At DigiKat, we’re always on the lookout for ways to make HubSpot work harder and smarter for our clients. That’s why we’re thrilled about one of the biggest updates HubSpot has rolled out in a while: new objects and data templates! These additions are set to transform how businesses use HubSpot by expanding their data model with industry-specific templates and new objects. As HubSpot optimisation specialists, we’re excited to dive into what this means for you, how you can leverage these new features, and why this update is a game-changer for running your business more effectively.

What is an Object in HubSpot?

Before we dive into the new features, let's take a quick look at what an "object" is in HubSpot. In the HubSpot world, an object is essentially a type of record that helps you organise and track important information about your business relationships and processes. Think of it as a specific category of data that you need to manage and analyse.

For example, Contacts, Companies, Deals, and Tickets are objects in HubSpot. Each object stores data differently and has its own unique set of properties, which you can customise to fit your specific business needs. These properties help you keep track of everything from a customer's email address to a deal's closing date, making HubSpot a robust CRM platform that adapts to your business.

The Original HubSpot Objects: A Brief Overview

When HubSpot first launched as a CRM, users had access to four primary objects:

1. Contacts: The people your business interacts with, such as customers, leads, and prospects. This object allows you to track their information, communication history, and activities within your ecosystem.
2. Companies: Organisations or businesses your contacts are associated with. This object allows you to manage information about companies, such as their size, location, and industry.
3. Deals: The revenue opportunities or sales in progress. Deals help you manage your sales pipeline by tracking the progress of potential sales from initial contact to closed-won or closed-lost.
4. Tickets: Customer support requests or inquiries. Tickets help you track and manage service interactions to ensure customers receive the best support possible.

These four foundational objects have been crucial for businesses to manage their sales, marketing, and customer service operations. However, until now, any business that required a more tailored approach—think custom processes, additional data categories, or unique workflows—had to create their own custom objects, which often required considerable time and effort.

Introducing HubSpot's New Objects: Courses, Appointments, Listings, and Services

Now, HubSpot has added several new objects that drastically expand what businesses can achieve with the platform:

1. Courses: Perfect for businesses offering training, educational programs, or onboarding services.
2. Appointments: A must-have for scheduling consultations, meetings, or service calls.
3. Listings: Ideal for businesses that need to manage property listings
4. Services: Essential for managing service-based offerings, from marketing and consulting packages to maintenance schedules.

These new objects come with pre-built properties, associations, and pipeline stages that align with specific business needs in various industries. This addition simplifies the CRM setup, reduces time spent on customisation, and allows businesses to get up and running faster than ever before.

Please Note: This feature is currently in beta. You can activate it by heading to the Product Updates section in your HubSpot account. Once there, you'll be able to enable these new objects and start exploring their potential for your business!

Watch a Preview here 👇

Object Library, New Objects, Data Templates - Watch Video

Why We're Excited About These New Objects as HubSpot Optimisation Specialists

As HubSpot specialists, we’re always looking for ways to help businesses get the most out of their CRM investment. The introduction of these new objects means that we now have more tools in our arsenal to customise HubSpot in a way that aligns perfectly with our client's unique processes and goals.

No longer do businesses have to “hack” the system to repurpose standard objects or create custom objects from scratch—HubSpot has done the heavy lifting! This update makes it easier for businesses of all sizes and industries to have a CRM setup that genuinely reflects their operational needs.

From faster onboarding to more efficient data management, these new objects offer countless opportunities to streamline workflows, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Now, let's dive into the many exciting ways these new objects can be used across different industries.

Use Cases: How Different Businesses Can Leverage HubSpot's New Objects

1. Courses Object: Unleashing the Power of Learning and Development

Product Updates | HubSpot - 11 September 2024 - Watch Video

• Educational Institutions: Schools, universities, and online academies can manage their entire course catalogue within HubSpot. Track student enrolments, monitor course progress, and automate communication for schedules, assignments, or certifications. For example, a language school can manage courses by level, track student attendance, and automate emails for homework reminders or progress updates.

• Corporate Training Providers: Companies offering professional training can use the Courses object to manage different programs, track participant attendance, and issue certifications. Imagine a leadership training company that uses HubSpot to offer a series of courses, automate reminders, track participation, and issue digital certificates upon completion.

• Consulting Firms: Firms can offer specialised training courses for clients and track the participation and feedback in HubSpot. For instance, a marketing agency could create a course for clients on “SEO Basics” and use the Courses object to manage registrations, send out pre-course surveys, and automate follow-up emails with additional resources.

2. Appointments Object: Streamlining Scheduling and Time Management

• Healthcare Providers: Clinics, hospitals, and private practices can use the Appointments object to manage patient bookings, automate reminders, and streamline patient intake. Imagine a dental clinic using HubSpot to manage appointments for multiple dentists, automatically send out reminders, and reduce no-show rates.

• Real Estate Agencies: Realtors can schedule property viewings and manage appointments with buyers and sellers. They can automate follow-up emails after property viewings or consultations, ensuring timely communication. For example, an agency could use this object to manage open house events, automate invites, and send post-event feedback forms.

• Professional Services: Lawyers, accountants, and financial advisors can use the Appointments object to manage client consultations, schedule follow-ups, and streamline their entire scheduling process. Think about a law firm that uses HubSpot to book client meetings, send reminders, and follow up after consultations with relevant case information or updates.

3. Listings Object: Organising Your Real Estate

• Real Estate Firms: Real estate agencies can manage all their property listings in one place, automatically sync listings with their website, track client interest, and automate marketing campaigns for new properties. For example, a commercial real estate firm could use this object to manage all available office spaces, track inquiries, and manage leases.

4. Services Object: Enhancing Your Service Delivery and Client Management

• Marketing Agencies: Agencies can track different service offerings, manage client projects, and automate service delivery processes. For example, a digital marketing agency could use the Services object to manage SEO packages, track project milestones, and automate client communication for updates and renewals.

• IT and Software Companies: Track and manage different support services, deployments, or custom development projects. Automate service requests, escalations, and reporting to improve service delivery. Imagine a software development company using HubSpot to track customer support tickets, automate escalation procedures, and provide real-time updates to clients.

• Freelancers and Independent Contractors: Freelancers can list and manage available services, track client inquiries and projects, and automate invoicing and follow-ups for repeat business. A freelance designer, for instance, could use this object to manage all design projects, track revisions, and automate final invoice generation upon project completion.

Industry-Specific Applications of the New Objects

1. Real Estate Industry: Real estate firms can use Listings for property management, Appointments for viewing schedules, and Services to manage property maintenance offerings or concierge services.

2. Healthcare Industry: Healthcare providers can use Courses to manage health education sessions or wellness programs, Appointments to handle patient scheduling, and Services to track different service packages such as routine check-ups, diagnostics, or telemedicine consultations.

3. Education Sector: Universities and training institutions can use Courses to manage their program offerings, Appointments for faculty or advisor meetings, and Services to handle various student support services like career counselling or tutoring.

4. Event Management: Event planners can utilise Listings for event details, Appointments for vendor meetings, and Services for event packages (like photography or catering).

The Future of HubSpot Customisation is Here!

The introduction of new objects—Courses, Appointments, Listings, and Services—marks a significant milestone for HubSpot, making it more versatile and powerful than ever before. This update allows businesses to move beyond the constraints of the traditional CRM setup and unlock new ways to manage their processes more efficiently.

Whether you are in real estate, education, healthcare, or any other industry, these new objects provide tailored solutions that can help streamline your operations, improve customer experiences, and ultimately drive growth. As HubSpot optimisation specialists, we couldn’t be more excited to help businesses make the most of these new capabilities!

So, are you ready to take your HubSpot game to the next level? Let's explore how these new objects can revolutionise your business processes today!

Excited about the new possibilities? Reach out to us at DigiKat, and let’s discuss how we can tailor HubSpot’s new objects to meet your unique needs!