If you’ve been wondering how Zoho’s new Zia LLM compares to ChatGPT for real business tasks, you’re not alone. In this test, we put them side-by-side using the same CRM prompt and real-world scenario to see how they perform. Spoiler: the results might surprise you!
Setting Up the Test
The experiment took place within Zoho CRM using Smart Prompts, specifically for pre-discovery call prep. The goal: generate a summary of a client’s needs based on limited input (industry: real estate, and a vague description), plus discovery questions and relevant CRM features.
First, the prompt was fed into Zoho’s Zia LLM, and the output was collected. Then, the exact same prompt was rerun using the ChatGPT API after configuring the CRM to switch models.
Zia LLM’s Response
Zia delivered:
- High-level business needs (CRM integration, digital transformation)
- Strong discovery questions (e.g., sales process, lead management, compliance)
- Feature suggestions linked directly to Zoho CRM capabilities
Notably, Zia structured its output with clear header sections, improving readability.
Initial impression: Highly competent. Solid questions and recommendations that connected well to Zoho CRM features.
ChatGPT’s Response
ChatGPT produced:
- A very similar summary of business needs
- A slightly different angle on discovery questions, emphasizing sales pipeline and client goals
- Smooth language but slightly less structured compared to Zia’s output
Observation: Some questions differed (e.g., more focus on sales goals vs compliance), but the core ideas were largely the same.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Zia LLM | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Readability | Structured headers | Standard paragraph format |
| Focus | Compliance and internal comms | Sales pipeline and goal setting |
| Discovery Questions | Comprehensive, CRM-focused | Slightly deeper on goal-setting |
| Prompt Adaptability | Easy to refine with tweaks | Same, with prompt rephrasing |
| Overall Quality | Surprisingly strong | Expectedly high |
Key Takeaways:
- No major difference in core output — both generated highly usable insights.
- Prompt tuning could easily nudge either model’s answers toward specific preferences.
- Zia’s improvements were evident compared to earlier versions, indicating active development.
- Cost factor: If you already have Zoho CRM, Zia is included — no need for an extra ChatGPT API license for this use case.
Final Verdict
For CRM Smart Prompts like pre-discovery call preparation, Zoho Zia LLM holds its own against ChatGPT — and even outperforms slightly in usability thanks to its structured format. Unless you need complex custom agents, Zia delivers excellent value without additional cost.
If you’re using Zoho CRM, give Zia a try first before considering external AI integrations!
