Beyond the conventional: The Zoho way

Hello, everyone! We hope your holiday season was filled with laughter and joy. We're excited to kick off this new year with fresh aspirations—and we have a ton of exciting updates in store for you. Now, let's recap everything we were up to last month! ??

Bidding adieu to 2023! ??

Here's a video reflecting on some of the moments that made 2023 special for us. We're always grateful for your support and hope to create an even bigger impact this year.

We helped Linked VA Service grow its workforce by 500%

It's challenging to manage an entirely remote workforce; but?Zoho People enabled Linked VA Services to streamline their day-to-day operations with automation and ensured that their employees feel connected to the organization while?expanding their workforce globally.

The Long Game

Not being on the cloud might seem okay, but it comes with invisible costs.

Whether it's the constant risk of losing data, facing collaborative challenges, or being stuck with outdated storage methods—employees are struggling in more ways than one. But they don't have to.

Embracing the cloud lets companies focus on turning their ideas into action at an accelerated pace. However, when they choose not to, they're letting competitors who've made the switch gain strong competitive advantages.

Curious about what cloud technology has to offer your business? Head here to learn more.

Humans of Zoho

This time, we have two professionals—Ramprakash and Bharathan —who've both spent 12 years with us. They're passionate about their craft and committed to continuous learning, which makes them brilliant at what they do. Head to the links to meet them both!

Employee Spotlight | A glimpse at our people and their journeys ??

Harshini Ravikumar 's five-year tenure has seen her wear various hats, from Partner account manager to a pivotal role in marketing. This month, she shares insights into her unconventional career path, her marketing approach, and the emotional connection necessary for a good campaign.

1. Tell us something about your background, Harshini. What led you to work for Zoho?

After graduation, I joined a typical software company, where Zoho was often praised for its strong culture. Intrigued, I took a shot at their interview and landed the job. In my five years at Zoho, I've worn different hats, embraced challenges, and found the journey incredibly fulfilling.

2. What is it that you do exactly? Explain what your work entails.

In 2018, I joined as a Partner account manager, onboarding chartered accountants to Zoho Finance. After a year, I transitioned into marketing, leading initiatives targeting CAs. This involved groundwork, event planning, and organizing webinars. In the past six months, I've focused on marketing payments and banking solutions within the Zoho Finance suite, collaborating with leading banks in India.

My journey at Zoho has closely aligned with the growth of the accountant program, and today, I find immense satisfaction in being part of a thriving community cultivating strong relationships with exceptional chartered accountants.

3. Have you always wanted to get into marketing?

I'm not one to meticulously plan or direct the course of my life and career. What's meant for us will find its way to us. It's about recognizing the opportunities presented and seizing them to excel.

This is precisely how my transition into marketing unfolded. After spending considerable time delving into the intricacies of working with CAs, I sensed an inner call to step up and do more based on my previous experiences.

4. What would your advice be for an aspiring marketer? Any resources that you'd recommend?

Marketing goes beyond the desk. Understanding customers is key, as it enables you to craft tailor-made, innovative campaigns. Authenticity and genuine passion are paramount in marketing—creating connections beyond transactions. While tools like ChatGPT enhance content creation, our unique human experiences set us apart, allowing us to craft compelling narratives that deeply engage with our audience on an insightful and emotional level.

5. What do you love the most about your job?

I have a genuine passion for the multifaceted role of a marketer, especially in shaping narratives and engaging directly with customers at events. The dynamic nature of marketing presents constant challenges, allowing me to exercise creativity and strategy in finding innovative solutions.

Being a marketer allows me to blend creativity, strategy, customer interaction, and adaptability, making each day uniquely challenging and rewarding.

6. What's in the works for you right now? How excited are you about it?

Transitioning to a product marketing role for a new Zoho product marks a shift in my career. While the primary responsibilities may not differ drastically from program marketing, the nuances of promoting a product offer a fresh and diverse approach.

I'm excited about the shift and the opportunity to expand my skill set and contribute to the successful launch and growth of an innovative Zoho product.

7. One work tip that you swear by.

Remember that it's the emotional hook that can transform a good campaign into an unforgettable experience for your customers.

From the horse's mouth

We utilize specialized data in finance, sales, marketing, and other domains to train our large?language models (LLMs). In this article, Ramprakash Ramamoorthy reveals the crucial approach to enhancing these models through focused specialization .

"Leveraging internal repositories of data is not only crucial to save on the costs of training these models but also crucial in order to mitigate the risk of AI biases."

-?Ramprakash Ramamoorthy, Director of AI Research, Zoho

Generative AI isn't meant to replace low-code platforms but rather to coexist and enhance the value they provide.

Bharath Kumar sheds light on some things to remember when using low-code platforms with AI capabilities.

"Low-code and generative AI will coexist and push the boundaries in delivering a simpler and faster app-building experience."

- Bharath Kumar, Head of Marketing and CX, Zoho Creator

We believe in the welfare of our employees, and this commitment has enabled us to move beyond conventional philosophies. Vijay Sundaram elaborates on how our value systems have guided our growth for over two decades.

"We're proud to say that we put our employees first."

-?Vijay Sundaram, Chief Strategy Officer, Zoho

And that's all for this edition! For more product updates, make sure to subscribe to Zoho Buzz . See you in the next one! ??