Salesforce
Zoho Contacts11 fieldsHow to import Salesforce data into Zoho Contacts
Switching from Salesforce to Zoho? This template maps your Salesforce contact export (name, email, phone, account, title, and full mailing address) to Zoho's underscored API names. Zoho requires Last Name on every contact, and Salesforce contacts always have one, so most rows import without manual fixes.
Field-by-field mapping
This is the complete column mapping from Salesforce to Zoho Contacts. The left column is the header in your CSV export. The right column is the Zoho Contacts field it should map to.
| Salesforce column | Zoho Contacts field | |
|---|---|---|
| First Name | First NameFirst_Name | |
| Last Name | Last Name*Last_Name | |
| Email TransformLowercased and trimmed | ||
| Phone | Phone TransformStandardized to international format (+1, +44, etc.) | |
| Mobile Phone | Mobile TransformStandardized to international format (+1, +44, etc.) | |
| Account Name | Account NameAccount_Name | |
| Title | Title | |
| Mailing Street | Mailing StreetMailing_Street | |
| Mailing City | Mailing CityMailing_City | |
| Mailing State | Mailing StateMailing_State | |
| Mailing Country | Mailing CountryMailing_Country |
Required by Zoho Contacts.
Columns we don't use
Your Salesforce export includes 1 column this template doesn't map. Each one below explains why, plus the workaround if you want the data in Zoho Contacts.
- Description
Zoho Contacts doesn't have a Description field on the standard layout. Zoho stores notes as separate Note records attached to the contact.
If you need it. Add a custom multi-line text field on the Zoho Contact called Imported Description, then re-run this template to map Description. Or import descriptions as a separate Note batch in Zoho after the contacts are in.
Formatting and cleanup
Salesforce exports rarely match the format Zoho Contacts expects. Fix these before you import.
- 1.Lowercases and trims email addresses
- 2.Standardizes both Phone and Mobile numbers to international format (+1, +44, etc.)
- 3.Renames Salesforce columns to Zoho's underscored API names (First_Name, Last_Name, Account_Name, Mailing_*)
- 4.Maps Salesforce Account Name to Zoho's Account_Name, which links contacts to a company record
Or skip the manual work
Operelio runs this cleanup and mapping for you. Upload your Salesforce export and download a clean, import-ready file for Zoho Contacts.
Salesforce to Zoho Contacts FAQ
How do I export Salesforce contacts?
Create a Contacts report in Salesforce with the fields you need, then click Export > CSV. You can also use Setup > Data Export for a full org export.
Are both phone numbers preserved?
Yes. Phone maps to Zoho's Phone field and Mobile Phone maps to Mobile. You keep both numbers for each contact.
Why does Account Name go to Account_Name?
Zoho uses Account_Name on the contact to link the contact to a company record (Account). If the account doesn't exist yet, Zoho creates one during import.
Can I migrate Salesforce Leads instead of Contacts?
This template maps Salesforce Contact fields. Salesforce Leads use different field names (Company is required, no Account link) and require a separate template. See Salesforce Leads to Zoho Leads.
What about custom Salesforce fields?
This template maps the 11 standard fields listed above. Custom Salesforce fields appear in the export but need manual mapping in Operelio to reach Zoho.
Will this create duplicates in Zoho?
Zoho uses email as the duplicate-check field on contacts by default. Contacts with matching emails update the existing record. You can change this in Setup, Data Administration, Deduplication.
