Zoho Corp Updates Workplace Platform With An Eye To Take On Google, Microsoft

Chennai and San Francisco-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) unicorn Zoho Corp has announced updates to its single software platform Zoho Workplace, which allows organisations to create, collaborate and communicate.

The SaaS unicorn has incorporated new capabilities to its workplace platform to enhance contextual communication, continuity of processes and bring in more conveniences in running business operations. The latest features include audio or video calls from within the app, edit document attachments in Zoho Writer, meet online with contacts, and access all email accounts from within Zoho Mail.

It will also allow users to schedule recurring or one-off meetings and set multiple email reminders in 16 Indian languages from web and mobile devices. Besides this, Zoho Workplace’s cloud document management system will also feature unified search and TrueSync, which allows users to access files without worrying about hard drive space.

Besides Zoho, Google and Microsoft too offer a similar platform for digital businesses to work more efficiently and collaborate. Commenting on the updates, Zoho Corp’s CEO and cofounder Sridhar Vembu, said, “The nature of work has undeniably changed, and Workplace has grown to meet that change.”

“Collaboration platforms need to facilitate better business outcomes, not just improve productivity. Workplace, through pre-built integrations with powerful business apps and context and continuity across applications, devices, and departments, stands alone in having the vision and functionality to meet the broad business needs of today,” he added.

Zoho Corp was founded by Vembu in 1996. The company now has offices across seven countries including, US, Netherlands, Singapore, UAE, Japan, and China. The company claims to have over 45 Mn customers and employees over 7K people globally.

It has more than 40 integrated online applications aiding multiple business operations such as sales and marketing, finance, email and collaboration, information technology and help desk, human resources and custom solutions like app creator and analytics.

Since its launch almost 23 years ago, Zoho Corp has not only been bootstrapped, but has also claimed profitability since then. Zoho Corp is one of the few profitable unicorns in India. In the financial year 2019, Zoho Corp recorded INR 516 Cr in profit, representing a 26.3% hike from INR 408 Cr registered profit in FY 2018.

The company’s profit before tax and depreciation stood at INR 853 Cr, compared to INR 743 Cr in 2018. In the same time period, Zoho Corp’s operating revenue also grew by 37.1% from INR 2,412 Cr in 2018 to INR 3,308 Cr in 2019. The company generated total revenue of INR 3,410 in FY19, versus INR 2,481 Cr in FY18.