAH

AMANAH HARTANAH

AMANAH PELABURAN HARTANAH

PEJAWABAT PERWAKILAN DAN PEJABAT WILAYAH

BADAN AMANAH

UNIT AMANAH

Tarikh Pelaksanaan E-Invois

E-Invois akan dilaksanakan secara berperingkat untuk memastikan pembayar cukai memahami proses dan dapat menyesuaikan diri dengan transasi ini. Garis masa pelaksanaan adalah seperti berikut:

Jenis Pembayar Cukai	Tarikh Pelaksanaan
Pembayar cukai dengan pendapatan/jualan tahunan melebihi RM100 juta	1 Ogos 2024
Pembayar cukai dengan pendapatan atau jualan tahunan melebihi RM25 juta dan sehingga RM100 juta	1 Januari 2025
Semua pembayar cukai	1 Julai 2025

Ada yang sudah mula menggunakan e-invois? Kalau ada, syabas! Anda merupakan early adopters! Kalau belum, jangan risau. Masih belum terlambat untuk anda explore.

Ada pertanyaan mengenai E-Invois?

Kalau ada sebarang pertanyaan boleh email pihak LHDN di myinvois@hasil.gov.my atau hubungi 03-8682 8000 (Talian Meja Bantuan e-Invois HASiL).