FAQs on Assignment Rules

FAQs on Assignment Rules

1. Which modules can assignment rules be created for?

Zoho CRM allows admins and users with the relevant permission to create assignment rules for both standard and custom modules. The modules where records frequently enter the system in bulk such as Leads, Applications, Contacts, and Deals can benefit from the use of assignment rules. 

CRM admins or users who have the permission to set assignment rules can create them for the Leads, Contacts, Accounts, Deals, Cases, Tasks, and custom modules. Assignment rules automatically allocate records to CRM users.

2. Can assignment rules be triggered for selected records only?

Yes, assignment rules can be triggered for records based on specific criteria. Criteria are used to filter out specific records from all the incoming records. For example, Deals from Pasadena, Applications from the US, or Accounts in the IT industry. Criteria-based rules ensure that the rule will only be applied to records that satisfy the criteria, and other records will be ignored.


To set the criteria:
  1. Go to Setup > Automation > Assignment rules.
  2. Click Create Assignment Rule.
  3. In the Create Assignment Rule pop-up, choose the module and enter the Rule Name.
  4. Click Next.
  5. In Apply this rule to, click Records matching certain conditions and select the Field and Value.
  6. Assign the record to either Category or User matching certain conditions.
  7. In Would you like to check user availability before assigning? check Yes or No.
  8. In Follow-up Task, select Add Task, if required. 
  9. Click Save Rule Entry.

3. Can I trigger assignment rules for records that are created manually?

No, assignment rules cannot be triggered when records are created manually. They can only be triggered when records:
  1. Are imported directly to the Leads, Contacts, Accounts, Deals, Cases, Tasks, or any custom modules
  2. Enter any of those modules through webforms
  3. Enter CRM from third-party applications through APIs
Here's a quick guide on how to set up assignment rules.
  1. Go to Setup > Automation > Assignment Rules. 
  2. Click Create Assignment Rules.
  3. In the Create Assignment Rule pop-up, choose the module and provide a rule name and description. 
  4. Click Next.
  5. Assign the record to either Category or User matching certain conditions.
  6. In Would you like to check user availability before assigning? check Yes or No.
  7. In Followup Task, select Add Task, if required. 
  8. Click Save Rule Entry.
Read more about configuring assignment rules.

4. What will happen to new records which do not meet the criteria for any of the assignment rules?

If a record does not match any of the criteria, it will be assigned to the default user.

During the assignment rule configuration, the users, roles, groups to assign the records to are entered in Rule Entry. If you select multiple users, roles, or groups, the records will be assigned in a round robin fashion. Once the conditions and the rules are framed, the tool will ask you to select a default user. A default user can be the currently logged in user or any user with the required permissions. If no default user is selected, then the records that do not meet the criteria are assigned to the logged in user.

The definition of the logged in user depends on the type of record creation:
  1. Import: The user who initiates the import.
  2. API: The user whose auth-token is used in the API.
  3. Webform: The user who created the webform rule. 
However, if that user is deactivated or deleted, the super admin is treated as the logged in user instead. 
Read more about setting assignment rules for incoming records.

5. Can I assign records based on shift hours using assignment rules?

Yes, you can assign the records based on shift hours.

Shift hours are set by your administrators in the Business Hours under the Company Details in the General Settings. Users can be associated with shift hours based on their work hours. 

If, when setting up the assignment rule you set the Would you like to check user availability before assigning?option as Yes, and choose Shift Timing, then the system will automatically assign incoming records to a user who is available based on their shift.
Read more about setting shift hours here. 

6. A user is unable to create assignment rules for the Contacts module even with the permission to create assignment rules. What should I do?

The user will be only able to create assignment rules for the modules they have access to. 
For example, if the Leads module is not enabled for the Sales Manager profile, users with that profile will not be able to create rules for the Leads module.

You must ensure the users have access to all the modules they need to create assignment rules . 
To set module permissions:
  1. Go to Setup > Users and Control > Security Control > Profiles.
  2. Select the desired profile.
Go to Module Permissions and then Basic Permissions and toggle the Contacts module on. Check that the Create permission is enabled.
      3. Verify that the Contacts module is checked under Automation > Assignment Rules to ensure that assignment rules can be created for that particular module.


7. A user is unable to set assignment rules. What should I do?

All users who have the permission to set assignment rules in their profile will be able to create a rule. To check whether the user has the required permission:
  1. Go to Setup > Users and Control > Security Control > Profiles.
  2. Select the profile the user has.
Verify that the Assignment Rules permission under Automation is toggled on. If it is not, toggle it on. The user should now be able to create an assignment rule.

8. Is it possible to rearrange the rule entries?

Yes, rule entries can be rearranged. Users with permission to configure assignment rules can reorder the rule entries. 

For example, three rule entries are created with different criteria and you want these criteria to be assessed in a specific order. If you reorder the entries, the assignment rules will automatically check the records against the rules in the order of preference and assign the records based on the first rule they qualify for.

To rearrange rule entries:

  1. Go to Setup > Automation > Assignment Rules.
  2. Select a rule and click on it.
  3. In the rule, go to Rule Entry and click Reorder. 
  4. Drag and drop the rule entry to the desired position. 
  5. Click Save. 


9. What will happen to new records which do not meet the criteria for any of the assignment rules?

If a record does not match any of the criteria, it will be assigned to the default user.

During the assignment rule configuration, the users, roles, groups to assign the records to are entered in Rule Entry. If you select multiple users, roles, or groups, the records will be assigned in a round robin fashion. Once the conditions and the rules are framed, the tool will ask you to select a default user. A default user can be the currently logged in user or any user with the required permissions. If no default user is selected, then the records that do not meet the criteria are assigned to the logged in user.

The definition of the logged in user depends on the type of record creation:
  1. Import: The user who initiates the import.
  2. API: The user whose auth-token is used in the API.
  3. Webform: The user who created the webform rule. 
However, if that user is deactivated or deleted, the super admin is treated as the logged in user instead. 
Read more about setting assignment rules for incoming records.

10. What is the order of execution when all the automation rules are configured?

If all of these automation configurations are set up, they will be executed in the following order:
Assignment Rules: Any record entering CRM must have an owner, so the assignment rules are executed first.
Review Process: If any incoming records meet the review process conditions, they must be reviewed by the authorized reviewer before they can enter the CRM system for further processing. 
Approval Process: The record will then enter the approval process based on the criteria which have been configured. 
These three processes will take place in a sequential manner. If any workflow rules are also configured, they will be triggered based on their execution criteria. 

For example, a workflow rule has been set that if the lead status is "Ready to be engaged", then a welcome email will be sent. In this case, the email will be triggered as soon as the status matches this criteria, regardless of other automations. 

The Timeline will display the order each process was executed in your CRM account.

11. Can assignment rules be triggered for records created using workflow rules?

No, you cannot apply assignment rules to records that are created through workflow rules.

The assignment rules automation only applies to records that are imported or enter CRM through webforms or from third-party applications via APIs.

There is an option during the configuration process for workflow rules to select the record owner, so these records will not also go through assignment rules. 


We hope that this list of frequently asked questions about Assignment rules is informative. If you still have questions that haven't been addressed, please let us know here. We will be happy to discuss them with our subject matter experts and add them in the future. And please don't forget to share your rating below :)

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