In a strong statement advocating India’s technological self-reliance, Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has unveiled a fully “made-in-India” Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, positioning it as a cornerstone of the country’s push toward tech sovereignty.
The announcement, made from Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, signals not just a new product launch but a broader strategic challenge to long-dominant global enterprise software companies.
At a time when digital systems underpin economic power and national autonomy, Vembu underscored that ownership of core software infrastructure is essential for any nation seeking long-term independence in the digital age.
ERP platforms form the operational core of enterprises, managing finance, supply chains, human resources, compliance, and decision-making workflows. According to Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, this makes ERP software strategically critical.
He argued that in a technology-saturated world, true sovereignty requires absolute control over core technologies, adding that indigenising ERP systems is, in his words, “absolutely vital.”
By launching a domestically developed ERP product, Zoho aims to reduce India’s dependence on foreign enterprise software providers that dominate global markets.
The launch represents a direct challenge to entrenched multinational ERP vendors that have historically controlled enterprise software across emerging markets. Rather than relying on imported platforms, Zoho’s offering seeks to provide Indian businesses with:
Localised compliance frameworks
India-specific tax and regulatory alignment
Data residency and security assurance
Cost-efficient enterprise-scale deployment
This aligns with India’s broader digital public infrastructure expansion, where domestic platforms are increasingly favoured for strategic systems.
Despite Zoho’s rising prominence — frequently cited by government ministers and industry leaders as a model Indian SaaS success story — Vembu reiterated that the company has no plans to go public.
In an interview with PTI, he said the decision is rooted in avoiding:
“quarter-to-quarter fluctuations”
“short-termism” that often affects publicly listed firms
Remaining privately held allows Zoho to pursue long innovation cycles without pressure from market expectations or shareholder-driven timelines.
A major advantage of staying private, according to Vembu, is the ability to reinvest profits into deep research and development. This philosophy is reflected in the new ERP platform, which:
Took five years to build
Draws on over 15 years of Zoho’s financial software experience
Describing Zoho as a deeply R&D-driven organisation, Vembu revealed that he personally spends around 70% of his time on research, underscoring the company’s engineering-first mindset.
Vembu emphasized that India needs more “patient” companies — organisations willing to invest over long horizons rather than chase rapid monetisation. He believes enduring innovation requires time, stability, and freedom from short-term performance pressure.
The ERP solution will initially focus on the Indian market, aligning closely with the government’s:
‘Make in India’ initiative
‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) vision
By offering a homegrown alternative for enterprise software, Zoho is positioning itself as a key contributor to India’s digital industrial base.
After establishing a strong domestic footprint, Zoho plans to scale the ERP solution globally in a phased manner, following its proven model of gradual, sustainable international expansion.
The choice of Kumbakonam — rather than a major tech hub — reflects Zoho’s long-standing belief in decentralised innovation and rural-first development. Over the years, Zoho has invested heavily in training talent outside metropolitan centres, challenging conventional Silicon Valley-style growth models.
For Vembu, this ERP launch marks the beginning of a longer journey — one aimed at ensuring that the digital infrastructure powering Indian businesses is as local and resilient as the enterprises themselves.
The launch of Zoho’s made-in-India ERP solution is more than a software milestone — it is a strategic statement on digital independence, long-term innovation, and national resilience. By prioritising patient R&D, remaining private, and aligning with India’s self-reliance agenda, Zoho is redefining how enterprise technology can be built, owned, and scaled.
As global competition intensifies around data, platforms, and digital control, Zoho’s approach highlights a distinctly Indian path — one that values sovereignty over speed and sustainability over speculation.