It’s been a couple of weeks since the Love Business Expo in Loughborough wrapped up, and we’re still buzzing from how smoothly and professionally the whole event was run. A huge thank you to the entire team behind the expo — you gave us the perfect platform to connect with visitors, chat with so many friendly faces, and meet the brilliant businesses exhibiting alongside us.

But let’s talk about Geoguessr.

One of the biggest draws to our stand this year was something a little different: a live Geoguessr challenge. It turned out to be a fantastic way to spark conversations, get people involved, and have a bit of fun along the way. We paired the game with Bigin Dashboards to visualise the data we collected, helping us showcase the results in real time — and giving visitors a glimpse of what’s possible with the tools we use every day.

At Target Cloud, we take this responsibility seriously. This day is not only about individual action but also about encouraging businesses to reflect on their environmental impact. Over a month ago, we had the opportunity to attend the King’s Lynn Climate Change Expo, where we connected with fellow professionals, shared ideas, and showcased how Target Cloud is actively working to reduce its carbon footprint.

During the expo, we spoke with attendees about our sustainability efforts and how we’re integrating eco-conscious practices into our operations. From reducing paper usage to embracing hybrid working models, we’re committed to making a difference—not just in how we work, but in how we lead by example.

If you didn’t get a chance to visit us at the expo, or if you’d like a refresher, we’ve published a series of blogs here on our website that dive deeper into our initiatives:

• Sustainability Dashboard – Learn how we track and measure our environmental impact.

• Paperless Office – Discover how going digital helps reduce waste and streamline operations.

• Hybrid Working – See how flexible work models contribute to lower emissions and better work-life balance.

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These resources are designed to help other businesses take actionable steps toward sustainability when using Zoho systems. Whether you're just starting your journey or looking to enhance existing efforts, we hope our insights inspire you to make climate action part of your business strategy.

Let’s celebrate today by committing to change—because every action, no matter how small, moves us closer to a greener future.

The end of 2025 has been an incredibly eventful and rewarding period at Target Cloud. Looking back, I’m genuinely grateful for how much I’ve been able to grow during my time here—not just in producing graphics and marketing materials, but in developing a broader skill set that has pushed me creatively and professionally. Being part of a team that values innovation and continuous improvement has made a huge difference in how I approach my work and the confidence I’ve gained along the way.

As we step into 2026, Target Cloud has taken a bold and exciting direction by focusing more deeply on CRM solutions for small businesses. One of the biggest milestones has been the development of our training portals for Zoho Bigin, a platform designed to simplify CRM for sole traders and small teams. Being involved in this transition has been a privilege. I’ve had the chance to contribute to the visual identity and communication around this shift, while also learning the product inside out and seeing firsthand how it can transform the way small businesses operate.

Since joining in September, I’ve also had the opportunity to attend three major events across the UK where Target showcased Bigin’s capabilities. These events have been a highlight of my journey so far—meeting business owners, hearing their challenges, and showing them how Bigin can streamline their processes has been incredibly rewarding. Not only have I used the system myself, but I’ve also been able to guide others through it, helping them understand how a simple CRM can make a real difference in their day‑to‑day operations.

As I look ahead to 2026, I’m genuinely excited about the direction Target Cloud is heading and the opportunities it brings for my own growth. With our renewed focus on supporting small businesses through Zoho Bigin, I’m looking forward to creating even more impactful marketing content, refining our training materials, and helping shape the visual identity of our new initiatives. If the past few months are anything to go by, 2026 is set to be a year full of creativity, development, and meaningful progress.

Overall, the past few months have been full of learning, collaboration, and exciting new directions. I’m proud to have played a part in Target Cloud’s growth and can’t wait to see how our focus on empowering small businesses continues to evolve throughout 2026.

As 2025 comes to a close, it’s clear this year was anything but ordinary for Bigin. Month after month, the CRM rolled out meaningful improvements designed to make small‑business operations smoother, smarter, and more connected. From automation to mobile enhancements, Bigin continued to evolve into a more capable and intuitive platform for users around the world.

2025 introduced a wide range of updates that strengthened every part of the Bigin experience:

• Booking Pages made scheduling effortless with no‑code booking links, automatic meeting creation, and seamless integration with Zoho Meeting and Zoom.

• External Record Sharing allowed businesses to share real‑time updates with customers, reducing back‑and‑forth communication and improving transparency.

• WhatsApp Automation brought smarter engagement with automated messages, richer templates, and even audio messaging for a more personal touch.

• Audit Log Filters made it easier to track specific actions and maintain clarity across your CRM.

• Zoho Flow Actions enabled cross‑app automation, letting Bigin trigger actions in tools like QuickBooks, Slack, and more.

• Email Enhancements introduced draft saving, scheduled sending, improved campaign metrics, and better spam filtering for cleaner pipelines.

• QuickBooks Online Integration brought invoicing and inventory management directly into Bigin.

• In‑built Card Scanner made capturing leads on the go effortless through the mobile app.

• LeadChain for Google Ads expanded lead capture to include Google and Click‑to‑WhatsApp ads.

• Workflow and Form Enhancements offered more control, better validation, and smarter autofill options for cleaner data and smoother processes.

• Zoho MCP Integration unlocked secure AI‑powered interactions, from drafting follow‑ups to updating records with simple prompts.

• Access Controls and Export Improvements gave users more precision over data visibility and exporting large datasets.

• Deal and Product Management Updates simplified complex deals with per‑product assignments and automatic pricing adjustments.

• Major Mobile App Upgrades brought Signals, WhatsApp Templates, Books integration, improved navigation, and even Apple Watch support — making Bigin more powerful on the go than ever.

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The momentum doesn’t stop here. Bigin is gearing up for an exciting 2026 with a strong focus on AI‑driven productivity:

• Zia Agents will introduce tools like the Reply Assistant, CrossSell Genie, and Churn Analyzer to automate communication, uncover opportunities, and analyse lost deals.

• Record Summarizer and Dashboard Assistant will help users understand data faster and build meaningful reports with ease.

• Cadences will streamline lead follow‑up with automated, structured outreach sequences.

With these upcoming features, 2026 is shaping up to be a transformative year for Bigin users.

The past few days have been an exciting shift in focus for me at Target Cloud. I’ve been getting hands‑on with Zoho Analytics, exploring how this powerful platform can help businesses measure, understand, and act on their key metrics more effectively.

What started as a bit of curiosity quickly turned into a deep dive. Working within Zoho Analytics has helped me shape some new pieces we’ll be showcasing at our events later this year. Even more valuable has been the insight into how seamlessly different Zoho applications connect — especially Zoho Forms feeding directly into Zoho Analytics to create meaningful, actionable dashboards.

There’s something energising about seeing data come to life in a way that genuinely supports better decision‑making. And I’m looking forward to sharing that journey with you.

If you’re interested in seeing what I’ve been building, make sure to join us at our events throughout the year. I’m excited to show how these tools can unlock clearer insights and smarter choices for any organisation.

Back in university, one of the most valuable lessons I learned—though not always acted on—was the importance of networking. It’s a concept that gets thrown around a lot, but its impact is real. Networking isn’t just about exchanging business cards or adding connections on LinkedIn; it’s about building relationships, sharing stories, and learning from people who’ve walked different paths and gained different insights.

Looking back, I realise I didn’t take full advantage of the opportunities around me. I was surrounded by industry professionals—guest lecturers, alumni, event speakers—who had a wealth of experience and knowledge to share. But I often hesitated to approach them, missing out on conversations that could have offered tailored advice, deeper understanding, and even future opportunities.

Now that I’ve graduated and stepped into the professional world, I’ve made it a priority to embrace networking wherever I can. Whether it’s attending local business events, joining online communities, or simply reaching out to people in my field, I’ve found that every interaction adds something valuable. It’s helped me connect with others working in business, expand my perspective, and dive deeper into tools like Zoho Bigin and the broader Zoho ecosystem.

Networking has also helped me grow more confident in sharing my own experiences. It’s a two-way street—while I learn from others, I also get to contribute my own insights and ideas. That exchange is what makes networking so powerful: it’s not just about what you gain, but what you give.

If you haven’t had the chance to meet us at an event yet, keep an eye out—we’re always sharing updates and would love to connect with you in person. Whether you’re just starting out or deep into your career, networking is one of the best investments you can make in your professional journey.

Let’s face it—manual data entry is one of the least exciting parts of any CRM workflow. Whether you're managing leads, updating contact details, or logging client interactions, typing everything out by hand can quickly become tedious. And when you're at a busy event, trying to make the most of every conversation, that time spent entering data can come at the cost of valuable networking opportunities.

As someone who regularly attends business events, I know how important it is to collect as much information as possible—without getting bogged down by admin. That’s why I’ve come to rely on one of Zoho Bigin’s most underrated features: the in-built business card scanner.

This tool is a game changer. With just a quick scan, it captures the details from a contact’s business card and automatically populates the relevant fields in your Bigin contacts module. It’s fast, efficient, and incredibly useful when you’re collecting 10–20 cards in a single event. Instead of spending hours manually entering names, phone numbers, and email addresses, I can scan a card in seconds and move straight on to the next conversation.

Of course, no scanner is perfect. Occasionally, it might misread a detail—just like we might when typing something in a rush. But Zoho Bigin makes it easy to edit any field manually, so you’re always in control of your data. The time saved far outweighs the occasional correction.

What I love most is how this feature helps me stay present and engaged at events. I’m not distracted by admin tasks or worried about losing track of contacts. I can focus on building relationships, learning from others, and sharing what I do—all while knowing my CRM is keeping up behind the scenes.

If you’re using Zoho Bigin and haven’t tried the card scanner yet, I highly recommend giving it a go. It’s a simple tool, but it’s made a huge difference in how I manage contacts and maximise my time at events. Less typing, more talking—and that’s what networking should be all about.

This morning, We made a quick trip into central Norwich for the Buy Local Norfolk networking event—and it turned out to be a fantastic opportunity to meet and connect with a wide range of small, local businesses doing great work across the county.

One standout was The Benjamin Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping young people escape homelessness. They were actively raising both funds and awareness at the event, using creative and engaging activities to draw people in. One of their highlights was a game of GeoGuessr, which Craig and I couldn’t resist trying out. Turns out, we’re both pretty good at it!

After a few rounds, I narrowly beat out Craig—he landed 137 miles off the mark, while I managed 132. Not bad for a casual competition! It was a fun way to support a meaningful cause and learn more about the foundation’s work.

The event also featured a raffle, and luck was on our side—we walked away with two great prizes: 2 bottles of wine produced here in Norfolk and someprosecco. A nice bonus to an already enjoyable morning.

Huge thanks to the organisers and everyone involved—we had a brilliant time and left feeling inspired by the passion and purpose of Norfolk’s local business community.