Multi-Select Custom Fields: A Smarter Way to Capture Data

Tired of forcing complex, real-world data into a rigid single-selection box? You know the feeling: an account is active in four different media channels, but your CRM/OMS only lets you choose one. The result is a broken system: either you resort to messy, unstructured free-text fields, or you just capture half the story.

This challenge—the limitation of single-choice fields when your business needs multi-faceted data—is a critical source of user frustration and polluted data across the media sales ecosystem. If you are experiencing this friction, it is a sign that your current platform is not built for the complexity of a modern media business.

In today’s fast-moving media and ad sales environment, data accuracy is everything. But let’s be honest—real-world data is rarely one-dimensional. Limiting users to a single option in a dropdown can oversimplify, frustrate, and ultimately create messy data.

That’s why multi-select custom fields are such a game-changer. They allow users to choose multiple predefined options when entering data, leading to more accurate, flexible, and insightful records

The core problem: You are losing accuracy and flexibility. Your data is inherently multi-faceted, but legacy systems confine you to one option. The result is user frustration and messy, unstructured data.

👉 Good news: Boostr clients already have access to this feature across Accounts, Deals, Contacts, Media Plans, and many other key object records. If you’re not a Boostr client, here’s why this feature is essential for a modern media business.

The Single-Choice Trap: Why Your Data Isn't Clean

In the fast-paced world of media, data is rarely simple. You need to track things like:

• A client's target demographics: (e.g., Millennials and Gen Z).
• A deal's channel mix: (e.g., CTV, Mobile, and Podcast).
• An account's key product interests: (e.g., Sponsorships, Native, and Programmatic).

When your system limits you to one selection, your team is forced to find workarounds, leading to three major business costs:

1. User Frustration and Half-Truths: Your users can’t accurately reflect the full reality of their data, causing them to get frustrated or skip entry entirely. 
2. The Rise of Dirty Data: To cope, teams use inconsistent free-text fields. This results in unstructured, non-standardized data that is impossible to report on or trust.
3. Clutter and Confusion: You end up creating a dozen individual fields to represent a single concept, which overcomplicates your system and adds clutter to the data entry process.

The solution is clear: you need to break free from single-choice limitations and adopt multi-select custom fields.

What Are Multi-Select Custom Fields?

Multi-select custom fields let you select more than one option in a dropdown, reflecting the true complexity of your business. Instead of forcing a “one-size-fits-all” entry, you can represent multiple attributes—whether that’s target media channels, product types, or campaign goals.

Key benefits include:

• More accurate data capture: Represent the nuance of real-world scenarios.
• Cleaner data: Eliminate free-text fields that create inconsistency.
• User satisfaction: Reduce frustration by letting people select everything that applies.

How Multi-Select Custom Fields Enable Data Standardization

A robust multi-select capability fundamentally improves data quality by promoting controlled entry and comprehensive capture.

Real-World Example: How Multi-Select Works with a Top-Tier Platform

Imagine a sales rep logging a new opportunity. Instead of choosing just “Display” as the target media channel, they can now select Display, Mobile, and Podcast simultaneously. This not only captures the full scope of the opportunity but also ensures reporting later reflects the true multi-channel strategy.

Maximize Revenue with Actionable Data

By adopting this flexible data structure, your business can:

• Improve data accuracy and completeness by finally capturing every nuance of a client relationship.
• Maximize user adoption by reducing the frustration of limited data entry options.
• Standardize data for powerful, trustworthy reporting, allowing teams to drive smarter sales focus and better alignment.

If your current OMS/CRM is limiting your ability to capture the full scope of your deals, it's time to find a platform built for the complexity of today's media landscape.

FAQs

Q: Do Boostr clients need to pay extra for this feature?
A: No. Multi-select custom fields are already included for Boostr clients.

Q: Can I use this feature on mobile?
A: Yes, end users can view and edit multi-select fields directly in the Boostr mobile app

Q: Is there a limit to how many values I can include?
A: You can configure up to 60 multi-select fields per object, with unlimited values per field

Final Takeaway

Multi-select custom fields aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re essential for capturing the complexity of modern ad sales and marketing. They help your team work smarter, clean up messy data, and ultimately drive better business outcomes.

If you’re already a Boostr client, you have this feature today. If you’re not, now’s the time to see how Boostr can streamline your operations and help you scale with confidence.

Book a demo with Boostr to see multi-select custom fields (and much more) in action.