I recently stumbled upon something about Monday CRM that completely blew me away, and not in a good way. It’s a limitation within Monday CRM’s Core Boards that I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about before. It’s fundamental and can really impact how you use the platform. If you’re not aware of it, it can bite you down the road.
This post will cover the major Monday CRM Connect Boards limitations that impact Core CRM Boards. Understanding these limitations can save you from headaches and help you build a more effective CRM system. Want to follow along with a text version and easily search the video? And be able to ask questions and get answers/support? Then check out the clickable and searchable transcript version of this video on the free MondayWiki Community: https://community.mondaywiki.com/posts/81072511?utm_source=manual
Understanding Monday CRM Core Boards
So, what exactly are Monday CRM Core Boards? When you create a new Monday CRM account, the platform sets up a series of boards by default. These are your Core CRM Boards. They’re designed to provide a basic CRM structure right out of the box.
These boards come with pre-built connections. For example, in the “Deals” board, you’ll find a “Contacts” column. This lets you connect deals to specific contacts, creating a relationship between the boards. There are also some basic automations included. While they’re not super advanced, they offer some basic CRM functionality.
How do you tell if a board is a Core CRM board? It’s simple: look at the icon. Core CRM boards have unique icons. Regular boards, on the other hand, have a standard icon.
Monday CRM Connect Boards Limitations Affecting Core CRM Boards
While Core CRM Boards offer a quick start, they come with limitations that can hinder your CRM setup. Let’s look at the two biggest issues:
1. The Duplication and Template Issues
One of the biggest limitations is that you can’t duplicate Core CRM boards. If you hover over a regular board in the left sidebar and click the three dots, you’ll see a “duplicate” option. But for Core CRM boards, that option is missing.
But what about saving a Core CRM board as a template? Monday Support strongly advises against it. I learned this the hard way with a client who needed multiple deals boards for different regions. They needed different currencies and requirements for international customers.
I created a template from the deals board and modified it. Then I created new deals boards from that template. That’s when I ran into problems. I contacted Monday support and even spoke with a developer. They told me, “Although you can save Core CRM boards as templates, you really, really shouldn’t.” There are serious limitations that make it a bad idea.
2. Automation Restrictions and the Connect Boards Column Trap
The second major limitation is even more shocking: you can’t reliably use the default “Connect Boards” columns in automations. I know, right?
Here’s another thing: the connections in Core CRM boards are hardwired. Even if you delete the default “Connect Boards” columns, those connections still exist. And they count against your connection limits in Monday.
Key limits to keep in mind:
- 10,000: Maximum items connected to a board.
- 750: Maximum items connected to a ConnectBoard column cell.
Even deleted connect board columns count against the 10,000 connected items limit. So, even if you delete those columns, they’re still impacting your available connections.
Automation Examples and How to Deal with Connect Boards
Let’s look at some examples of how these limitations affect automations.
Match Automation: A Glimmer of Hope?
I tried to set up a match automation. The goal was to automatically connect deals to contacts based on matching email addresses. Surprisingly, I was able to use the default “Contacts” column for this.
Create and Connect Automation: The Roadblock
Next, I tried a “create and connect” automation. I wanted to create a new contact when a deal reached a certain stage and automatically connect it. This is where I hit a wall.
The system wouldn’t let me use the default “Contacts” column for this automation. I was forced to create a new “Connect Boards” column.
Default Connect Board Column vs. a Newly Created Column: What’s the Difference?
What’s the difference between the default “Connect Boards” column and a new one? Visually, the default column has a distinctive look with the “funky blue” color and icon. The new column looks like this:
The real difference is in functionality. The newly created “Connect Boards” column offers full automation capabilities. You can use it in any automation you want.
The Solution: Build Your Own Monday CRM Boards
So, what’s the solution? The best approach is to build your own boards from scratch. It gives you more flexibility and avoids the major Monday CRM Connect Boards Limitations.
What do you lose by doing this? If you’re creating a deals board from scratch, you’ll lose access to the “Deals Stages” widget and the “Funnel Chart” widget.
But those are the only two features you lose. The automation benefits far outweigh those losses. I’d recommend building your own deals board even if you only need one.
Monday CRM Core Boards: Make an Informed Decision
Core CRM boards might seem convenient at first. But their limitations can quickly become a problem.
Here’s a quick recap:
- You can’t duplicate them.
- Using them as templates is discouraged.
- They have automation restrictions.
- They impact your connection limits.
While Core CRM Boards seem convenient initially, their limitations can quickly become a bottleneck. By understanding these issues and building your own boards, you can unlock the full potential of Monday CRM and create a system that truly works for your needs.
Have you encountered these limitations with Monday CRM connect boards? Share your experiences and workarounds in the comments below!