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Zoho CRM

Role Hierarchy

Role Hierarchy in Zoho CRM is the tree structure of Roles that determines data visibility inheritance. Roles at a higher level in…

Role Hierarchy in Zoho CRM is the tree structure of Roles that determines data visibility inheritance. Roles at a higher level in the hierarchy automatically inherit the ability to view records owned by all roles below them. The hierarchy mirrors the organisation’s reporting structure and is the foundation of CRM record-level access control.

Configuring Role Hierarchy

The Role Hierarchy is configured in Setup and is displayed as a tree. You create roles and assign parent-child relationships to build the hierarchy. A role can have multiple child roles but only one parent role. The topmost role (typically the Administrator or CEO role) has visibility into all records in the CRM.

Role Hierarchy vs Territory Hierarchy

Role Hierarchy is based on the organisational reporting structure. Territory Hierarchy is based on geographic or segment-based divisions and is independent of the role hierarchy. A user can belong to a territory without their role changing. Territories are used to grant additional access beyond what the role hierarchy provides.

Industry Example

NBFC (Non-Banking Finance): An NBFC structures its CRM role hierarchy as: National Credit Head, Regional Credit Manager (6 regions), Branch Manager (40 branches), Loan Officer. Each Branch Manager can see all loan applications in their branch. Regional Managers see all branches in their region. The National Credit Head has visibility into the entire national portfolio for MIS reporting and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Role Hierarchy in Zoho CRM?

Role Hierarchy is the tree structure of CRM roles that controls data visibility inheritance. Users at higher levels of the hierarchy can see records owned by all users below them. It mirrors the organisation’s management reporting structure and is the primary mechanism for record-level access control.

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