| Developer(s) | ZOHO Corp. |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Any (Web-based application) |
| Type | Online office suite |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | http://www.zoho.com |
The Zoho Office Suite is a Web-based online office suite containing word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, note-taking, wikis, customer relationship management (CRM), project management, invoicing and other applications developed by ZOHO Corporation (formally AdventNet Inc.), a US-based[1][2] company.[3][4][5] It was launched in 2005 with a web-based word processor. Additional products, such as spreadsheets and presentations, were incorporated later into Zoho.[6] Zoho applications are an example of software as a service (SaaS) or cloud computing applications, whereby software utilities are hosted on remote servers rather than on personal computers. The user accesses the utilities via a web browser.
Zoho applications are free to use at the entry-level and require a fee for more extensive or professional use. For instance, free to use access is provided for 1 user for their online project management tool but since the user needs to interact with others then various pricing plans are available to incorporate additional users.
Zoho uses an open Application Programming Interface for its Writer, Sheet, Show, Creator, Meeting, and Planner products. It also has plugins into Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, an OpenOffice.org plugin, and a plugin for Firefox.
The suite's word processor supports simultaneous collaboration between multiple users. It supports common formats, including Microsoft Word (DOC), Office Open XML (DOCX), OpenDocument text (ODT), OpenOffice.org XML text (SXW), HTML, RTF, JPEG, GIF and PNG files. It can support embedded media from hosting sites, such as Flickr, Zooomr, Youtube, and Vimeo. It supports some direct blog publishing. Zoho Writer was one of the earliest online word processors to support both online and offline editing by using Google Gears.[7] The program originally relied on polling every 8 seconds, but the latest version uses real time notification from Zoho Chat. Zoho Writer comes with LaTeX based Equation Editor under 'Insert' menu, based on palette based limited graphic user interface. If not fluent in LaTeX, user can use some 3rd party Math Equation Editor software such as MathMagic or MathType. MathMagic especially offers "Copy As Zoho equation" menu to allow user Paste the equation optimized in Zoho equation format. Zoho equation(LaTeX) can also be copy and pasted into MathMagic window to re-edit.
Sheet is the spreadsheet application in the suite. Zoho Sheet can auto-process external data feeds (RSS/ATOM) and has the ability to publish charts into blogs or other websites. Like Writer, it facilitates real-time collaboration. It has a plugin to integrate with Microsoft Excel and is available both as a desktop widget and as part of online services such as box.net and Facebook.
An online business intelligence and reporting application in the suite.[8] It can "create charts, pivots, summary and other wide-range of reports through [a] powerful drag & drop interface".[8]
An online presentation program that allows users to create or (as is often the case) import Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pps), OpenDocument Presentations (.odp) or OpenOffice.org XML (.sxi) presentations. It also allows users to share & collaborate on presentations and make remote presentations to clients.
Zoho Projects supports creating tasks, assigning ownership, setting deadlines and tracking milestones; working with calendars, Gantt charts, reports, share supporting files—standard features in a project management package.The free version of the software accommodates only a single project; the paid versions have greater capacities and functionality.
Some of the features present in Zoho Projects are Task Management, Time Tracking Software, Bug Tracking Software, Project Reports, Project Calendar & Meetings, Online Project Chat, Project Wiki (Intranet) and Document Management. More importantly for software techies, Zoho Projects support HTTP APIs so that you can build customized online project tools to push or pull your project data, or if you prefer you can use their webapp for mobile phones (iphone or android).
They maintain three levels of service: Enterprise, Premium, Express.[9] Each provide access to a specific set of features and functions. There are additional fees to access: wiki (for corporate intranet), chat rooms, bug tracker add-on. Although only the Enterprise plan provides the full functionality, all plans provide access to: basic task management features, import MS and Basecamp Projects, dashboard & forums, file sharing, RSS Feeds & iCalc, portal customization, integration with Google Apps, task dependency and reports, user management, email collaboration, project webapp for mobile, calendar & meetings.
An online bug tracking application in the suite. It is designed to help quality assurance and programmers keep track of reported software bugs in their work.
ZOHO CRM offers customer relationship management functionality, procurement, inventory, and some accounting functions from the realm of ERP. The free version is limited to 3 users.
User interface similarities with the free open source vtiger CRM have sparked suggestions that ZOHO CRM might be a branded commercial version of vtiger. However, this seems to be attributable to common corporate sponsorship, not to a common software code base which ZOHO representatives have denied.[10] In addition, ZOHO CRM is a hosted SAAS solution in the same fashion as the core components of the ZOHO Office Suite, while vtiger requires server installation.
Zoho Invoice is the invoicing solution from Zoho's range of business applications. It enables users to create, send and manage invoices, track expenses, receive online payments and generate reports. For globalized trading Zoho Invoice supports multi-currency. In addition to English Zoho Invoice is available in 11 other languages including Spanish, Dutch and Chinese. Other interesting product highlights include the option to send invoices via Postal mail, recurring billing, customizable invoice templates, integration with Google's marketplace and API's for integrations.
An online database / custom application development tool which allows users to create fairly sophisticated process logic by dragging & dropping script elements on screen, without knowing code. Data can be imported from .xls, .csv, and .tsv files and create a variety of forms either from scratch or by using one of several common templates.
It supports importing the Ms Access (.mdb) files using their newly created tool. It also supports variety of export types as XLS, CSV, TSV, HTML, PDF, JSON, RSS.
Zoho Wiki is a tool that allows the user to create his/her own wiki with its own pages and sub-pages, pictures and multi-media snippets.
Create external and internal communities where problems are solved, topics are discussed and ideas are exchanged. Customer support forums where solutions come from support reps and customers alike; Ideas forums where customers can make their voices heard; Employee forums for having important conversations in a better environment.
An online planner with a calendar, to-do lists, pages, and e-mail reminders for collaboration with other users. This component competes with Microsoft Outlook, and more directly, Google Calendar, though it is criticized as it is not currently providing SMS reminders that Google Calendar and 30 Boxes are currently providing.
Similar to Microsoft OneNote or Google Notebook, it also includes greater support for multimedia content. Users may include text, images, video, and audio in a "notebook," and then share the notebook or individual pages. The component allows integration of documents, full-fledged applications, and content via RSS.[11] The content from the notebook may be uploaded or gathered from the web by using a plugin for Mozilla Firefox.
A chat application that can be embedded into pages or blogs. It also supports traditional private instant messaging integrating access to all the major chat clients.
Formerly known as Zoho Office Suite, Zoho Mail is web-based collaboration groupware. The service was renamed Zoho Mail because of the misperception that it was an integration of the other Zoho services.[12] Still in public beta, it provides services such as email, calendar, document management, task management, and contact management. Zoho Mail also integrates the Writer, Sheet, and Show components.
A web conference application, the current version requires the creator of the conference to be using Microsoft Windows, but participants can use any operating system. Zoho Meeting allows participants to see the screen of the presenter by using either ActiveX, Flash, or Java. The "Show" and "Chat" components are integrated into the meeting, and participants can control the desktop of the presenter. The Meeting Viewer can be embedded in a separate webpage or a slide from "Show". Zoho Meeting is currently free in public beta and offers live support.
On-Demand HRIS & Applicant Tracking System.
An online accounting and book keeping service.
An online document management service for storing, sharing and managing files and documents from one central location. You can upload images, music files, videos in various formats such as zip, pdf, jpeg, etc. and share them with individuals or groups.
Zoho also offers some services that are not part of the Office Suite.
Zoho Challenge is software that automates and streamlines online test creation, distribution and evaluation/scoring process. It is intended for use by schools, teachers, coaching centers and similar organizations.
Zoho Polls is a free surveying or rating tool that can be embedded in a web page or blog.
"Site24x7" is a website monitoring service that is free on a limited basis.
In October 2009, Zoho integrated some of their applications with the Google Apps online suite.[13] This enabled users to sign in to both suites under one login. Zoho and Google still remain separate, competing companies.
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