Welcome to the February edition of the Zoho Africa Newsletter!

Hello LinkedIn Fam!

Get ready for your monthly dose of inspiration and excitement! We’re bringing you the latest updates straight from the heart of our tech playground.

As we bid farewell to January, this edition is packed with exciting news and captivating highlights. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of business technology, we're delighted to bring you valuable content and exclusive highlights that cater to your professional interests.

Let’s jump right in!

East Africa

Emerging tech and digital transformation

In 2024, East Africa further cemented its reputation as a continental leader in tech innovation. With the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), businesses are leveraging cutting-edge technology to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and accelerate growth.

Fintech remains a dominant force, with mobile money solutions like M-PESA leading the way and inspiring a wave of digital payment platforms that are transforming commerce in both urban and rural areas. Additionally, the growing adoption of Zoho cloud solutions by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is enabling businesses to digitise operations and scale more efficiently.

Governments across the region are also actively fostering digital transformation. Kenya has rolled out its digital ID system to enhance service delivery and security, while Rwanda’s tech hubs—particularly Kigali Innovation City—are gaining global recognition as centers of excellence. This strong focus on technology is not only empowering local startups but also attracting foreign investment, positioning East Africa as a dynamic hub for digital innovation.

East Africa’s startup ecosystem: Growth, innovation, and investment trends in 2024

The East African startup ecosystem experienced remarkable growth in 2024, with Nairobi, Kigali, and Dar es Salaam solidifying their positions as regional innovation hubs. Startups tackling critical challenges in agriculture, healthcare, and logistics secured substantial funding, reflecting strong investor confidence in locally driven solutions.

Agritech platforms, for example, are leveraging data analytics and IoT to empower farmers with real-time insights, while health-tech startups are revolutionising access to affordable healthcare across the region. The logistics sector has also seen a surge in tech-driven solutions aimed at streamlining supply chains and improving last-mile delivery.

Collaboration continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the startup landscape. Initiatives like the East Africa Startup Fund have brought together entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors to create a more cohesive and supportive innovation ecosystem. Additionally, the rise of co-working spaces and accelerator programs, particularly in Kampala and Addis Ababa, highlights the region’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial growth.

Kenya emerged as Africa’s top startup funding destination in 2024, securing $638 million of the $2.2 billion raised across the continent. This marks the second consecutive year that Kenya led in attracting investment, reinforcing its status as a thriving hub for innovation and venture capital in Africa.

Sustainability and green business trends: East Africa’s push for a greener future

Sustainability took centre stage in East Africa in 2024, with businesses and governments prioritising renewable energy and eco-friendly practices. Kenya continues to lead in geothermal energy, with new projects reinforcing its status as a clean energy pioneer. Meanwhile, Uganda and Tanzania have made significant strides in solar energy adoption, bringing electricity to off-grid communities, and reducing carbon footprints.

The private sector is also driving change. Companies across the region are embracing the circular economy by producing eco-friendly packaging, recycling materials, and minimising waste. This growing commitment to sustainability not only aligns with global environmental trends but also positions East Africa as a key player in the green economy. These efforts highlight the region’s determination to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Southern Africa

Zoho x SA20: A winning partnership in business and cricket

Zoho has been proud to serve as the official Business Technology Partner for SA20, bringing seamless technology solutions to one of the most exciting cricket tournaments. As the tournament nears its grand finale, we can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey it has been.

From thrilling matches to electrifying moments on and off the field, SA20 has delivered pure entertainment, and we’ve been honoured to be part of the action. We are deeply invested in efficiency and innovation, and it was amazing to witness how technology played a role in enhancing operations behind the scenes—just as much as the players delivered magic on the pitch.

This partnership has been more than just sponsorship; it was about powering the game with smart technology, simplifying business operations, and showcasing what’s possible when the right tools meet the right passion. Seeing teams, fans, and businesses come together for a world-class cricket spectacle has been nothing short of inspiring.

While SA20 may be coming to a close, the memories, the energy, and the connections forged will last well beyond the final ball. Here’s to a successful season, a fantastic partnership, and an even brighter future ahead!

Zoho User Group meetup: Elevate your customer experience in South Africa

The Zoho User Group (ZUG) is back, and this time, we’re bringing the excitement to Cape Town and Johannesburg! If you're looking to deepen your knowledge of Zoho, connect with industry peers, and gain valuable insights from our product experts, this is your chance.

Join us for an engaging session where you’ll:

? Network with fellow Zoho users, local partners, and product specialists.

? Discover strategies to enhance customer experiences and streamline your business operations.

? Learn best practices and tips to maximise the potential of the Zoho ecosystem.

?? Cape Town – Zoho Office ?? Date: February 18, 2025 ? Time: 9 AM–1 PM

?? Johannesburg – Conference Centre ?? Date: February 20, 2025 ? Time: 9 AM–1 PM

Don't miss this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and take your Zoho experience to the next level.

Secure your spot today and be part of the Zoho User Group community! ??

Zoho and BrainSolutions empower students in Madagascar with digital skills!

We are committed to fostering innovation and equipping the next generation with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. That’s why we are proud to partner with BrainSolutions to bring a hands-on software education initiative to Madagascar.

For the first time, 30 students from various educational institutions in Antananarivo are receiving practical training in Zoho Creator , our low-code platform that enables users to build custom applications with ease. Through this initiative, students are not only developing critical problem-solving and app-building skills but also gaining valuable exposure to real-world digital solutions that can enhance their future career prospects.

By introducing young minds to low-code development, we are helping to bridge the digital skills gap and empower future innovators in Madagascar’s growing tech ecosystem.

West Africa

Zoho Nigeria Country Head, Kehinde Ogundare , recently joined Channels TV for an insightful discussion on AI in 2025: Ethical considerations for Nigerian enterprise growth.

During the segment, he explored how businesses can harness the power of AI while addressing critical challenges such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, regulatory compliance, and the delicate balance between automation and human oversight. Ogundare emphasised the need for ethical AI adoption, stressing transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of technology to foster trust among consumers and stakeholders.

He also highlighted AI’s transformative potential in driving sustainable growth within Nigeria’s digital economy. By implementing AI-driven solutions responsibly, businesses can enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experiences, and create new opportunities for innovation, positioning Nigeria as a leader in ethical AI adoption across Africa.

Watch the full interview here:

Zoho report: Nigerian employees face app overload and productivity challenges

A recent study by Zoho, The state of productivity and collaboration in Nigeria, 2024, surveyed over 500 organizations with more than 50 employees across the country. The findings reveal that 14% of Nigerian employees use more than 10 apps daily, while 51% rely on 1 to 5 apps, and 35% use between 6 and 10 apps. App usage is significantly higher among senior executives, with 81% of C-suite employees using more than 10 apps, compared to 72% of junior employees who use between 1 and 5.

The most commonly used tools include productivity and collaboration apps (68%), followed by project management (47%), business intelligence (47%), and accounting software (43%). Despite the widespread use of multiple applications, only 50% of employees track their tasks in a unified view, with adoption rates being higher among C-suite executives (78%) and senior leadership (63%).

The study also highlights key productivity challenges. Out of the respondents, 80% cite poor Wi-Fi or data connectivity as a major barrier to effective collaboration. Other challenges include digital fatigue (54%) and information scattered across too many apps (45%). Middle managers, in particular, find communication with employees in remote or hybrid setups to be a significant hurdle.

Kehinde Ogundare noted that while Nigerian businesses have embraced various cloud tools to drive digital transformation, many of these tools lack integration with existing technology stacks. This fragmentation creates silos, impeding collaboration and leading to productivity losses. Ogundare emphasised the growing need for unified collaboration platforms with advanced AI capabilities, such as Zoho Workplace, which provides a seamless, integrated interface. By bringing contextual data to the forefront, these solutions save time and empower users to focus on what truly matters.

Read the full article here.

Case study

OmniHR Consulting has transformed its operations using Zoho! From automating learner registrations to seamlessly integrating data with Zoho Analytics, they’ve streamlined their processes and saved 85% of their time.

By leveraging Zoho’s versatile platform, OmniHR empowers people and businesses with impactful education, training, and consulting solutions. This technology lets their team focus on what truly matters—creating long-term value for clients and organisations worldwide. ??

Zoho isn’t just a suite of software tools—it’s an ecosystem driving success. Imagine what it could do for your business! ???

Product spotlight

Celebrating 20 years of Zoho CRM: A journey built on trust

Two decades ago, Zoho CRM started as a bold idea in a small Chennai office. Today, it stands as a testament to innovation, resilience, and customer trust. But our success isn't just about technology—it’s about you. Your loyalty and belief in simple, powerful, and affordable software have shaped our journey. As we mark this milestone, we remain committed to building solutions that empower businesses. Stay tuned for special initiatives to mark this milestone—we’re just getting started!

Zoho CRM's latest release: Custom AI solutions via Catalyst’s QuickML

Many businesses face challenges when trying to meet advanced AI requirements within Zoho CRM, especially when it comes to handling custom tasks and maintaining full control over their data. Previously, users had to export data to Catalyst for custom machine learning models, a time-consuming and cumbersome process. Today, we’re excited to offer a solution: the integration of Catalyst’s QuickML directly within Zoho CRM.

This new feature allows businesses to create custom AI solutions without leaving the CRM environment. By providing seamless access to QuickML, organisations can now tailor machine learning models to fit their unique needs, gain control over data cleansing and processing, and optimise algorithms efficiently. Whether it’s small businesses enhancing customer interactions or large enterprises predicting future trends, QuickML makes it easier than ever to build AI models that address specific business challenges.

This integration eliminates the hassle of data export and empowers users to create customised solutions directly in Zoho CRM. Explore more about how this new feature can enhance your Zoho CRM experience.

Experience seamless app management with Zoho Creator's hybrid deployment

Zoho Creator’s new hybrid deployment feature allows you to manage applications across cloud and on-premise environments effortlessly, with enhanced security and version control. This update streamlines processes and provides more flexibility, making app management easier than ever. Ready to take full control over your app deployment? Explore how it works.

Another key update is the simplified app association process. Now, businesses can easily link apps across multiple environments, eliminating the need for manual syncing. This update enhances efficiency, making app deployment faster and more streamlined.

Transform your ticket management with Zoho Desk’s customizable views

Zoho Desk now lets you customise ticket table views to enhance visibility and prioritize tasks efficiently. You can adjust columns to display crucial information, like ticket status or due dates, and save or share these views with your team for smoother collaboration. This streamlined approach ensures your team can tackle the most urgent tickets first, boosting overall productivity and responsiveness. Get started with custom views.

Multi WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) support in SalesIQ

We’re thrilled to announce the new Multi WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) support in SalesIQ! This powerful new update makes it easier than ever to manage multiple brands, each with its own WhatsApp Business Account (WABA), all from a single SalesIQ interface.

How it works

Before this update, you could connect only one WABA at a time with SalesIQ, which meant all your brands had to be mapped to a single WhatsApp account, often creating confusion and complexity. With multi-WABA support, each of your brands can now have its own WhatsApp Business Account and you can connect them all to SalesIQ.

This gives you full flexibility to manage your brands independently, with tailored templates, phone numbers, and settings for each one.

How it helps

• Manage multiple brands with ease: Connect and manage distinct WhatsApp Business Accounts for each of your brands, keeping everything organised and clear.
• Dedicated message templates for each brand: Create unique WhatsApp message templates for each brand and keep them organised.
• Multiple phone numbers per WABA: Add and manage multiple phone numbers under each WhatsApp Business Account to increase your reach and maintain a strong brand identity.
• Improved operational efficiency: Simplify your workflow by handling all your WhatsApp communications from one central interface, but with the clarity and organisation of separate accounts.

?

Zoho Tables now available in Zoho Flow

Exciting news! Zoho Tables is now integrated with Zoho Flow, allowing seamless connections with other Zoho and third-party apps to automate workflows and streamline operations.

With this integration, you can:

• Automate workflows to?eliminate repetitive tasks.
• Centralise data to?sync information across multiple platforms.
• Enhance collaboration by?connecting Zoho Tables with your favourite apps for better teamwork.

Easily create workflows that trigger actions in Zoho Tables based on events in other apps and vice versa. It's time to supercharge your processes and maximise efficiency!

Discover the possibilities and introduce your clients to the power of automation today.

For more details, contact us at [email protected].

Right-to-left (RTL) orientation now available in custom module templates in Zoho Books

We’ve rolled out RTL orientation support in custom module templates in Zoho Books to enhance the content display across different language layouts. Now, when editing a custom module template, you can easily switch to RTL by selecting the “Font—RTL” option, ensuring accurate formatting for languages that read from right to left.

This feature is available to organisations on the Premium plan or higher.

Discover auto RTL language detection and customisable email signatures

Zoho Mail now offers automatic RTL language detection in the compose window, ensuring smoother multilingual communication. Additionally, users can now customise email signatures for each email account for more personalised and professional messaging. These enhancements aim to simplify workflows and improve communication for diverse, global teams.

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The Zoho MEA Team