No-Code Entities
13. Custom Business Modules
When standard CRM entities (deals, accounts, contacts) aren’t enough, SHPI allows you to define brand-new relational modules. Create entities like "Production Jobs", "Vehicle Fleets", "Machinery Maintenance", or "Client Equipment". Custom modules automatically inherit search, sorting, filtering, and drawer editing capabilities.
Custom Module Lifecycle: Once created, custom modules appear directly in the left sidebar under the "Custom Modules" section. They can be linked to contacts, accounts, and invoices via Relation fields.
Custom Module Capabilities & Inheritance
Every custom module immediately inherits full platform features without writing code:
| Inherited Capability | Operational Value | Cross-Module Integration |
|---|---|---|
| Tabular & Card Layouts | Switch between dense table views and visual cards | Supports sorting, multi-attribute filtering, and quick search |
| Contextual Slide-Out Drawer | Edit record attributes without losing page position | Displays audit logs, attached files, and linked entity tags |
| Form Studio Intake | Build public forms that directly create custom module records | Enables client equipment registration or production job requests |
| Template Studio Merging | Generate branded work orders or job sheets from records | Prints technical specifications directly from operational data |
Custom Modules Alternatives Comparison
| Entity Modeling Dimension | SHPI Custom Modules | Salesforce Custom Objects | Airtable / Notion Databases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operational Cohesion | Fully integrated into sales pipelines, invoices, and tasks | Extremely powerful, but costs thousands in consulting fees | Flexible, but disconnected from formal quote-to-cash billing |
| Implementation Speed | Create and deploy a new module in under 3 minutes | Requires multi-week configuration and sandbox deployments | Fast setup, but lacks enterprise permissions and local speed |
| Offline Capability | Works 100% offline with background cloud synchronization | Unusable without active internet connection | Cloud-only; fails completely when working in the field |