# Zoho Crm

> Zoho CRM integration via Apideck's CRM unified API — same methods work across every connector in CRM, switch by changing `serviceId`. Use when the user wants to read, write, or search contacts, companies, leads, opportunities, activities, and pipelines in Zoho CRM. Routes through Apideck with serviceId "zoho-crm".

- Skill: `apideck-libraries/zoho-crm` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add apideck-libraries/zoho-crm`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/apideck-libraries/zoho-crm/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Integrations & APIs
- License: Apache-2.0
- Author: apideck-libraries (https://skillmd.com/u/apideck-libraries)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/apideck-libraries/zoho-crm

---


# Zoho CRM (via Apideck)

Access Zoho CRM through Apideck's **CRM** unified API — one of 21 CRM connectors that share the same method surface. Code you write here ports to Odoo, Salesforce, HubSpot and 17 other CRM connectors by changing a single `serviceId` string. Apideck handles auth, pagination, rate limiting, and retries so you don't write per-tenant Zoho CRM plumbing.

## Quick facts

- **Apideck serviceId:** `zoho-crm`
- **Unified API:** CRM
- **Auth type:** oauth2
- **Gotchas:** [page](https://developers.apideck.com/apis/crm/zoho-crm/gotchas)
- **Zoho CRM docs:** https://www.zoho.com/crm/developer/docs/api/
- **Homepage:** https://www.zoho.com/crm/

## When to use this skill

Activate this skill when the user explicitly wants to work with **Zoho CRM** — for example, "pull contacts in Zoho CRM" or "sync leads in Zoho CRM". This skill teaches the agent:

1. Which Apideck unified API covers Zoho CRM (CRM)
2. The correct `serviceId` to pass on every call (`zoho-crm`)
3. Zoho CRM-specific auth and coverage caveats

For the full method surface (parameters, pagination, filtering), use your language SDK skill:

- [`apideck-node`](../../skills/apideck-node/), [`apideck-python`](../../skills/apideck-python/), [`apideck-dotnet`](../../skills/apideck-dotnet/), [`apideck-java`](../../skills/apideck-java/), [`apideck-go`](../../skills/apideck-go/), [`apideck-php`](../../skills/apideck-php/), or [`apideck-rest`](../../skills/apideck-rest/)

For the raw OpenAPI spec:

- **CRM:** [https://specs.apideck.com/crm.yml](https://specs.apideck.com/crm.yml) · [API Explorer](https://developers.apideck.com/api-explorer?id=crm)

## Minimal example (TypeScript)

```typescript
import { Apideck } from "@apideck/unify";

const apideck = new Apideck({
  apiKey: process.env.APIDECK_API_KEY,
  appId: process.env.APIDECK_APP_ID,
  consumerId: "your-consumer-id",
});

// List contacts in Zoho CRM
const { data } = await apideck.crm.contacts.list({
  serviceId: "zoho-crm",
});
```

## Portable across 21 CRM connectors

The Apideck **CRM** unified API exposes the same methods for every connector in its catalog. Switching from Zoho CRM to another CRM connector is a one-string change — no rewrite, no new SDK.

```typescript
// Today — Zoho CRM
await apideck.crm.contacts.list({ serviceId: "zoho-crm" });

// Tomorrow — same code, different connector
await apideck.crm.contacts.list({ serviceId: "odoo" });
await apideck.crm.contacts.list({ serviceId: "salesforce" });
```

This is the compounding advantage of using Apideck over integrating Zoho CRM directly: code against the unified CRM API once, gain access to every connector in it. New connectors Apideck adds become available to your app without code changes.

## Zoho CRM via Apideck

Zoho CRM is a popular CRM in the SMB and international market. Apideck covers the core modules.

### Entity mapping

| Zoho CRM module | Apideck CRM resource |
|---|---|
| Contacts | `contacts` |
| Accounts | `companies` |
| Leads | `leads` |
| Deals | `opportunities` |
| Tasks, Events, Calls | `activities` |
| Notes | `notes` |
| Pipeline / Stage | `pipelines` |
| Custom modules | use Proxy |

### Coverage highlights

- ✅ Full CRUD on contacts, accounts, leads, deals
- ✅ Activities (tasks, events, calls) as unified `activities`
- ⚠️ Custom modules and custom layouts — not in unified; use Proxy
- ❌ Zoho CRM Plus (analytics, projects) — separate products; not covered here

### Auth

- **Type:** OAuth 2.0, managed by Apideck Vault
- **Data center:** Zoho is region-sharded (US, EU, IN, AU, CN, JP). The user's data center is determined during OAuth. If writes hit a "wrong DC" error, the connection needs re-authorization.
- **API limits:** Zoho enforces per-org credit-based rate limits. Apideck backs off on 429.

### Example: list deals sorted by close date

```typescript
const { data } = await apideck.crm.opportunities.list({
  serviceId: "zoho-crm",
  sort: { by: "close_date", direction: "asc" },
});
```

## Escape hatch: Proxy API

When an endpoint isn't covered by the CRM unified API, use Apideck's Proxy to call Zoho CRM directly — Apideck injects auth headers and handles token refresh. Set `x-apideck-downstream-url` to the target endpoint on Zoho CRM's own API:

```bash
curl 'https://unify.apideck.com/proxy' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${APIDECK_API_KEY}" \
  -H "x-apideck-app-id: ${APIDECK_APP_ID}" \
  -H "x-apideck-consumer-id: ${CONSUMER_ID}" \
  -H "x-apideck-service-id: zoho-crm" \
  -H "x-apideck-downstream-url: <target endpoint on Zoho CRM>" \
  -H "x-apideck-downstream-method: GET"
```

See [Zoho CRM's API docs](https://www.zoho.com/crm/developer/docs/api/) for available endpoints.

## Sibling connectors

Other **CRM** connectors that share this unified API surface (same method signatures, just change `serviceId`):

[`odoo`](../odoo/) *(beta)*, [`salesforce`](../salesforce/), [`hubspot`](../hubspot/), [`pipedrive`](../pipedrive/), [`activecampaign`](../activecampaign/), [`close`](../close/), [`microsoft-dynamics`](../microsoft-dynamics/), [`teamleader`](../teamleader/), and 12 more.

## See also

- [CRM OpenAPI spec](https://specs.apideck.com/crm.yml) · [API Explorer](https://developers.apideck.com/api-explorer?id=crm)
- [`apideck-connector-coverage`](../../skills/apideck-connector-coverage/) — programmatic coverage checks
- [`apideck-best-practices`](../../skills/apideck-best-practices/) — architecture, Vault, pagination, error handling
- [`apideck-node`](../../skills/apideck-node/) — TypeScript / Node SDK patterns
- [Zoho CRM official docs](https://www.zoho.com/crm/developer/docs/api/)