Introduction

As organizations increasingly adopt Zoho to streamline their business operations, becoming a Zoho Partner is a natural step for companies that provide implementation and consulting services. We had the same vision at DigiKAS.

Our initial assumption was simple — we would apply, submit our company details, complete a few formalities, and begin our partner journey.

Instead, we discovered that becoming a Zoho Partner is much more than registration. It involves demonstrating implementation expertise, validating technical knowledge through certifications, and continuously learning the Zoho ecosystem.

Since this was DigiKAS's first experience with the Zoho Partner Program, we found very little public information explaining the complete process. Most of our learning came through email conversations, onboarding sessions, and our own experience. This article shares that journey and the lessons we wish we had known before we started.

Why DigiKAS Became a Zoho Partner

As DigiKAS expanded its Zoho implementation services, becoming an official Zoho Partner was the next logical step. Our goals included:

• Building greater customer confidence
• Accessing partner resources and demo environments
• Delivering better implementation services
• Becoming eligible for customer tagging
• Strengthening our expertise across Zoho products
• Progressing toward becoming a Zoho One Partner

We applied through the official Zoho Partner Program, and within a few days the Zoho Partner Team contacted us to understand our implementation experience.

From Application to Partnership

Unlike many partner programs that follow a completely automated onboarding process, our journey was largely driven through email communication and follow-up discussions. Our team coordinated the complete partner registration process.

As part of the verification, Zoho requested implementation case studies showcasing our experience across multiple products, including Zoho CRM, Zoho People, Zoho Desk, Zoho Mail, Zoho Creator, and other Zoho applications.

After reviewing our submissions, Zoho scheduled our onboarding session. During onboarding we learned something that completely changed our understanding of the partner program — partner certifications were mandatory.

Until then, we had assumed our implementation experience alone would be enough. Instead, Zoho emphasized that certified consultants are essential for maintaining implementation quality across the partner ecosystem.

CRM+ Today, Zoho One Partnership Tomorrow

Our long-term goal was to become a Zoho One Partner. However, based on the implementation experience we demonstrated during verification, DigiKAS initially received CRM+ Partnership.

During onboarding, we learned that progressing toward Zoho One Partnership required expertise across multiple products, supported by certifications. That became our next milestone.

Choosing Our First Certifications

After discussing the certification roadmap with the Zoho Partner Team, we selected three certifications that aligned with our implementation experience and the products we actively work with.

• Zoho CRM Administrator
• Zoho Creator Associate Developer
• Zoho People Associate

Most learning resources were available through Zoho Spark, while Zoho Creator followed a separate learning portal. Since we were already working on these products, our preparation mainly involved revisiting documentation, previous implementations, official videos, and hands-on practice before scheduling the exams.

Registering for the Exams

One of the biggest differences we noticed was that the certification process wasn't completely self-service. After completing our preparation, DigiKAS coordinated certification registration through the Zoho Partner Team. As an onboarded partner, we also received discounted certification fees. Once payment was completed, exam access links were shared by email.

A small but important detail was that different certifications had different validity periods.

Our recommendation is simple — schedule the exam only when you're genuinely ready.

Three Certifications, Three Different Experiences

Although all three certifications belonged to the Zoho ecosystem, each followed a completely different approach.

CRM and Creator followed traditional multiple-choice examinations. The Zoho People certification, however, turned out to be an entirely different experience.

My Zoho People Certification Experience

After watching my teammates complete their certifications within an hour, I naturally expected a similar experience. Instead, I found myself attempting one of the most practical certification exams I have ever taken.

The Zoho People Associate Certification included:

• 15 Multiple Choice Questions
• 25 Practical Implementation Tasks
• 5 Descriptive Questions

Rather than selecting answers, I was required to configure real HR scenarios inside a Zoho People Enterprise demo account. Tasks included leave policy configuration, Loss of Pay (LOP) setup, attendance configuration, kiosk setup, and other HR administration scenarios. Each completed task required screenshots as evidence before submission.

Another surprise was that Zoho did not provide a temporary examination sandbox or playground. Initially, I assumed I could complete the practical tasks using a personal Zoho People trial account. However, I soon realized that several Enterprise features required for the examination — such as Learning Management System (LMS) configurations — were unavailable in the trial edition.

Fortunately, DigiKAS had already received Zoho People Enterprise demo accounts as part of our Partner onboarding benefits. These demo environments included two user licenses and supported all Enterprise features required for the certification. I switched to this demo account and completed all the practical tasks successfully.

Although challenging, every task reflected real implementation scenarios that HR administrators regularly perform. Rather than testing memory, the examination tested practical implementation skills.

Manual Evaluation — Another Surprise

Unlike CRM and Creator, submitting the Zoho People exam did not produce an immediate result. Instead, I had to share the credentials of the demo account used during the examination so the Certification Team could review my implementations. After approximately five days of evaluation, I received the successful result by email.

What We Wish We Had Known Earlier

• Partner certifications are mandatory for progressing within the Partner Program.
• Don't assume every certification follows the same examination format.
• Most products use Zoho Spark, but Zoho Creator has its own learning portal.
• Confirm exam details directly with the Certification Team if information differs.
• Practical certifications like Zoho People require an Enterprise demo account — personal trial accounts may not include the features needed.
• CRM and People exam links remain valid for only three days.
• Download your certificate and badge immediately after passing to update your Zoho Spark profile.

Comparing Our Zoho and Salesforce Certification Experiences

Having previously completed Salesforce certifications as an individual learner and Zoho certifications as part of the Zoho Partner Program, I found both experiences valuable — but quite different.

Salesforce provides a highly self-service certification experience. Learners can prepare using Trailhead, schedule exams independently, complete the required system checks, and receive results immediately after submission. Certifications and badges are automatically reflected in their Trailhead profile.

The Zoho Partner Certification journey is more collaborative. Learning resources are primarily delivered through Zoho Spark, registration is coordinated through the Partner Team, and some certifications — such as Zoho People Associate — include practical implementation tasks that require manual evaluation.

A Note of Appreciation