Maximizing Zoho: Key Takeaways from Zoholics 2023 on Privacy, AI, and Automation
Zoho's annual user conference, Zoholics, took place in the company's Bay Area office on April 20th and 21st, and it was a great success! Zoho Users, Employees, and Partners were treated to an intimate and friendly environment where we could learn from Zoho experts and fellow customers, get insider tips, and even enjoy a complimentary one-on-one session with technical staff.
This was my second Zoholics, and it was just as fun as the first one back in 2016. I saw three critical themes throughout this year's conference: Privacy, AI, and Automation. This article will explore each theme and explain why they are essential.
Privacy
One of the primary concerns of businesses today is the safety and security of their data. At Zoholics, Zoho made it clear that they understand this concern and have taken steps to address it. They introduced several new features prioritizing data privacy and security, including the ability to translate from English to another language without having to copy/paste into a third party. Zoho's Translate button in Zoho Mail is noteworthy because it allows email data to stay safely within Zoho and not leave its servers.
Zoho also discussed a new and safer Captcha option. This is important because traditional Captchas can capture user data and track online activity. By implementing its Captcha, Zoho is taking the privacy and security of its users seriously.
There is no third-party tracking in any of Zoho’s systems. This means that users can have confidence that their data is not being sold or shared with other companies. All US data is stored in US data centers, an essential feature for businesses that comply with local data protection laws.
Lastly, Zoho discussed Ulaa.com, a browser that prioritizes privacy and security. Ulaa.com has several built-in features that make browsing the web easier without worrying about their data being collected or tracked.
Artificial Intellegence (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology already transforming businesses' operations. At Zoholics, Zoho demonstrated how it fully embraces AI and has integrated it throughout its suite of products. Zoho's virtual assistant, Zia, is now available across many applications, making it easier for users to complete tasks quickly and efficiently.
For example, Zoho Writer now has a ChatGPT extension that can help users improve their writing by providing suggestions and feedback. Zoho SalesIQ and ChatGPT extension will enable users to write better responses. Similarly, Zoho Cliq and ChatGPT extensions can summarize threads, making it easier for users to keep track of meaningful conversations.
Another important takeaway from Zoholics is that Zoho's AI is focused on delivering real customer value. Zoho isn’t as focused on AI model metrics but instead puts a focus on business people metrics. They are shifting from demonstrable AI to explainable AI, meaning that users can understand how the AI makes its recommendations and decisions.
Finally, Zoho's AI is built on three fundamental tenets: Experience, Privacy, and Value. This means users can expect a seamless and personalized experience while knowing their data is safe and secure. And Zoho's AI is designed to deliver value to its users, whether it's through increased productivity or improved decision-making.
Automation
Automation was another hot topic at the Zoholics conference. Zoho users learned how to use automation to streamline their operations and improve productivity. Zoho has implemented several automation features in its applications, such as customer service bots, ticket and issue management, booking optimization, and automation of operation procedures.
Role automation was also discussed, with Zoho users learning to automate marketing content creation, code and app development, business analytics and reporting, and market research.
A lot more was discussed around automation and building workflows in the CRM but that is confidential at the moment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Zoholics 2023 conference was an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn about the latest advancements in privacy, AI, and automation. Zoho's commitment to keeping customer data safe and secure was a significant focus of the conference, with several new features and tools unveiled to help users protect their privacy.
AI was another central theme of the conference, with Zoho showcasing how their built-in AI assistant Zia can help users work smarter and more efficiently across various applications. Zoho's vision for AI is centered around delivering real customer value, not just flashy AI models, and providing explainable AI that business users can easily understand and trust.
Finally, the conference highlighted the importance of automation in streamlining business operations and boosting productivity. Zoho offers a wide range of automation tools across its suite of applications, including customer service bots, ticket, issue management, and marketing content automation.
Are you ready to take your Zoho experience to the next level with the latest privacy, AI, and automation capabilities discussed at Zoholics 2023? Contact Virago Ventures now to discover how our expertise can help you streamline your operations, protect your data, and drive real business value.
Schedule a meeting with us here.