Kehinde Ogundare, the country manager for Zoho (Nigeria), shares insights into how the company is driving growth, ensuring data security, and maintaining gender balance within its workforce. 

“The economy and the environment might not be suitable for some startups, but we are committed to providing support,” says Ogundare, stressing Zoho’s focus on helping the startup community scale despite the economic downturn.

Zoho’s Growth: The Numbers Tell a Positive Story Speaking on Zoho’s growth over the years, Ogundare noted that the company has steadily climbed in a positive direction, “In 2022, Zoho grew by 50%, which led to us acquiring an additional 100 customers. In 2023, we experienced a 31% growth, which still signifies an increase.” 

He explains that Zoho’s consistent expansion reveals the growing trust in the company’s products, with more businesses integrating Zoho solutions into their operations.

Empowering Startups Through Zoho for Startups Despite the economic challenges that have forced many startups to shut down, Zoho is focused on creating a sustainable ecosystem for entrepreneurs. 

Ogundare pointed to Zoho for Startups, a programme designed to support startup communities by offering free credits for software use.

“We offer $500 in credit to help startups pay for essential services such as CRM and operations,” Ogundare explains. This allows emerging businesses to focus on innovation without the burden of operational costs in their early stages.

Unshaking Data Security Standards In a period where data breaches are a constant threat, Ogundare assertively shares Zoho’s spotless record in data security. “To the best of my knowledge, we’ve never had any case of a data breach. Data security and privacy are at the core of our business, and we spend a lot to ensure that customer data remains safe,” Ogundare says. 

He further emphasizes that Zoho is compliant with several regulatory bodies, conducting annual security and privacy training for employees to minimize risks.

Zoho School of Learning: Training for Impact Zoho’s commitment to education is seen in its Zoho School of Learning, where over 1,600 individuals have been trained, with 75 currently employed at Zoho. “We train and we employ. But everyone is free to seek opportunities anywhere they want,” Ogundare notes. 

This initiative, although currently available only in India, has highly impacted the country’s job market and has also built a pipeline of skilled professionals who can contribute to the tech industry. Ogundare affirms that Zoho is working to expand the school of learning to other countries including Nigeria, sooner than later.

Gender Balance and Inclusion at Zoho Zoho also takes gender balance seriously, with a focus on ensuring equal opportunities in its workforce. Ogundare shares that the company’s recent 43% impact on the Nigerian job market achieved a 60:40 male-to-female ratio, and globally, Ogundare asserts that “more than 67% of our managers are women.” 

Gender equality, he stresses, is a core value at Zoho, and the company strives to reflect this in every aspect of its recruitment and management practices.

Zoho Analytics: Empowering Businesses with Data Zoho Analytics, the company’s business intelligence software, is another tool designed to assist both businesses and individuals in making informed decisions. “Whether you’re an individual or a business, Zoho Analytics helps you understand your data and make better business decisions,” Kehinde Ogundare explains. 

This innovative tool ensures that users can leverage the power of data to drive growth and efficiency.

Zoho’s Vision for the Future In its continued support of the Nigerian tech industry, Zoho’s mission to empower startups, ensure data security, and promote gender balance reiterates a huge focus to building a sustainable and inclusive future. 

For businesses and individuals alike, Zoho remains a reliable partner in scaling through the complexities brought about by economic limitations.

For over 27 years, the company has continuously expanded its product offerings and global reach, while staying focused on uplifting local communities by providing affordable and accessible technology. 

Zoho’s commitment to facilitating both global and local growth has enabled it to serve over 100 million users across 150+ countries, with a strong emphasis on customer-centric development and sustainable business practices.

Kehinde Ogundare, country head for Zoho Nigeria, highlighted the company’s commendable achievements today, at the Zoholics Lagos Press Conference, sharing detailed statistics that revealed Zoho’s impact and growth over the years.

Ogundare asserted that Zoho currently employs over 15,000 people worldwide, with a presence in 150+ countries. More than 100 million users globally rely on Zoho’s diverse suite of over 55 applications to run their daily business operations. “It’s incredible to see how our software is helping businesses globally, with more than 700,000 paying customers depending on Zoho to manage their operations.”

Since 2005, the company has continued to expand its product offerings and customer base, adding new applications such as Zoho Tables in 2024. Even during the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company developed several new tools, including Zoho Console and Zoho Remotely, which allowed businesses to continue operations seamlessly in a remote environment.

Ogundare revealed that Zoho has grown its revenue 17x over the past decade, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43% globally over the last three years. “Despite the global uncertainties and economic challenges, particularly in the tech industry, Zoho’s growth has been steady. In 2023 alone, we achieved a 31% growth in Nigeria and 43% in three years,” Ogundare explained.

In Nigeria, the Zoho ecosystem has expanded commendably, with businesses increasingly relying on Zoho’s suite of tools to enhance their efficiency and performance. 

Zoho Workplace, which includes productivity tools such as Zoho Mail, WorkDrive, and Zoho Click, is the most popular product among Nigerian customers. “Zoho Workplace goes beyond being just a suite of tools, it’s an essential platform for businesses to stay connected and productive,” Ogundare noted.

Other popular products in Nigeria include Zoho One, which is described as the “operating system for your business,” allowing companies to manage various departments such as sales, human resources, and finance under one platform. Zoho CRM Plus, Zoho Books, and Zoho Desk are also widely used by Nigerian businesses, particularly in the IT, financial services, and real estate sectors.

Zoho’s growth in Nigeria is further reflected by its outstanding customer base, which includes top-tier companies like MTN and leading real estate firms. Ogundare noted the role of Zoho’s local roots in driving this success, stating, “We believe in being globally connected but locally rooted. This principle has helped us ensure trust and growth in communities like Nigeria.”

Zoho’s unique approach to business growth is also seen in its commitment to long-term employee development. More than 1,000 employees have been with the company for over a decade, and many have risen through the ranks. 

Ogundare proudly shared stories of employees who have transitioned from entry-level positions to senior roles, including a security guard who is now a developer and an IT specialist who became Zoho’s chief evangelist. “At Zoho, we invest in people. When you invest in people, they invest back into your business, helping it grow and succeed,” Ogundare said.

The innovator is driving inclusion through partnerships with She Code Africa, Heels and Tech, CodeTelligence, and many more, giving back to society and bolstering employment growth rates in the African continent. 

In 2020, Zoho’s CEO, Sridhar Vembu, introduced the concept of “transnational locality,” which emphasizes being locally rooted while leveraging global technology and culture.

This approach continues to drive Zoho’s success as it expands its footprint in local communities around the world, including Nigeria.