How Zoho is embracing the Apple ecosystem to drive innovation in workflows

“You need to use tools that speak your language, and Apple is that tool. The hardware and software come together in beautiful, synchronous harmony,” said Rajendran Dandapani, director of technology at Zoho Corp.

Zoho, a prominent name in the software and web-based business tools sector, has integrated Apple into its work environment. Although significant progress has been made, Dandapani emphasizes that this integration has been gradual over the years.

With its extensive range of business software products used globally, Zoho’s integration of Apple’s technology demonstrates how tech companies can leverage high-quality tools to spark innovation.

Reflecting on the company’s initial encounter with Apple, Dandapani said, “I am proud to say I am the first user of the Bondi Blue iMac inside Zoho.” He noted that this initial exposure revealed Apple products as not only aesthetically pleasing but also powerful tools for development and design. Speaking to indianexpress.com, Dandapani elaborated on how integrating Apple products has transformed the organization.

Widespread Adoption and Productivity Boost
The widespread adoption of Apple within Zoho was driven by a strategic vision. Dandapani noted that the decision was also influenced by feedback suggesting that while Zoho’s software was functional, it could greatly benefit from improved design.

Integrating Apple products into Zoho’s work environment has brought tangible benefits, including increased productivity and seamless collaboration enabled by the Apple ecosystem.

Zoho believes that the tools they use shape the environment they build. The company provides Macs as an option to over 16,000 employees, enhancing productivity and talent retention. Currently, 65% of staff choose Macs, and support requests have decreased by 50% compared to PCs, saving IT resources. “We don’t track productivity by the number of hours spent or lines of code written, but by the smiles on faces, the reduced glances at watches, and the less frequent drumming on tables while waiting for something to happen. We see that happen every day,” Dandapani explained.

Apple Silicon Fuels Innovation
Dandapani revealed that a key advantage of the integration has been in software development. With the introduction of Apple Silicon, Zoho’s developers have experienced significant improvements in speed and performance. “Developers see up to 2x faster compile speeds with Apple silicon,” he said, noting that this reduction in compile times has a profound impact on the development process, enabling more rapid iterations and testing.

Discussing the speed boost, Dandapani said, “One thing that developers hate is compile time. When you hit compile or build, and all the dependencies are loaded, initiating a multi-threaded process, it breaks the flow.” By significantly reducing these interruptions, Apple silicon allows Zoho’s developers to maintain their focus and productivity.

Dandapani shared that the benefits of Apple integration extend beyond development, with the design team also benefiting from the high-quality displays and color accuracy of Apple products. “Even today, the Mac monitor reflects the correct color gradient to the truest extent,” he said, emphasizing the importance for designers seeking visual perfection.

Zoho continues to develop software for a diverse user base, despite its internal embrace of Apple products. “We are heavy users of Apple. As the numbers show, the majority of us use Apple devices… but that doesn’t mean we do not produce for a world outside Apple. In fact, the majority of our users are non-Apple users.”

Zoho Schools
Dandapani also highlighted Zoho’s commitment to quality tools in its educational initiatives. Zoho Schools of Learning, an alternative to conventional college education, aimed to provide every student with an iPad after witnessing the transformative impact of Apple for Education. “An iPad can become a second brain for a student, enabling note-taking, remote work, browsing, split-window functionality, sketching on an infinite canvas, switching to a Mac, file transfers, and interaction via FaceTime and messages,” he said.

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