Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has created a buzz online after announcing that he is switching to Zoho for managing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, a move aimed at promoting the use of Indian-made products.
For years, Microsoft’s Office suite has dominated as the go-to paid tool for such tasks, while Google’s online alternatives have also become extremely popular. But Vaishnaw is now urging people to look closer to home, turning attention towards India’s very own software suite.
Zoho Corporation, co-founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, is a Chennai-headquartered software-as-a-service (SaaS) company.
Over the years, it has grown into a powerhouse offering more than 80 cloud-based tools for businesses, spanning email, HR, accounting, CRM, project management, and more.
Although incorporated in the US, Zoho has always carried a strong ‘Made in India’ ethos, with much of its core operations running from rural Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi.
Today, the company clocks more than $1 billion in annual revenue and operates across multiple countries, including the US. Its products are used by over 100 million users in 150+ nations, ranging from small startups to Fortune 500 giants.
When it comes to productivity, Zoho bundles several of its tools under Zoho Workplace and Zoho Office Suite, while also offering them as standalone applications. These compete directly with heavyweights like Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace.
What sets Zoho apart is its focus on privacy. Unlike many tech giants, it doesn’t rely on advertising, ensuring user data stays private.
The company also won an IT Ministry-sponsored challenge to develop a new web browser designed to trust security certificates issued by Indian companies – a significant gap in mainstream browsers.
Affordability is another big draw for Zoho. Compared to Microsoft and Google, Zoho’s pricing is lighter on the pocket, making it especially popular with India’s small and medium-sized businesses.
In 2021, CEO Sridhar Vembu received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, recognizing his contribution to India’s technology landscape.
As of 2024, Forbes ranks him as the 39th richest person in India, with a net worth of around Rs 50,000 crore.
Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu warmly welcomed the Union Minister’s decision. Responding to the post on social media, he wrote, “Thank you Sir, this is a huge morale boost for our engineers… We will make you proud and make our nation proud. Jai Hind.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been consistently urging Indians to support homegrown products, tying it to his larger vision of building a self-reliant Viksit Bharat 2047.
In a festive-season message, he encouraged citizens to buy Made in India goods, stating that every purchase directly strengthens local artisans, workers, and industries.
This year, the launch of new GST reforms simplifies India’s tax structure into two slabs, aimed at reducing household expenses and easing the burden on small businesses.
These changes are expected to make India a more attractive destination for global investors amid tariff threats from the West.
For years, Microsoft’s Office suite has dominated as the go-to paid tool for such tasks, while Google’s online alternatives have also become extremely popular. But Vaishnaw is now urging people to look closer to home, turning attention towards India’s very own software suite.
Zoho Corporation, co-founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, is a Chennai-headquartered software-as-a-service (SaaS) company.
Over the years, it has grown into a powerhouse offering more than 80 cloud-based tools for businesses, spanning email, HR, accounting, CRM, project management, and more.
Although incorporated in the US, Zoho has always carried a strong ‘Made in India’ ethos, with much of its core operations running from rural Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi.
Today, the company clocks more than $1 billion in annual revenue and operates across multiple countries, including the US. Its products are used by over 100 million users in 150+ nations, ranging from small startups to Fortune 500 giants.
When it comes to productivity, Zoho bundles several of its tools under Zoho Workplace and Zoho Office Suite, while also offering them as standalone applications. These compete directly with heavyweights like Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace.
What sets Zoho apart is its focus on privacy. Unlike many tech giants, it doesn’t rely on advertising, ensuring user data stays private.
The company also won an IT Ministry-sponsored challenge to develop a new web browser designed to trust security certificates issued by Indian companies – a significant gap in mainstream browsers.
Affordability is another big draw for Zoho. Compared to Microsoft and Google, Zoho’s pricing is lighter on the pocket, making it especially popular with India’s small and medium-sized businesses.
In 2021, CEO Sridhar Vembu received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, recognizing his contribution to India’s technology landscape.
As of 2024, Forbes ranks him as the 39th richest person in India, with a net worth of around Rs 50,000 crore.
Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu warmly welcomed the Union Minister’s decision. Responding to the post on social media, he wrote, “Thank you Sir, this is a huge morale boost for our engineers… We will make you proud and make our nation proud. Jai Hind.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been consistently urging Indians to support homegrown products, tying it to his larger vision of building a self-reliant Viksit Bharat 2047.
In a festive-season message, he encouraged citizens to buy Made in India goods, stating that every purchase directly strengthens local artisans, workers, and industries.
This year, the launch of new GST reforms simplifies India’s tax structure into two slabs, aimed at reducing household expenses and easing the burden on small businesses.
These changes are expected to make India a more attractive destination for global investors amid tariff threats from the West.
Read the original article at Firstpost.