A Bot in Zoho Cliq is an application account that behaves like a user but is controlled by code. Bots are created inside the Zoho Cliq developer console and configured with a message handler written in Deluge. When a user messages the bot directly or mentions it in a channel, the handler runs, processes the input, calls any APIs needed, and returns a response, which may include text, buttons, or structured card messages. Bots can also be scheduled to post proactive messages.
Use a Bot when you need two-way interaction in chat: querying CRM records by name, triggering approval workflows, or providing expense summaries on demand. Bots are better than webhooks when the user needs to provide input and receive a tailored response. Avoid building a bot for purely one-way notifications; an incoming webhook is simpler and sufficient for those cases.
Bot logic is written in Deluge, Zoho’s own scripting language, which has a learning curve for developers accustomed to Python or JavaScript. Bots must be explicitly added to a channel by a channel admin before they can post or respond there. Response times depend on the Deluge function execution and any external API calls, so design for potential latency. Review Zoho’s rate limits for Deluge invocations on your plan.
Zoho Cliq Bots are written in Deluge (Data Enriched Language for the Universal Grid Environment), Zoho’s proprietary scripting language. Deluge runs server-side on Zoho’s infrastructure, so there is no hosting required. It supports calling external REST APIs, manipulating data, and returning formatted response messages including buttons and card views.
Yes. A bot can be added to multiple channels and, with appropriate code logic, can post messages to several channels at once or route responses to the specific channel from which a trigger originated. Scheduling functions in Deluge also allow a bot to push proactive notifications to a predefined list of channels at set intervals.
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