Skip to content

Require a loss reason on lost deals in Zoho CRM

The Zoho CRM AI Assistant creates a layout rule that shows a loss reason field and makes it mandatory when a deal's Stage is set to Closed Lost. It shows the rule first and creates it once you approve.

Zoho CRM AI Assistant is a Chrome extension that opens beside Zoho CRM. Tell it what you want to do in plain language, and it works with your CRM for you. Try Plus free for 14 days, then stay on Free forever.

the problem

Deals are lost and nobody says why

At the end of the quarter someone asks why deals were lost, and most closed lost deals have the reason blank. Reps skip the field because nothing asks for it. Making it mandatory for every deal would be wrong too, because it only matters once a deal is lost.

the solution

Say when the field matters, approve the rule

Name the module, the field, and the stage that should require it:

On Deals, when Stage is Closed Lost, show the Reason For Loss field and make it mandatory.

It reads the layout and the module's fields to find the exact field and stage value, and checks for an existing layout rule on Stage so it does not duplicate one. It shows the condition and the two actions: show the field, make it mandatory. When you approve, it creates the rule on the layout. Zoho makes the rule active once it is created.

From then on, a user who sets Stage to Closed Lost in the Zoho CRM form for that layout sees the field and cannot save the deal without filling it in.

  • Reads the layout, the module's fields and its existing layout rules.
  • Writes one layout rule, only after you approve.
  • Uses the module's standard layout unless you name another one.
  • Existing closed lost deals are not changed, so deals lost before the rule keep a blank reason.

Loading demo…

pricing

Start with 14 days of Plus. Stay on Free after that.

Start free without a card. Choose a paid plan to continue to checkout, with the same CRM actions and safety controls.

Plus

For reps who use the assistant every day.

5x the Free usage

$23/ month
Try Plus

14-day free trial, then billed monthly

  • 5x the Free usage
  • All supported CRM actions
  • Approval controls
  • Includes the MCP connector

Pro

For heavy daily CRM work.

25x the Free usage

$94/ month
Get Pro

Billed at signup, then monthly

  • 25x the Free usage
  • 5x the usage of Plus
  • All supported CRM actions
  • Approval controls
  • Includes the MCP connector

Max

For the heaviest CRM workloads.

125x the Free usage

$500/ month
Get Max

Billed at signup, then monthly

  • 125x the Free usage
  • 5x the usage of Pro
  • All supported CRM actions
  • Approval controls
  • Includes the MCP connector

Free

Limited weekly usage, with the same supported CRM actions and approval controls. It is where your account settles after the 14-day Plus trial.

No card, and permanent

By hand

Without the assistant

Not ready to install? Here is how to do the same thing in Zoho CRM yourself, step by step.

Need more than Max? Contact sales

without the assistant

How to do it by hand in Zoho CRM

You can do this in Zoho CRM yourself. Here are the steps.

  1. Open Zoho CRM Setup and go to the layout rules for Deals.
  2. Create a rule on the layout with Stage as the primary field.
  3. Set the condition to Closed Lost.
  4. Add the actions: show the Reason For Loss field and make it mandatory.
  5. Save the rule.

Done once, this is quick. It gets slow when each new stage or field needs its own rule and you first have to check which rules already exist.

faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it change my deals?

No. A layout rule changes the form, not the data. Existing deals keep their values, including deals already closed lost with no reason.

What does it read?

The Deals layout, the module's fields and Stage values, and the existing layout rules on Stage. If your loss reason is a custom field, name it in the request. If no such field exists yet, add it first, see Add custom fields to a Zoho CRM module.

Does it apply to every layout?

No. A layout rule belongs to one layout. It uses the standard layout unless you name another, and you can ask for the same rule on each layout your team uses.

Can it be wrong?

It can pick a different stage value or field than you meant when names are close, such as two loss reason fields. The approval names the exact field and the stage value, so check them before you approve.

Can I switch the rule off later?

Yes. It can switch a layout rule off or on, rename it, or add conditions to it, each after approval. It cannot edit or remove a condition already in the rule.

Will it work on my Zoho CRM edition?

It needs a Zoho CRM edition and user profile with API access, and it can only do what your profile is allowed to do. This use case has not been checked edition by edition yet, so write to us if you want to check yours first.

Want to ask something?

Write to the team at hello@zsetup.com.