Over the years, we have worked to provide better integrations for Zoho to meet the tremendous demand - integrations that are faster and easier. We integrated with Microsoft, Google, PhoneBridge, and even Facebook and Twitter. Each one pushed the boundaries a little further.
That got us thinking.
What if we could find a way so that anyone could extend the functionality of Zoho in the direction they chose to? What if they could not only develop such integrations, but also market them to a broad customer base?
Today, we're happy to share with you that we've turned that possibility into reality with the Zoho Developer Console and the Zoho Marketplace.
The Zoho Developer Console
The Console is a space for developers to build powerful extensions and third-party integrations that add extra features to Zoho products. Because we believe progress shouldn't come at a cost, access to the Console is free and unlimited.
You can build an extension in a number of ways. Add one to Zoho CRM to alert you of opportunities that are idle in your pipeline, or one that lets you assign leads to users in a round-robin format. You can also build third-party integrations and install them in a single click. (Pre-built integrations with GoToMeeting, MailChimp, and Twilio are already available.)
One of the most exciting features of the Console is that you can develop vertical CRM systems that are industry-specific. These custom solutions can be branded, priced, and hosted in your own domain.
Zoho Developer takes away the need to re-code the same implementation each time for a different customer. Just write the common code, package it as an extension, set your own price, and publish to the Zoho Marketplace.
Zoho Marketplace
The extensions and integrations built in the Console can be published for sale in the Marketplace after we have approved them through our review process. As the developer, you have the freedom to set your price, and make your creations available for over 300,000 Zoho CRM customers who can search for, purchase, and install what they need.
Zoho Developer is the result of years of effort fueled by one realization: that having great products, awesome customer service, and a convincing cause, was not enough. What we needed was a platform to give everyone the chance to take Zoho further, and make good money.
Get in on the ground floor with the Zoho Developer Program and grow with us. At 10 years, 30 products, and 20 million+ customers, we're here to stay.
Really awesome strategy! You rock, guys, as always!
Well done Zoho. A brilliant idea. Maybe now I can get the link to my X-Cart ECommerce Platform!