Know About Zoho, a Swadeshi Alternative To Google & Microsoft

Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister of India, recently switched to an Indian software, Zoho, The Minister for Electronics and Information Technology called it phenomenal.

In response to this positive feedback, the founder of Zoho, Sridhar Vembu, thanked and said ‘’We will make you proud and our nation proud. Jai Hind.’’

The Union Minister also motivated citizens to adhere to the swadeshi appeal of PM Modi in boosting the homegrown products and services.

 Now what is this Zoho, and how has it gained sudden attention? Today, in this blog, we will tell you all about its pivotal role in this digital era.

All About Zoho Corporation

According to the PIB India, Zoho Corporation claimed the top spot with Ping, while Ajna, a startup team, came as the second runner-up.

 Acknowledging the remarkable contributions, the winner and first and second runners-up received awards of Rs 1 crore, Rs 75 lakh, and Rs 50 lakh.

Talking about Zoho Corporation, this is a multinational technology company from India offering cloud business solutions and online tools.

It was established as AdventNet in New Jersey in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas. In 2009, it was renamed Zoho, turning its focus to the online office suite, Zoho Workplace.

Other than its headquarters in Chennai, India, Zoro Corporation had offices in 25 global locations, including Texas and Austin. According to its official website, it serves 130 million+ users.

The introduction of Zoho Corporation can be considered India's best alternative to mainstream software suites, Google Workspace and Microsoft Office 365.

What Does It Provide?

 Zoro Corporation facilitates the following services. Know what they are:

 Provides 40 integrated applications featuring Sheets, Zoho CRM for customer management, Zoho People for human resources operations, Zoho Writer, and Zoho Desk for customer service.

With the launch of its app Zoho One in 2017, the company compiled most of its applications under one integrated package.

Witnessing the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, the company is initiating investments in AI with the launch of LLMs and AI agents. It will be helpful in minimizing reliance on external technologies and enhancing efficiency.

Introduction of Vani

 Based in Chennai, Zoho Corporation announced the launch of its new visual-first platform, Vani. With its help, teams can make the best use of whiteboards, mind maps, video calls, flowcharts, and diagrams.

Vani would also benefit employees with a product roadmap, a social media campaign, and a sales pitch. Moreover, the platform simplifies the process as it draws data from spreadsheets, desktops, and drives.

The technology brings a collaboration of two major features. Spaces for canvas and zones for breaking the projects into clear phases and tasks.

Packed with a set of tools ideal for all departments on a single canvas, Vani removes hassles of complex onboarding, multiple applications, and process building.

Arattai: Is It Better Than WhatsApp ?

 The next major feature by Zoho Corporation is Arattai. Its actual meaning in Tamil is casual chat.

Launched in January four years ago as a beta “friends-and-family trial,” you can find this application on iOS, Android, and other web platforms.

In comparison to other messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Arattai ensures not only privacy and security but also an uncluttered experience.

It aims to blend global standards with an emphasis on Indian users.

With reliable messaging, a friendly interface, and complete security, Arattai has garnered much attention from privacy-conscious users.

Other genuine reasons that make Arattai stand out from other messaging apps is its strong encryption and minimal ads.

Where WhatsApp is blamed for data-sharing policies, Arattai, on the other side, adheres to Zoho’s credibility and emphasis on users’ privacy.