Zoho CRM → HELIX

Difficulty: moderate Time: 2-3 hours Portability: 8/10

Migration Summary

Switch from Zoho CRM to Helix in about 2-3 hours. Export your data as CSV, import into Helix, set up your services. Run both in parallel for a week, then cancel Zoho CRM. $40/month → $279 once.

What Transfers

Transfers Fully

✓ Leads and contacts

✓ Accounts (companies)

✓ Deals/opportunities

✓ Notes and attachments

Transfers Partially

~ Custom fields (manual mapping)

~ Tasks (basic export)

Needs Rebuilding

✗ Workflow automations

✗ Blueprints

✗ Custom views and dashboards

✗ Integration configurations

Step 1: Export from Zoho CRM

Export Leads/Contacts

Settings → Data Administration → Export → Select 'Leads' or 'Contacts.' Export with all fields.

5 minutes ⚠ Zoho has both Leads and Contacts — export both if you use both

Export Accounts

Same process → Select 'Accounts.' Captures company records.

3 minutes ⚠ Account-contact relationships may need manual linking in Helix

Export Deals

Export 'Deals' or 'Potentials' (depending on your Zoho version).

3 minutes ⚠ Deal stages export as text — use as reference for Helix job workflow

Document Workflows/Blueprints

If you use Zoho automation, document your key workflows for recreation in Helix Cascade.

15-30 minutes ⚠ Cascade is simpler — plan streamlined versions of complex Zoho workflows

Step 2: Import into Helix

Import Contacts to Connect

Helix Connect → Import → Upload Zoho contacts/leads export. Combine if appropriate.

15 minutes

Migrate Active Deals to Jobs

For active opportunities, create Jobs in Helix with relevant deal context.

20-30 minutes

Build Cascade Automations

Recreate your most valuable Zoho workflows in Helix Cascade.

30 minutes

First Week Checklist

Import all contactsMigrate active deals to JobsBuild core service packagesSet up 1-2 Cascade automationsRun 5 deals through Helix workflowEvaluate: Do you need Zoho's complexity?

All checked? Cancel your Zoho CRM subscription. Download a final backup first.

Zoho is incredibly powerful but often overkill for service businesses. You probably customized it heavily and now maintain a complex system. Helix is the 'start fresh with simplicity' option. Sometimes the right move is less software, not more.

Common Questions

Is Helix as customizable as Zoho?

No. Zoho is extremely customizable — custom modules, fields, workflows. Helix is opinionated — it works a specific way for service businesses. If you need heavy customization, Zoho is better. If you want a system that 'just works,' Helix is better.

What about Zoho's other apps?

Zoho's strength is the suite (Books, Invoice, Projects, etc.). Helix is standalone. If you're deep in Zoho ecosystem, migration is harder. If you only use Zoho CRM, migration is easy.

Get Helix — $279 Once

30-day money-back guarantee. Cancel Zoho CRM after your first week with Helix.