Automating Business Processes using Zoho Creator

In this edition of #JustLowCodeIt, our partner A2Z Cloud, based out of Salisbury, shares how they solved their customer's problem using Zoho Creator. This blog was written by Becky Cowlan, marketing manager at A2Z Cloud, as part of the Creator Developers' Month initiative.

A2Z Cloud

Based in Salisbury, A2Z Cloud are a rapidly growing tech team who have worked with Zoho since 2008. After achieving Premium Partner status in 2017, we've had the honor of working with high-profile clients, such as ITV, Psychology Direct, and Newcross Healthcare. In 2021, A2Z Cloud were named a Global Creator Champion, a recognition of our development of low-code applications using Zoho Creator.

The company

Psychology Direct is a UK company based in Surrey that started in 2008 with a mission: to make accessing qualified psychologists quicker and easier. Whether it's working with schools to aid young people with special needs, or finding an expert witness for a legal case.

About the application

Psychology Direct approached A2Z Cloud to improve on and unify their systems, so they could focus on what's most important: getting the best support where it's needed most. What we set out to build was an application to help them manage their network of psychologists and make the process of matching them to a client more efficient.

Reducing manual work and human error

The team at Psychology Direct were experiencing issues with their system setup, due to multiple employees working manually across various systems and spreadsheets, making data prone to human error. They lacked full visibility into resource availability and customer requirements.

A closer look at the modules in the application

Associate database search

This tool was developed to search all the associate psychologists in the registered network based on criteria that fit the requirements of Psychology Direct's clients. It accounts for the qualifications and specializations of the associate, as well as their range from a target location by travel distance. We also developed an external search tool which allows clients to search anonymously and see the availability of associates directly.

Scheduling calendar

For multiple session bookings with one or more psychologists, clients prepare a requirements sheet. All attendee data can then be imported into Psychology Direct's application. Alongside this, associates access a portal to register their availability on a calendar. The team are then able to connect attendees with the appropriate associates on the calendar by availability and distance.

Billing automation

Once a session is over, associates log their time in an online portal, along with status updates and deliverables. Once requirements are met, an internal automation process generates an invoice for the organization.

How low-code solved the client's problem

Psychology Direct now has a centralized system, increasing collaboration between team members and allowing for more efficient management of associates and delivery processes.

Why Zoho Creator?

Zoho Creator allows users to create custom applications quickly and easily. With its user-friendly interface and wide range of features, Creator is an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes.

With Deluge, Zoho's programming language, you can create features that most basic, web-based, drag-and-drop solutions wouldn't be able to. Applications can be completely tailored to meet the specific needs of each business. This makes Zoho Creator a great option for businesses that need a custom application but don't want to spend months coding themselves.

Overall, we think Creator is an excellent platform that offers a high degree of flexibility and customization. Its scalability and Deluge programming language make it a great choice for businesses that require detailed applications.

Being cloud-based was a lifeline before Psychology Direct even knew they needed it. Shortly after the implementation, the coronavirus pandemic swept across the UK. With their old system, Psychology Direct may have struggled through the lockdown period, due to all systems being on-site. However, with A2Z Cloud’s help, they were able to continue business remotely, with ease.

Message to budding Zoho Creator developers

Creativity is key. There are many business problems out there, and no two businesses operate in the same way. Creativity is how you will make your mark when trying to solve the problems placed in front of you—and Creator is a great platform to express that creativity. Zoho Creator offers a low-code option that will save you time in both learning how it works as well as developing the app itself. There is no better time than now to start on your journey with low-code.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us! We'll be bringing you lots of interesting stories this month, so keep checking back to celebrate International Programmers' Day with us!