Zoho CRM does not have a single built-in toggle that automatically converts a Lead the moment it reaches a certain stage. Converting a Lead normally means opening it and clicking Convert. To make this happen automatically, you combine a Workflow Rule with a custom Deluge function that calls Zoho CRM's lead conversion capability on your behalf when a condition you define is met.

Before you start: set up your field mapping

Automatic conversion relies on Zoho CRM already knowing how your Lead fields map onto Accounts, Contacts, and Deals. Before building the automation, go to Setup, then Customization, then Modules and Fields, select Leads, open the module's settings icon, and choose Lead Conversion Mapping. Map any custom fields you use, since only correctly mapped fields carry their values across during conversion, including via workflow.

How to set up automatic conversion

1. Create a Workflow Rule. Go to Setup, then Automation, then Workflow Rules, then Create Rule.
2. Set the module and trigger. Choose Leads as the module, and Field Update as the trigger.
3. Add your criteria. Define the condition that should trigger conversion, for example Lead Status equals Qualified.
4. Attach a custom function. Add a custom function as the workflow's action, and write a Deluge script that calls the conversion capability, passing through the account, contact, and deal details you want created.
5. Save and activate the rule.

Common pitfalls

• Deal stage mismatches. Whatever Deal stage your script passes must exactly match the stage's API name in your pipeline, including capitalisation. Check this under Setup, Modules and Fields, Deals, Fields, Stage.
• Converting an already-converted Lead. A Lead cannot be converted twice. If your workflow criteria isn't tight enough, a Lead that fires the rule more than once will error out on the second attempt.
• Fields left blank. Any field not covered by your Lead Conversion Mapping, and not explicitly passed in your script, will be blank on the new records.
• Validation rules are skipped. Validation rules do not run during conversion, whether triggered manually, by workflow, or via the API, so don't rely on them to catch bad data at this step.