Catalyst by Zoho Reviews

My usual use case for Catalyst by Zoho involves a recent client from approximately two months prior who operates a business related to kiosks in the US. They ran a proper management system for those kiosks inside Zoho Creator through a custom application. They wanted a solution for their internal users and technicians to guide them to their kiosks with a map view similar to Google Maps but with their company's specific functionalities. This includes markets, zones, and all kiosks assigned to technicians. Multiple technicians can run their own check-ins and integrate AI to check if there are any faults with any kiosk.

I created two applications inside Catalyst, and both work within the same creator. One application is fully integrated with AI and allows technicians to open the camera and point it towards the kiosk. The system guides them with directions such as move left, move right, and move forward or backward, taking a picture automatically from the perfect angle. It processes the image and provides results indicating if anything is wrong with the kiosk, then submits that data into the company database for an AI summary and a proper overview of all kiosks in the zone.

The second application is the map application, which we call Pathfinder, and it is fully integrated with Google APIs for navigation and Maps API. It shows the technicians a complete map based on their login, detecting which user is logged in and displaying their market. They can choose kiosks to check in, and the application will guide them by drawing a path similar to how Google Maps navigates. Once they reach the kiosk, the second application triggers and opens the camera for submitting all the AI checks.

I find the features and capabilities of Catalyst by Zoho to be valuable, especially regarding its backend and frontend. When creating widgets inside CRM, Creator, and other areas, they usually lack backends, meaning they cannot be directly integrated with third-party applications such as AI or Google services. Therefore, deploying a website in Catalyst is a significant feature for web applications, alongside serverless functions and database schemas, which are also valuable features.

I utilize Catalyst by Zoho's Function as a Service extensively, relying on serverless functions which serve as the backend. I mostly employ them instead of the frontend, making frequent use of Advanced IO, Basic IO, and Cron jobs. Unlike Deluge in Zoho, which only supports execution up to five minutes, the functions can execute for longer periods and include delays for handling API limits, allowing for better file management and decoding.

The integration capabilities of Catalyst by Zoho with other Zoho and third-party applications are somewhat limited. Unlike other Zoho applications, Catalyst lacks built-in connections, as seen in the last update, which provides them only for specific applications. Users cannot build connections with most applications as in Zoho Flow, CRM, or Creator. Instead, authentication via tokens and API usage is required. Even with the tokens, I consider it the best tool available for integration.

I believe the areas of Catalyst by Zoho that could be improved in the future include Python support. Currently, it only supports an outdated Python version. Python 3.15 is current, but the only available version is 3.9, limiting the ability to install many libraries and deploy applications effectively.

Regarding improvements for data encryption and identity management, when building an application inside Catalyst and later integrating it with other applications, I find that it does not work well with other Zoho applications, even though they share the same organization. They do not have the same origin, and facing CORS errors while embedding them is a significant issue. The need for authenticating iframes back and forth is not ideal, making the experience less favorable.

In terms of data storage options in Catalyst by Zoho, I have not used it extensively. I have primarily utilized it for processing tokens and caching, and to that extent, I perceive it as good. However, I believe if we were entirely dependent on it, the performance might not be satisfactory.

For the stability and reliability of Catalyst by Zoho, I would rate it around eight.

I would assess Catalyst by Zoho's scalability at seven. The last update introduced improvements, but there is still plenty of room for enhancements, and although GitHub integration has been added, existing features still require improvement.

I usually participate in the initial setup and deployment of Catalyst by Zoho, and I almost handle everything involved in the process.

My usual setup process for Catalyst by Zoho involves my clients who mostly have Zoho One. For those with a completely custom idea in mind, I suggest using Catalyst by Zoho since many are not aware of it. With Zoho One, you can create a Catalyst by Zoho account without additional costs, and it integrates well with Zoho One. So far, all the functions and applications I have deployed in Catalyst by Zoho have never required extra data usage payments or credits, making the initial setup straightforward. I use the terminal for running the applications.

Regarding the pricing and licensing of Catalyst by Zoho, I understand that if you have Zoho One, your charges depend on your usage and how many credits you purchase. However, I am not aware of the specific licensing details for Catalyst by Zoho.

I have used the data encryption and identity management features of Catalyst by Zoho for authentication, but my experience has not been very satisfactory as it lacks robustness.

Initially, I build the function locally before deploying it inside Catalyst by Zoho, indicating that my customers prefer it deployed on the cloud.

While I express some complaints about certain features not working as they should, I would say generally it is reliable. If I encounter an error, I can always visit Catalyst by Zoho and understand that it will function properly. I give this product an overall rating of nine.