Aplikasi | Zoho Premium Partner - Blog #Zoho CRM

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.

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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.

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[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

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

From Local to Global - How Did Zoho Do It?

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:44:25 +0800

From Local to Global - How Did Zoho Do It?

A Glimpse into Zoho Today

Hailing from the suburbs of Chennai, Southern India, Zoho Corporation is a business software company founded by Sridhar Vembu along with several of his brothers and friend, Tony Thomas. As of 2024, Zoho offers its 100 million worldwide users a range of over 55 applications that optimize business operations from marketing and sales to CRM (customer relationship management) and finances.

Employing over 12,000 people around the globe, Zoho has established its identity as a leader in the software industry. However, unlike other productivity suites like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, Zoho sets itself apart through its affordable pricing, easy integration (with the various Zoho apps as well as many other third party apps) and its high priority for data security and privacy.

Early Years

Sridhar Vembu, 2024 (https://t.ly/WhrNc)

The cultivation of Zoho began in 1996 as a network management company formerly known as “AdventNet”. By the 2000s, Sridhar and his co-founders began launching cloud-based software services for businesses, releasing their first suite of business productivity tools in 2005 with the application, Zoho CRM. In 2010, the company officially rebranded to Zoho Corporation with an emphasis on such software.

From the jump, Zoho demonstrated its unique and innovative personality — famously declining a venture capital offer of USD10 million, a decision Sridhar firmly stands by till this day. He expressed how it has allowed him to “experiment with technology, and invest 50% of my money in R&D without having someone telling me where I should put my money”, choosing to nurture the company through their own profits rather than venture capital to ensure they have control over the direction the company heads to.

“Made in India. Made for the world”

Expanding Horizons

Zoho was birthed in a remote village in India, yet miraculously, its products are used today by businesses in every corner of the globe. Zoho embarked on the journey of international expansion in 2001, opening its first foreign office in Japan. Eventually, one office became over 25 in countries ranging from USA, Brazil, and the Netherlands to UAE, Malaysia, and even Kenya. Its geographic expansions help to cater Zoho to diversed markets around the globe through the localization of their products in terms of language, regulations and cultural preferences, allowing each country's market to resonate more closely with the product.

After just 26 years of operations, the company's tagline of “Made in India. Made for the world” stands true having over 2,000 consulting partners, like Aplikasi, and a global presence in over 150 countries. These global partnerships combined with the localization of their diverse product range and cloud-based software (eliminating the need for regional physical infrastructure) are key elements for Zoho's “global presence” leading to its “success and profitability” as noted in a Medium.com article.

Opening of Zoho office in Kenya, 2023 (https://techcabal.com/2023/05/23/zoho-opens-local-office-in-kenya/)

But Zoho's expansion goes beyond geographic growth; the company has also ventured into other sectors, such as education — launching the Zoho Schools of Learning in 2005, where they offer a “meaningful alternative to conventional college education”. Further exhibiting Zoho's unique personality, Zoho Schools aim to provide more practical education and skills that will strongly benefit those headed into software careers. Notably, Zoho offers this program at free of charge and instead pays its students a stipend. After graduation, the student is immediately inducted as a Zoho Corporation employee, with Zoho graduates making up 15% of Zoho's total employee count.

“Who Said You Need to Be in Silicon Valley to Build World-Class Products?”

Zoho Philosophy and Local Impact

By now, it should be undoubtedly clear that Zoho's vision is unconventional at the very least. The key that has propelled them to success is their deeply rooted belief in “Transnational Localism” — the concept of expanding a business globally while empowering and enabling the lives of local communities to ensure sustainability. Sridhar has repeatedly spoken about his commitment to this philosophy, often expressing that developing world-class products should not be exclusive to urban hubs and cities only and further stating that “migrating from villages to cities is not a good idea”. Here, he notes the negative nature of cities becoming increasingly polluted and densely populated while contributing to the brain drain of local communities.

Zoho School of Technology, 2024 (https://youtu.be/ylwkMhtSFUs?si=2SPACVNSluRTPN2P)

This idea is reflected through Zoho's own initiatives, such as Zoho Schools and their Rural-Revival Mission. Zoho Schools' ability to offer free education directly mirrors Zoho's Rural-Revival Mission of revitalizing rural areas by providing “hard-working and hungry talents” with quality education, expertise, and work opportunities that they may lack the means or access to otherwise. Zoho's focus on nurturing talents in rural areas has manifested into the opening of two hub offices in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh with plans of establishing future offices in other districts of non-urban India as well.

What's Next For Zoho?

From a network management company in a remote Indian village to a global leader in the cloud-based software industry, growth has certainly been a constant for Zoho. So, what else will there be in store for the future of the company? According to Aplikasi's very own Zoho MVP, Nik Khairul, he sees that “Zoho will open new frontiers of non-customers”. Nik anticipates that thanks to Zoho's flexible technology and pricing, even individuals outside of their target market will discover solutions in Zoho to issues they were not even aware they had.

For one instance, Zoho Creator (a low-code application) allows users to fully create and customize applications in Zoho to fit their needs. It also holds the ability to integrate with other Zoho applications, all without requiring advanced coding skills. Furthermore, the competitive costs of Zoho applications and bundles allow users a customizable experience that other software companies lack. Users can choose to subscribe only to applications they need at the fraction of the average cost.

With this potential of an entire “new frontier of non-customers” and the need for businesses to digitalize as to keep up with competition, Zoho's flexible technology and pricing, sustainable philosophy, and evident community support make its future seem nothing but bright.

Talk to Us About Going Global with Zoho

Sources:

Master the basics of Zoho CRM

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:41:29 +0800

Master the Basics of Zoho CRM

Join the Kuala Lumpur ZUG Meetup: Learn, Connect & Solve Business Challenges with Zoho

Date: February 18, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Venue: Triune Centre, KL Eco City

Are you looking for ways to maximize your use of Zoho and streamline your business operations? Whether you’re a seasoned Zoho user or just getting started, the Kuala Lumpur Zoho User Group (ZUG) Meetup is the perfect event to enhance your knowledge and connect with like-minded professionals.

Organized by Zoho Corporation, this interactive session will help you unlock the full potential of Zoho applications, explore solutions to common business challenges, and get personalized guidance from Zoho experts.

Why You Should Attend

Learn practical solutions

Discover how Zoho applications can help solve real business challenges, from scheduling online meetings to automating sales commissions.

Network with industry peers

Connect with other business professionals, exchange insights, and build valuable relationships within the Zoho community.

Get 1-on-1 expert consultations

Have specific questions? Book an exclusive 20-minute one-on-one session with a Zoho product specialist to discuss your unique business needs.

What’s on the Agenda?

Session 1: Morning Connect - Basics of Zoho CRM (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)

New to Zoho CRM? This beginner-friendly session will cover the fundamentals of Zoho CRM, helping you navigate its features and leverage it for business success. Learn how to manage leads, track customer interactions, and automate processes with ease.

Session 2: Solving Business Challenges with Zoho (10:30 AM - 1:00 PM)

Struggling with workflow inefficiencies? This session will walk you through common business challenges and how Zoho’s suite of applications can simplify operations and boost productivity.

Key challenges we’ll address:

Scheduling online meetings and maintaining a structured calendar

Billing clients for online consultations and appointments

Managing contracts with vendors seamlessly

Automating sales commission calculations for your sales team

Engaging customers with AI chatbots on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

Utilizing AI-powered analytics for smarter business decisions

Session 3: 1-on-1 Consultations with Zoho Experts (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM)

Have questions about Zoho’s features? Need tailored recommendations? Book a private consultation with Zoho experts to get personalized insights and solutions for your business.

Who Should Attend?

Business owners & decision-makers

Zoho CRM users (beginners & experienced users)

Sales & marketing professionals

Operations & finance teams looking to automate processes

Whether you’re exploring Zoho for the first time or looking for advanced strategies, this event is tailored to help you optimize your business operations and stay ahead in the digital landscape.

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Seats are limited! Secure your spot now and take your Zoho experience to the next level.

We look forward to seeing you at the Kuala Lumpur ZUG Meetup!

[Case Study] Nama je Tadika tapi...

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:18:43 +0800

Tadika Naluri Kreatif

Ringkasan Kes Perniagaan

Naluri Kreatif merupakan sebuah institusi yang terdiri daripada rantaian prasekolah yang meneraju pembelajaran berasaskan projek di Malaysia. Setelah 30 tahun bertapak di Malaysia, mereka menyedari bahawa mereka perlu untuk meningkatkan lagi operasi bisnes mereka sejajar dengan dunia teknologi moden zaman kini.

Mereka telah menghadapi beberapa cabaran sepanjang beroperasi di mana pertamanya mereka menghadapi masalah di mana sistem tempahan yang digunakan sebelum ini tidak cekap kerana mereka hanya menggunakan Google Form bagi menyelaraskan kesemua 17 cawangan yang mereka ada di seluruh Malaysia. Google Form ini akan diisi oleh ibu bapa untuk menempah tarikh dan masa untuk melawat cawangan pilihan sebelum mendaftarkan anak mereka. Masalah timbul apabila slot temujanji itu tidak dapat dilihat oleh masa nyata dan dapat disahkan secara segera oleh setiap cawangan, yang telah menyebabkan kemungkinan besar sesi yang ada boleh bertindih.

Oleh yang demikian, satu sistem yang boleh menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi adalah seperti menggunakan sistem tempahan yang terpusat dan terintegrasi yang mampu membantu manager atau pekerja yang terlibat untuk mengesahkan secara automatik slot temujanji secara masa nyata bagi mengelakkan kemungkinan penempahan yang bertindih.

Latar Belakang Syarikat

Naluri Kreatif adalah merupakan sebuah prasekolah dan playhouse yang amat menitikberatkan perkembangan dan pengalaman anak-anak dalam kehidupan yang memfokuskan kepada Natural & Project Based Learning di mana ia sesuai sebagai persediaan awal anak-anak melangkah ke alam Prasekolah atau sekolah.

Naluri Kreatif menggabungkan konsep pembelajaran yang meraikan dan menggembirakan kanak-kanak melalui pengalaman sebenar. Mereka menawarkan program pendidikan awal bagi kanak-kanak 1 hingga 6 tahun. Mereka juga telah beroperasi sejak 1993 dan telah mempunyai pengalaman selama 30 tahun. Mereka telah memiliki 17 cawangan seluruh Malaysia dan kini berpusat di Bangi.

Misi mereka adalah untuk memberikan peluang bagi kanak-kanak untuk cemerlang dalam persekitaran semula jadi melalui konsep Natural Learning. Visi mereka pula adalah untuk menghubungkan kanak-kanak dengan pengetahuan-pengetahuan am dan nilai-nilai murni.

Mereka merupakan pelopor pembelajaran berasaskan projek di Malaysia. Mereka juga telah berjaya menjalankan NALURI Online School (NOSH) semasa pandemik Covid-19 dari 2019 hingga 2020. Mereka juga kerap mengadakan program cuti sekolah pada setiap cuti semester di semua cawangan.

Puan Noor Hayati Binti Abdul Hamid adalah pengasas Naluri Kreatif, yang mempunyai lebih daripada 35 tahun pengalaman dalam industri pendidikan awal kanak-kanak dan pembangunan keluarga. Selain itu, beliau telah mendapat pendidikan dan pengalaman langsung selama 7 tahun di United Kingdom dalam bidang pendidikan awal kanak-kanak. Keistimewaan beliau adalah dalam menubuhkan, menguji, dan melaksanakan 'Natural Learning Concept' di semua Pusat Kecemerlangan Awal Naluri, yang turut disertai dengan dokumen lengkap mengenai Prosedur Operasi Standard 'Natural Learning Concept'.

Cabaran Yang Dihadapi

Naluri Kreatif menghadapi cabaran di mana mereka tidak mempunyai sistem tempahan yang cekap. Mereka hanya menggunakan Google Form untuk menyelaraskan kesemua 17 cawangan yang ada di seluruh Malaysia. Google Form ini akan digunakan oleh ibu bapa bagi menempah tarikh dan masa melawat cawangan pilihan sebelum mendaftarkan anak mereka.

Masalah timbul apabila slot temujanji tidak dapat disahkan dengan masa nyata untuk setiap cawangan. Hal ini akan menyebabkan peningkatan risiko yang kemungkinan setiap sesi akan bertindih, di mana lebih dari satu slot temujanji boleh ditempah untuk waktu yang sama di cawangan yang sama.

Bukan itu sahaja, langkah-langkah yang dilakukan untuk setiap proses tidak berhubung antara satu sama lain, yang menjadikan adanya jurang di antara proses yang dijalankan. Hal ini yang menyebabkan proses menjadi kurang efisien dan boleh mengambil masa yang lama sekaligus meningkatkan risiko mereka untuk kehilangan pelanggan.

Tambahan juga, masalah timbul apabila pangkalan data maklumat mereka tidak diintegrasikan secara keseluruhan dalam semua fungsi perniagaan. Contohnya, informasi yang dikumpulkan oleh pihak marketing atau sales tidak dikongsi secara langsung dengan pihak kewangan dan perakaunan, begitu juga sebaliknya. Oleh yang demikian, informasi-informasi dan data-data yang penting tidak dapat diakses secara masa nyata.

Cara Penyelesaian

Antara cara penyelesaian untuk permasalahan mereka yang menggunakan cara manual untuk booking appointment ialah dengan menggunakan satu sistem Appointment Booking di mana ia akan dapat memudahkan proses urusan tempahan temujanji dengan lebih teratur dan cekap.

Mereka juga memerlukan sistem yang mempunyai interface yang mesra pengguna. Sistem ini juga harus mampu untuk mengambil data dan memberinya kepada sistem lain untuk digunakan dalam proses seterusnya.

Sistem ini juga harus mampu untuk menetapkan tarikh dan masa yang diinginkan oleh setiap tadika. Pada masa yang sama, sistem ini juga harus memberikan kemudahan kepada pihak Naluri Kreatif untuk menolak mana-mana booking pada slot masa yang telah ditempah.

Selain itu, mereka juga boleh menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi dengan adanya sistem yang boleh mengintegrasikan setiap proses yang ada seperti pendaftaran, pembayaran, dan pengurusan pelajar. Sistem ini seharusnya berkemampuan untuk memberi notifikasi secara automatik melalui pelbagai saluran seperti emel dan Whatsapp. Bukan itu sahaja, sistem yang mereka perlu juga harus mampu untuk meyimpan jumlah data yang banyak dan mudah diakses.

Kami juga mencadangkan agar mereka menggunakan satu sistem perakaunan yang mampu untuk menghasilkan quotation dan invoice dan sistem tersebut juga mampu untuk diintegrasikan ke dalam CRM yang mana dapat dihubungkan dengan rekod para ibubapa dan pelajar.

Pelaksanaan Dan Hasil

Antara isu yang ingin dikupas adalah dengan menyelesaikan permasalahan mereka tidak mempunyai sistem booking yang cekap. Jadi Aplikasi telah mengsyorkan mereka menggunakan Zoho Bookings yang juga diintegrasikan bersama Zoho CRM untuk memastikan pengguna dapat mengakses dan menguruskan temujanji dengan senang.

Bukan itu sahaja, Zoho Bookings ini juga mampu untuk menetapkan masa dan tarikh yang diinginkan oleh setiap tadika dengan mudah. Ini membolehkan pihak pengurusan tadika dan ibu bapa menjadualkan temujanji mengikut keselesaan dan keperluan masing-masing. Sistem ini juga berupaya untuk menolak sebarang tempahan pada slot masa yang telah ditempah bagi memastikan pengurusan tadika dapat menguruskan jadual temujanji dengan lebih efisien dan mengelakkan sebarang tindihan setiap sesi.

Zoho Bookings juga berupaya untuk mengambil data temujanji dan data tersebut dapat dikongsi terus ke dalam Zoho CRM. Hal ini membolehkan jabatan-jabatan yang tertentu dalam tadika dapat berkongsi maklumat dengan lancar di samping mereka juga dapat memastikan kecekapan operasi dan berkolaborasi dengan baik di antara mereka.

Selain daripada penggunaan Zoho Bookings, pihak Aplikasi juga telah mengintegrasikan Zoho CRM bersama Zoho Cliq dan WhatsApp dimana kesemua sistem ini dapat bergabung untuk memberi notifikasi secara automatik kepada pengguna. Jadi, dengan adanya sistem-sistem ini, maklumat juga dapat diakses dan dikongsi dengan mudah di antara sistem. Ini bagi memastikan kebolehpercayaan dan operasi tadika dapat berjalan dengan lancar.

Integrasi yang cekap dalam Zoho CRM yang dapat menghantar emel secara automatik, seperti pengesahan tempahan atau peringatan untuk pelanggan tentang perubahan atau notis pemberitahuan. Rekod emel yang dihantar dan diterima juga dapat disimpan dengan teratur untuk rujukan mereka pada masa hadapan.

Akhir sekali, pihak Aplikasi juga telah mengimplementasikan Zoho Books sebagai sistem perakaunan yang dimana sistem ini membolehkan penghasilan quotation dan invoice dengan mudah. Ini dapat dikendalikan dengan teliti melalui integrasi dengan Zoho CRM untuk memastikan maklumat pelanggan tepat dan membolehkan pihak pengurusan untuk menyelaraskan aktiviti jualan dengan sejarah pembelian dan interaksi dengan ibubapa serta pelajar itu tepat.

Apa kata klien kami?

Aplikasi telah banyak membantu kami dalam menyelesaikan salah satu masalah flow customer journey dari masuk leads hingga close deal
— Tadika Naluri Kreatif

Aplikasi yang digunakan

Zoho CRM

Zoho Bookings

Zoho Cliq

Zoho Books

Wazzup

Lawati Pusat Sokongan

Bersedia untuk menukar cabaran perniagaan anda kepada kisah kejayaan? Mari terokai bagaimana Aplikasi dapat memudahkan dan menyelaraskan operasi anda—sama macam yang kami dah buat untuk pelbagai perniagaan lain.

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