Zoho Forms is a web application, accessed through a browser, that helps small and medium size businesses with their data entry needs

In this article, we’ll give you a quick introduction to Zoho Forms, how it works, and how you can use it to help manage your small business

(Originally published on Rocket Surgery )

The Basics

Zoho Forms is an online form builder primarily used for collecting data. This can be data from customers, vendors, members, partners, job applicants—anyone. Forms is designed to be user-friendly and is a great tool for communicating with clients and improving their overall experience by letting them schedule services or provide feedback on their service, day or night.

Zoho Forms is Flexible

But Zoho Forms can be used for a lot more than data collection! It’s also a great process management tool.

For example, Forms allows you to embed a contact form on your Wordpress, Squarespace, Shopify, or other website. And since Forms syncs natively with Zoho’s world-class CRM, every lead will instantly be captured and queued for follow-up action without you having to lift a finger.

If you’re taking applications or other types of input that require review or approval, Forms also has a native approval system. You can route data for review, collect comments from internal stakeholders, and follow-up automatically with customers or applicants via text or email, without having to open another application.

Zoho Forms also has built-in tasks functionality. You can assign and schedule jobs right from your form builder!

Zoho Forms is Modular

Zoho Forms provides small businesses with a lot of the features that are essential for any organization to function smoothly. Forms has dozens of field types in its drag-and-drop editor. Collect contact information or star ratings, generate unique IDs, use a sliding scale to solicit feedback, attach images and file uploads, and more.

You can distribute your forms via email and mobile device, and Zoho Forms also has powerful integrations with other platforms—not just the rest of the Zoho suite but also major web services like Google, Zapier, and even Bigcommerce.

Why stick with Google?

Google Forms may seem easier, but that’s because it’s not much more than electronic paper, which makes it familiar. Once data is collected in a Google Sheet, you still have to process everything manually.

Zoho Forms, on the other hand, is just as easy to use, and it makes the rest of your process a snap through its powerful functions and integrations. Forms also looks more professional, not only in its formatting and layout but especially if you configure a custom domain. Send your customers to apply.yourwebsite.com or whatever URL fits your brand.

Zoho Forms has native email notifications, and with a few clicks, you can configure an SMS gateway and interact with your customers through text messages. With Zoho Forms, you can both take and follow-up with appointments or reservations, send links, and engage your customers on a whole new level.

Forms also has robust reporting. Forget spending hours manipulating those clunky spreadsheets. With Zoho Forms, you can summarize your data with a few clicks. And it’s HIPAA-compliant, so you know your client or patient information is secure.

Switching is easier than you think. We can show you how.