Calling Zoho Contacts Related to Accounts with PhoneBurner

✅ Summary:

This training explains how to enhance the Zoho integration with PhoneBurner by adding a custom button that allows users to call contacts related to selected accounts from the Accounts module. Instead of launching a PhoneBurner dial session for accounts, the new button launches a dial session for associated contacts.

The walkthrough includes:

• Navigating to Modules and Fields > Accounts > Buttons in Zoho.
• Creating a function-based, list/mass-action button labeled “Call Related Contacts” (or a custom name).
• Writing or copying a custom Zoho function that collects contact IDs linked to the selected accounts.
• Mapping function arguments to Zoho data using request parameters and user ID.
• Setting permissions by profile for who can access this button.
• Demonstrating how the dial session only includes contacts (not accounts), how PhoneBurner logs activities to contact records, and noting that the system limits to 200 contacts per dial session due to Zoho’s mass action constraints.

Final notes:

• Expect a short delay when launching the session due to background data processing.
• Users must ensure accounts have related contacts for the button to be effective.
• All call activities will log to the contact record, not the account.

🏷️ Tags:
Zoho integration, custom buttons, contact dialing, mass action, PhoneBurner function, Zoho CRM, Zoho buttons, contact call session, Zoho automation, CRM integration, dial session setup

📄 Cleaned-Up Transcript:

Out of the box, PhoneBurner allows you and your team to select a list of accounts and begin a PhoneBurner dial session. However, some of you may want to use filters in the Accounts module to identify specific accounts—but instead of calling the accounts themselves, you'd prefer to call the contacts related to those accounts.

In this training, I’ll show you how to do exactly that by adding a "Call Related Contacts" button to your Zoho organization. This will allow team members you choose to launch dial sessions targeted at contacts linked to selected accounts.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

From your Zoho Admin account, click the gear icon in the lower-left corner. (Note: the layout may differ slightly for some users.)

1. Go to Setup > Modules and Fields
2. Select the Accounts module
3. Click Buttons

You’ll see I already have a button called “Related Contacts.” Let’s take a quick look at it before creating a new one.

• It’s labeled “Call Related Contacts” (you can choose your own label)
• It’s a function-based button, meaning it triggers a function when clicked
• It’s a list-based button, meaning it appears when you're viewing a list of accounts
• It’s part of the mass action menu, just like the standard PhoneBurner button
• It's tied to a function called Call contact from accounts (a typo I made, but the function still works)
• It’s available to Administrators only, but you can assign access by profile

Now, let’s create a new button from scratch:

1. Click Cancel > Leave Page
2. Click Create New Button
3. Label it something like "Call Contacts Training"
4. Choose:
   • Function-based
   • List
   • Mass Action Menu
5. Click Configure Function > Choose > Write Your Own
6. Name your function (no spaces allowed)

Now, instead of writing the code from scratch, I’ll copy the function from my other button and paste it here. Don’t worry—I'll provide the code so you can do the same The Code . You’re free to use or modify it however you like.

Once the code is pasted:

1. Click Save and Associate
2. You'll see the argument mapping section

For argument mapping:

• First field:
  • Type #
  • Choose Request > Parameters
  • Click Done
• Second field:
  • Type #
  • Choose Users > User ID
  • Click Done

Click Save, and then Save and Associate again.

Next, select which profiles should have access to this button. I’ll choose Administrators, but you can pick based on your organization’s needs.

Now the button is created! If we go back to the Accounts module and select a group of accounts, you’ll see the new button: Call Contacts Training.

What Happens When You Click the Button?

When you click it, there’s a short delay while the system prepares the dial session. That’s because Zoho loops through all selected accounts (e.g., 90 records) to find and compile the contact IDs associated with them. Once complete, those IDs are sent to PhoneBurner.

In this example, only 23 contacts were added to the dial session. Why? Many of those accounts had no related contacts. But once the dial session begins, you’re dialing contacts, not accounts.

For example, if Nick Fury is one of those contacts, you’ll see he’s linked to an account like "Multiple." That’s the account Nick Fury is associated with, and he's the one being called.

Additional Notes

• This feature lets your organization start a PhoneBurner dial session from the Accounts module, targeting related contacts.
• Expect a short delay (10–15 seconds) while Zoho gathers contact IDs and sends them to PhoneBurner.
• Contact limit is 200 per session, matching Zoho's mass action limits. Even if you select 200 accounts with more than 200 contacts, only the first 200 contacts will be used.
• If that limit’s a problem, contact us—we may be able to tweak the code to accommodate your needs.

Logging and Dispositions

All call activity is logged to the contact record, not the account. So if you mark Nick Fury as "Interested," that activity is saved to his contact record, not the “Multiple” account.

If you need activity to be logged elsewhere (e.g., to the account), that would require setting up custom workflows or automation in Zoho. PhoneBurner always logs activity to the record that was actually called.

So that’s it! Now your team can select a group of accounts and launch a PhoneBurner dial session to the contacts linked to those accounts.

Thanks again—and happy dialing!