Hi there!  Thanks for stopping by.

Here’s how to fill out the signup form for the DIY QuickBooks Online integration.  The form’s purpose is to collect some basic information, then let you create a username and password to access the integration dashboard, where you’ll be able to configure mapping from QuickBooks to Zoho by yourself.

First Name, Last Name, Company Name: Hopefully these are self-explanatory!  If not, give us a call and we’ll try to help 😉

Email: This can be any email, not necessarily your Zoho email.  We’ll use it to send you announcements, links to the integration dashboard and to other integration-related content as necessary (but not too often – don’t worry).

Select Plan: Use the drop-down menu to select the syncing plan you’d like to use.  All premium plans require entering a credit card number, but you won’t be charged until after your 15-day free trial.

Create Username: This is what you’ll use to log into the integration dashboard.  Make it something you won’t forget!

Create Password: You’ll use this not only to log into the integration dashboard, but also to authenticate the QWC file that the QuickBooks Web Connector will use to run the integration.  Again, make sure this is one you won’t easily forget!

Authentication: Just hit the blue “Connect to QBO” button and the system will authenticate your QuickBooks instance for you.

Zoho Email Address, Zoho Password: Please make sure these are the admin’s credentials.

Zoho Authentication Token: You can generate one of these by logging into your Zoho CRM, clicking the “tools” icon (the one with the two wrenches), and clicking Setup.

1. At the bottom of the middle column of options, click APIs.
2. At the right side of the screen, at the same level as the CRM APIs heading, click the gear with the arrow beside it.
3. From the drop-down menu, click Authentication Token Generation.
4. On the Browser Mode section, type something into the field you’ll be able to use to identify the authentication token later if need be.  (Something like “QuickBooks” will do.)  Click Generate.
5. On the page that follows, highlight the text that appears after “AUTHTOKEN=” and copy+paste this into the field on the integration setup page.

Sync historical data (for either annual premium customers or monthly or freemium customers who purchased the add-on): The Module options refer to the modules within Zoho you’d like to sync with QuickBooks.

1. Select the dates you’d like the integration to reach back to, then select the direction you’d like the data to flow.
2. Then, click Finish and you’ll be directed to the sign-in page.
3. Use the credentials you created at the first step to log into the integration dashboard and begin field mapping.

…Need anything else?

Give us a call: (888) 207-4111, or contact us here.

Thanks for using the DIY QuickBooks integration!

Thanks for signing up for our DIY Zoho QuickBooks Desktop integration!

We’re really excited about this DIY Zoho QuickBooks Desktop integration, mostly because it’s so easy to use once you get it going.  Here’s how to set it up once you’ve submitted your information for the first time.

1. Log into the Admin panel.  The system should have redirected you to your panel once you signed up, but if you weren’t logged in immediately, use the credentials you created when you signed up (not your Zoho credentials, but the others ones).
2. Set up your field mapping.  The first screen you’ll see will show all the Zoho and QuickBooks fields you can sync with the integration.  The system will try to guess which fields should be synced where based on field types, so be sure to go through all of them and match the appropriate fields in Zoho with the ones in QuickBooks.  Once everything looks good, click the green “Submit” button at the bottom of the screen.  Your sync preferences will be saved.
   
   • NB: If you’ve just added new custom fields to Zoho and don’t see them listed as sync options, just click the red “Sync Fields” button in upper right corner of the screen.  You should then see the new fields listed.
3. Connect the integration to your QuickBooks Web Connector.
   
   
   • In QuickBooks, select the File menu and click Update Web Services.  The system may lag for up to 30 seconds; this is normal.  If you see an error message pop up, you can also ignore that – it’s a known bug across multiple versions of QuickBooks.  Your Web Connector screen should load.
     
   • On the left side of your DIY Zoho QuickBooks integration Admin panel, click “Download QWC File.” The file should appear in your QuickBooks “Company Files” folder by default, but if it doesn’t, just run a search for its exact location using the file name that pops up on the download bar at the bottom of your browser.  The file extension should be qwc.
     
   • On your Web Connector screen in QuickBooks, click the Add an Application button.  Locate your qwc file and click Open.
   • You should see a message confirming you’re allowing our server (tom.agilityintegrations.com) access to your QuickBooks.  Click OK.
   • You’ll see another prompt asking what level of access you’ll allow the integration.  Please select the fourth option: Yes, always; allow access even if QuickBooks is not running.  This option allows us to troubleshoot if you run into any issues with your DIY Zoho QuickBooks integration.  (You can ignore the “Allow access to social security numbers and credit card numbers” checkbox.  The integration does not use this information.)  Click OK, then click Done on the dialog box that pops up afterwards.
4. Turn on the application in the Web Connector.  Find the integration application, called “Zoho-QuickBooks Integration,” in the Web Connector window.
   
   • In the field to the right, enter the password you used when you created your DIY account and click Save.
   • Check the box next to the “Zoho-QuickBooks Integration” item and click the “Update Selected” button at the top of the Web Connector window.
     
     • NB: You may get an error message because the sync can be inundated with data the first time it runs.  This is normal; just run it once more if you receive this error and the issue will resolve itself.
5. Enter some test data!  At this point, the DIY Zoho QuickBooks integration should be completely functional, but you’ll want to test it yourself.  In Zoho CRM, create a new Account with a name you’ll recognize, like “TEST ACCOUNT QB.”  Enter a phone number and address, too.
   
   • Go back to your Web Connector window and click “Update Selected” to run the integration again.
   • Confirm the test account has arrived in your QuickBooks.
6. Set your sync time interval.  Click the auto-run checkbox and set your sync interval according to your preference.  The DIY Zoho QuickBooks integration sync should run every 15 minutes at minimum, so do not enter a number greater than 15.
7. Track your synced data.  Use the “Modules” menu item on the left side of the integration Admin panel to expose the list of Zoho modules you’re syncing, and click each individual module to view a list of records the integration has synced up to that point.
   
   • NB: You can use this list to track errors, too.  If a record does not sync, it will appear in the list with “Error” in the sync status.  You’ll see a reason for the error (e.g., record name too long) in the adjacent column.
8. Annual customers only: Migrate legacy data.  The DIY Zoho QuickBooks integration is designed to sync new records that come into either QuickBooks or Zoho, but you can also use it to migrate past data into either system.  To do this:
   
   • Click your username in the upper right corner of the integration Admin panel and click “Reset Sync Date.”
   • On the next screen, select the first day you’d like the integration to sync from, click Submit.
   • Manually run the integration using the Web Connector.  Wait about a minute for the system to catch up – your old data will appear after that.

Thank you again for choosing us to supply your DIY Zoho QuickBooks integration!  Please, let us know if anything in these instructions needs clarification by calling (888) 207-4111.

Hi there!  Thanks for stopping by.

Here’s how to fill out the signup form for the DIY QuickBooks integration.  The form’s purpose is to collect some basic information, then let you create a username and password to access the integration dashboard, where you’ll be able to configure mapping from QuickBooks to Zoho by yourself.

First Name, Last Name, Company Name: Hopefully these are self-explanatory!  If not, give us a call and we’ll try to help 😉

Email: This can be any email, not necessarily your Zoho email.  We’ll use it to send you announcements, links to the integration dashboard and to other integration-related content as necessary (but not too often – don’t worry).

Select Plan: Use the drop-down menu to select the syncing plan you’d like to use.  All premium plans require entering a credit card number, but you won’t be charged until after your 15-day free trial.

Create Username: This is what you’ll use to log into the integration dashboard.  Make it something you won’t forget!

Create Password: You’ll use this not only to log into the integration dashboard, but also to authenticate the QWC file that the QuickBooks Web Connector will use to run the integration.  Again, make sure this is one you won’t easily forget!

Authentication – file path of QBW: This is the QuickBooks company file path we’ll use to connect to your QuickBooks.

1. To locate this, run a search for a file with the extension .qbw.  (Please make sure you do this from the computer your QuickBooks company file is located on, or through a remote desktop session with that computer!)
2. When you’ve found your company file (hint: it will probably include your company’s name), right-click it (or, on a Mac, enable two-button clicking before right-clicZking) and select Properties.
3. Select the Details tab, highlight the text after the File Path heading, and copy+paste that into the field.

Zoho Email Address, Zoho Password: Please make sure these are the admin’s credentials.

Zoho Authentication Token: You can generate one of these by logging into your Zoho CRM, clicking the “tools” icon (the one with the two wrenches), and clicking Setup.

1. At the bottom of the middle column of options, click APIs.
2. At the right side of the screen, at the same level as the CRM APIs heading, click the gear with the arrow beside it.
3. From the drop-down menu, click Authentication Token Generation.
4. On the Browser Mode section, type something into the field you’ll be able to use to identify the authentication token later if need be.  (Something like “QuickBooks” will do.)  Click Generate.
5. On the page that follows, highlight the text that appears after “AUTHTOKEN=” and copy+paste this into the field on the integration setup page.

Sync historical data (for either annual premium customers or monthly or freemium customers who purchased the add-on): The Module options refer to the modules within Zoho you’d like to sync with QuickBooks.

1. Select the dates you’d like the integration to reach back to, then select the direction you’d like the data to flow.
2. Then, click Finish and you’ll be directed to the sign-in page.
3. Use the credentials you created at the first step to log into the integration dashboard and begin field mapping.

…Need anything else?

Give us a call: (888) 207-4111, or contact us here.

Thanks for using the DIY QuickBooks integration!

Case Study

Until recently, most technological innovation in the restaurant industry has taken place in the kitchen. But Silicon Valley tech startup E la Carte is changing that storyline with its innovative Presto Smart Dining System(TM) for use in full-service casual restaurants.

Their Presto restaurant tablet sits right on diners’ tabletops, providing everything from eye-catching images of menu selections to instant ordering and payment processing. The system is now in use at Applebee’s, Johnny Rockets, and Outback Steakhouse restaurants, to name just a few.

More than just ‘gee whiz’ technology that’s cool and cutting edge, the results of e la Carte’s in-depth research show that restaurants actually serve more patrons (more frequent table turns), waiters earn more tips, and customers walk away happier with their experience when using the Presto tablet. It’s what the company calls a win-win-win.

“Consider all the time patrons spend waiting for the check. If you solve that pain point alone, you can help casual dining adapt to a consumer’s needs in the 21st century,” says Mike Church, E la Carte’s CMO. “The benefits are massive in scale for everyone involved – the restaurant, the server, and the customer.”

The Problem

According to Mike, E la Carte needed to reinvent their sales processes in order to expand their business into new restaurant segments. “As a company founded by engineers, our early teams didn’t have the experience of taking new leads and prospects through a structured and scalable sales funnel,” he says. “A big part of the challenge was that every lead was treated as equal – whether it was a chain of 50 restaurants or a single standalone location. We needed a system in place to ensure our leads were qualified before passing them to the sales team and allocating scarce resources.” That’s when E la Carte turned to Zoho, a lightweight and easy-to-use CRM system that could scale with this growing company.

The Shortcoming In The Plan

While Zoho was easy enough to implement on their own, mapping functionality to their unique sales funnel and lead scoring process was another challenge. The core features and standard workflow in Zoho weren’t going to cut it. Mike realized, “We needed to bring in an expert who could get it customized quickly, rather than pulling focus away from our core business and spending weeks to do it ourselves. It isn’t the best use of our time.”

The Solution

E la Carte reached out to James Converse from ZBrains to lead and manage the project. Mike says, “To really unlock the power of Zoho, we needed the guidance of someone with experience in sales, marketing, and CRM software to maximize the benefit from our investment. And James is that guy.” James points out, “Implementing, using, and even adding custom fields to Zoho CRM is easy. But mapping that functionality and workflow to your sales process and understanding how long each stage is supposed to take – those things are independent of the software and that’s where we really add value.”

2-Day Turnaround

Since E la Carte was already using and relying on Zoho, James couldn’t just rip out and replace the software and start over from scratch. Furthermore, the work had to be done really fast to avoid significant disruption to E la Carte’s business.

Mike recalls, “I would describe the project as a sprint where James and our sales and marketing teams were locked in an office for some pretty hard-hitting sessions, hammering out all the additional requirements and refining our new multi-stage sales process and functional specification for the system.”

The Result

The sales process was redesigned, and then Zoho was rebuilt and up and running again in just 2 days.

James points out that a successful CRM implementation doesn’t need to be drawn out for weeks or months and that E la Carte played a huge role in the rapid turnaround. “They came to the table prepared,” James said.  “Mike’s team is highly skilled and experienced in defining stages of the sales cycle, determining the data to collect at each stage, and identifying triggers to move the process through. They did their homework and we were able to hit the ground running as soon as I arrived.”

Just What E la Carte Ordered

E la Carte’s Zoho system now identifies and escalates qualified prospects and drives the sales process with better resource allocation and efficiency. “Now, we’re able to focus on higher quality opportunities by scoring and qualifying the leads before passing them off to a more senior salesperson,” Mike notes. “We’ve gone from chasing opportunities that, in hindsight, wouldn’t have passed muster to a more reliable strategy that has shrunk our funnel and accelerated our sales process from months to just days.”

Mike and his entire team are generous with praise for James. “James was pretty unbelievable. To find one person who understands business, marketing, and technical coding in a single package is rare. The fact that he could consult on the details of our strategy and then turn around and customize Zoho to accomplish the objective was huge in getting this done so quickly. He’s truly a sales, marketing, and CRM ninja with a get-it-done skill set.”

Do business with certified Los Angeles CRM consulting

When picking someone to do business with – especially someone to handle something as important as your CRM implementation – you want to make sure you’re employing someone you can trust.  You’ll want someone well known in their technological circle, and someone well known in their locale, too.  ZBrains is happy to be in an elite group of Los Angeles CRM consulting firms; we’re an organization you can depend on for any type of job, be it implementation, training, support, or consulting for Zoho CRM and any of its additions (apps).  Furthermore, we offer coaching in sales, reviews of business processes, as well as specialized gap analysis for your complex systems.

Why choose ZBrains over anyone else?

Surely you have a large pool of consultants to choose from in LA – what makes us better Los Angeles CRM consultants than anyone else?  We like to let our Zoho accreditation speak for itself.  As a Zoho Premium Partner and Zoho Certified Consultant, we’re one of Zoho’s trusted few when it comes to CRM implementation and consulting.  As well, we take Zoho a step further by employing a Development Team that builds custom integrations from Zoho CRM to popular platforms like QuickBooks and many others.  What’s more is we even have you covered for custom apps.  In fact, we’ve built a whole suite of ERP apps on Zoho Creator called FieldTech.  It plugs right into Zoho, and it’s only offered by us.

Put your business where you want it to be with expert coaching

Have you imagined walking into an office where everyone knew what they were supposed to do, no one wasted any time with needless or repetitive tasks, and revenue was at an all-time high as a result?  Let us take a look at your whole business in a Business Process Analysis.  In a BPA, we examine not only your workers’ respective tasks within your CRM, but your CRM’s place in your business as a whole.  From there, we recommend best practices based on your unique situation.  No two businesses are built alike; don’t trust something you read online that may not even be germane to your business.  Let one of the best Los Angeles CRM consulting firms show you exactly what you can do.

Why go with someone here in LA?

Being based in Los Angeles is almost like being in Silicon Valley; it means we keep abreast of all the latest tech happenings.  We work in downtown Pasadena with a handful of other technology-minded businesses around us.

And, it’s not just about contributing to the local economy.  Personal touches make everything better. And, what could be better than having someone assist you in setting up your CRM live and in person?  Anyone can direct you over the phone, but only a local firm can get a feel for how you work in person.  That extra bit of perception makes all the difference in offering better consulting for your business.  And, it never hurts to put faces to the names and voices you hear every day.

Call (888) 207-4111 or contact us and we’ll show you exactly what a Los Angeles CRM consulting expert can do for you and your business with service that’s absolutely personalized.