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Chennai-based global technology company Zoho Corp. today made two significant product announcements at its annual user conference, Zoholics India. The company unveiled Vikra, an app for Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) merchants, and Zoho IoT, a low-code platform for developing and deploying custom IoT solutions. These announcements come in tandem with growth figures, with Zoho reporting a 31% increase in its Indian customer base in 2023. Sridhar Vembu, CEO and co-founder, Zoho Corp., highlighted the company’s focus on research and development (R&D) to drive product innovation.
“We have been steadily working on product research and development, focusing on integrating AI capabilities across our entire technology stack, along with effectively enhancing our platform through innovation and launch of new products such as Vikra and Zoho IoT. We have been steadily advancing our vision of contextual intelligence by applying AI technologies to enhance customer experience and provide deeper insights,” said Vemboo.
Zoho’s second-largest market, India, is seeing growing demand for software solutions that deliver value without unnecessary complexity, and the company is capitalizing on this trend as businesses seek efficient, scalable platforms.
Vikra
Zoho’s new seller app, Vikra, is a game changer for SMEs looking to enter the e-commerce space. Though the e-commerce market is growing, SMEs account for just 7% of India’s retail sector and are often hindered by high fees and technological hurdles on online marketplaces.
Vikra aims to bridge this gap by making it easier for small businesses to set up shop on the ONDC network, a government-backed initiative to promote open and accessible e-commerce. Vikra allows businesses to create product catalogs, manage operations, and sell via popular buyer apps like Paytm, Ola, and Snapdeal. The app offers additional support for order fulfillment, integrates with delivery partners like Delhivery, and allows sellers to seamlessly manage payments and customer queries.
“Vikra is a prime example of innovation that supports ONDC’s mission of making e-commerce accessible to all. By integrating Zoho’s advanced solutions, we are not only simplifying technology for businesses but also opening the door to a vast and inclusive digital economy. This is a step towards democratising e-commerce in India and leveraging the power of technology to enable even the smallest businesses to thrive in the digital market,” said T Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC. “With advanced tools like Vikra, even the smallest businesses can access India’s growing digital economy.”
A flexible, low-code IoT solution
Zoho also launched its IoT platform, which enables businesses to easily develop, deploy and manage IoT solutions. With pre-built vertical solutions for industries such as manufacturing, smart buildings and energy management, Zoho IoT enables businesses to leverage real-time data to streamline operations.
The platform’s AI-driven insights help companies predict system outages, monitor machine productivity, and optimize energy consumption.
