What is Zoho, the platform Ashwini Vaishnaw is batting for over Microsoft and Google?

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.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Electronics and IT minister wrote, “I am moving to Zoho — our own Swadeshi platform for documents, spreadsheets & presentations. I urge all to join PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s call for Swadeshi by adopting indigenous products & services.”

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His decision comes at a time when the government has been doubling down on technological self-reliance, with greater emphasis on building and adopting homegrown software, apps, and hardware.

So, what exactly is Zoho, and why does this switch matter? Here’s a closer look.

What is Zoho?

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.

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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 ads, ensuring user data stays private.

The company has also made headlines for winning an IT Ministry-sponsored challenge to develop a new web browser.

This was designed to address a long-standing gap, mainstream browsers’ reluctance to trust security certificates issued by Indian companies. While the browser hasn’t been mandated for official use yet, the win further boosted Zoho’s credibility as a serious homegrown player.

Another big draw is affordability. 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.

Recognition has followed. In 2021, CEO Sridhar Vembu received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour. As of 2024, Forbes ranks him the 39th richest person in India, with a net worth of around Rs 50,000 crore.

**Zoho CEO reacts to Vaishnaw’s endorsement
**

Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu warmly welcomed the Union Minister’s decision. Responding to the post, 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.”

Thank you Sir, this is a huge morale boost for our engineers who have worked hard for over two decades to build our product suite.

We will make you proud and make our nation proud. Jai Hind 🙏 https://t.co/QyeqBWworu

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) September 22, 2025

PM Modi’s push for Swadeshi goods

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 to the people, he encouraged citizens to buy Made in India goods, saying every purchase directly strengthens local artisans, workers, and industries.

“Every time you buy a product made by our artisans, workers, and industries, you are helping families earn their living and creating job opportunities for our youth,” he said, also calling on traders to actively promote local goods.

This year’s festive period also comes with an added push, the launch of new GST reforms from September 22, which simplify India’s tax structure into just two slabs, 5 per cent and 18 per cent.

Goods that were earlier taxed at 12 per cent will now fall into the 5 per cent bracket, while most items previously under the 28 per cent slab will move to 18 per cent. The 40 per cent compensation cess on luxury and sin goods, however, will continue.

According to PM Modi, these changes are expected to reduce household expenses, ease the burden on small businesses, and make India a more attractive destination for global investors amid tariff threats from the West.

With input from agencies