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Associating Contacts Using Custom Labels in Stack

Managing relationships between contacts is crucial for organizing customer data efficiently. Stack CRM's Contact Associations feature allows you to create structured connections between contacts and other entities, such as business partners, family members, and employees. This guide will help you set up and manage these associations to enhance your CRM organization.

Table of Contents​

What Are Contact Associations?​

Contact Associations in Stack CRM enable you to establish structured relationships between contacts and other objects. Instead of managing isolated profiles, associations provide clear connections between related entities, such as spouses, managers, employees, or linked objects.

Types of Association Labels​

  • Single Label: A label that applies to both contacts in the association (e.g., "Colleague").
  • Pair Labels: Distinct labels for each contact in the relationship (e.g., "Manager" and "Employee," "Buyer" and "Seller").

Key Benefits of Contact Associations​

  • Improved Contact Organization: Associations offer a structured way to manage relationships, making it easier to track connections and access relevant information in one place.
  • Streamlined Communication: By linking related contacts, you can quickly reference and reach out to connected individuals, ensuring smoother interactions and improved collaboration.
  • Enhanced Relationship Management: Whether it's family connections, business partnerships, or internal hierarchies, associations help you understand and manage relationships effectively.
  • Efficient CRM Workflow: With clear associations, you can reduce duplicate data entry, quickly update linked contacts, and maintain a well-organized CRM system.

Where to View Contact Associations​

Contact associations can be accessed in two main areas:

  • Contact Profile View: Within a contact's profile, the right-side panel contains the Associations icon, displaying related objects and linked contacts.
  • Objects Management Section: Navigate to Settings > Objects > Contacts to view an overview of all associations, enabling the creation and management of labels and relationships.

How to Create a Contact Association​

Creating associations involves a few straightforward steps:

  1. Open the Objects Section: Go to Settings > Objects, then select Contacts.
  2. Click "Create Association": Select the "+ Create Association" button to define a new relationship.
  3. Choose the Associated Object: Pick an object, such as Contacts, Surfboards, or another available entity.
  4. Select the Label Type: Decide if the relationship requires a Single Label (e.g., "Partner") or Pair Labels (e.g., "Buyer - Seller").
  5. Define the Relationship Type: Choose between Many-to-Many or Many-to-One associations.

Once an association is created, linking contacts is simple:

  1. Open a Contact Profile: Navigate to the Contacts section and select a contact's profile.
  2. Click the Association Icon: Located on the right-side panel, this provides access to association options.
  3. Add the Relationship: Click "Add," select the relevant contact, and assign an appropriate label.
  4. Confirm the Association: The linked contact appears in the Related Objects section, and the association updates both profiles automatically.

Managing and Editing Associations​

  • Editing an Existing Association: Go to Settings > Objects > Contacts, find the relevant association, and modify it using the three-dot menu (⋮).
  • Removing an Association: Within a Contact Profile, navigate to the Related Objects section, locate the associated contact, and remove the link.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Q. What is the difference between Single and Pair Labels?
Single Label: Both contacts receive the same label (e.g., "Colleague").
Pair Labels: Each contact has a distinct role in the relationship (e.g., "Manager" and "Employee").

Q. Can associations be used in automations or workflows?
Currently, associations serve as an organizational tool. Future updates may introduce automation capabilities.

Q. Can contacts be linked to custom objects?
Yes, contacts can be associated with predefined objects such as Surfboards, with additional custom object support expected in future updates.

Q. Can an association label be deleted?
Yes, but deleting a label is permanent and requires removing all linked associations first.

Q. How many associations can a single contact have?
A contact can have up to 10 associations, and one label can link up to 1000 contacts.

This feature allows you to associate multiple contacts using custom labels, especially useful for managing relationships between contacts like family members or business associates. Use the information above to streamline communication and data organization for linked contacts.