Contextual Chat

Contextual Chat allows you to start conversations with other Zoho ERP users directly from transactions, contacts, items, bank accounts, or projects. This feature is powered by Zoho Cliq, simplifying team communication and collaboration.

Using Zoho Cliq’s chat bar, you can initiate a conversation by selecting the Contextual Chat icon and adding Zoho ERP users as participants. Once created, you can discuss related records, share updates, and even make audio or video calls, all without leaving Zoho ERP, as it seamlessly connects with your Zoho Cliq contacts.

How Contextual Chat Works

Contextual Chat uses Zoho Cliq’s chat bar to facilitate chat within Zoho ERP. The chat bar will be displayed once the Zoho Cliq Chat Bar Within Zoho ERP toggle is enabled when you integrate Zoho Cliq with Zoho ERP. Users can seamlessly interact with other users through the chat bar at the bottom.

Initiate Contextual Chat

You can initiate a contextual chat from the following modules: Items, Customers, Quotes, Sales Orders, Invoices, Credit Notes, Vendors, Expenses, Purchase Orders, Bills, Vendor Credits, Bank accounts, and Projects. Users with permission to create transactions in these modules will be able to start contextual chats.

To initiate a contextual chat,

• Select a module from the module bar, for which you want to create a contextual chat (for example, Invoices).
• Select a transaction from the list.
• Click the Contextual Chat icon in the widgets pane.
• Click the New Chat button.
• Since Contextual Chat in Zoho ERP is powered by Zoho Cliq, the Zoho Cliq chat bar must be enabled to use this feature. In the following two cases, you will be prompted to enable the chat bar:
  • If the chat bar is disabled in Zoho ERP, you will see a popup to enable the chat bar. Click Enable.
  • Similarly, if you had turned off the use of Zoho Cliq chat bar in other Zoho Apps in your Zoho Cliq account, you will see a popup to enable the chat bar. Click Enable.
• After enabling the chat bar, enter a suitable Title and select the Participants from the dropdown. Only the users in Zoho ERP will be listed in the dropdown.
• Click Create.

The new chat will open in the chat bar, allowing you to start a discussion with the participants you’ve selected. You can view the list of discussions created by clicking the Contextual Chat icon or in the chat bar at the bottom. You can also share documents and images by clicking the Attachment icon in the chat.

Edit Chat’s Title or Delete Chat

To edit a chat’s title, and delete a contextual chat,

• Go to the module in which you want to edit or delete the chat (Eg. Invoices).
• Select the transaction and click the Contextual Chat icon in the widgets pane. A list of all the active discussions will be displayed.
• To edit the chat title, click the Edit icon next to the chat.
• To delete the chat, click the Delete icon next to the chat.

Add or Remove Participants in Contextual Chat

To add or remove participants in a contextual chat,

• Go to the module in which you want to edit the participants (Eg. Invoices).
• Select the transaction and click the Contextual Chat icon in the widgets pane. A list of all the active discussions will be displayed.
• To add participants, click the Participant icon next to the chat and select the participants from the dropdown.
• To remove a participant, click the Remove icon next to the participant you want to remove.

Initiate Cliq Call using Contextual Chat

Once the prerequisites are met, you will be able to initiate audio and video calls with the users of Zoho ERP directly from the chat bar.

To initiate group audio and video calls from a chat,

• Go to a Contextual Chat in which you want to initiate a group audio or video call.
• Click Actions button in the chat and then select Open in Cliq option.
• Click the Meeting icon in the top right corner of the page. Then select Start Meeting.
• Select the mode to host the meeting as Audio or Video, then click Next.
• Manage your audio/video settings and click the Start Meeting button to initiate the call.