Enhance team collaboration with Zoho WorkDrive: Book your free demo today

×
Skip to product menu
close
  • Recent Launches
    Press Space or Enter to display list of options
EXPLORE ALL PRODUCTS

Recent Launches

New

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Try now
New

Robotic process automation software to automate high-volume, rule-based tasks.

Try for free
New

Low-code IoT platform and solutions for connected businesses.

Try now
New

Business formation service to launch and grow your businesses.

Try now
New

Privacy-friendly application analytics solution.

Try for free

Sales

 
CRM

Comprehensive CRM platform for customer-facing teams.

CRM
 
Bigin

Simple CRM for small businesses moving from spreadsheets.

Bigin
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
RouteIQ

Comprehensive sales map visualization and optimal route planning solution.

RouteIQ
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
Suites
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

CRM Plus

Marketing

 
Social

All-in-one social media management software.

Social
 
Campaigns

Create, send, and track targeted email campaigns that drive sales.

Campaigns
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
Survey

Design surveys to reach and interact with your audience.

Survey
 
Sites

Online website builder with extensive customisation options.

Sites
 
PageSense

Website conversion optimization and personalisation platform.

PageSense
 
Backstage

End-to-end event management software.

Backstage
 
Webinar

Webinar platform for webcasting online webinars.

Webinar
 
Marketing Automation

All-in-one marketing automation software.

Marketing Automation
 
LandingPage

Smart landing page builder to increase conversion rates

LandingPage
 
Publish

Manage all your local business listings on a single platform.

Publish
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
NEW
LeadChain

Sync, manage, and convert leads across channels seamlessly.

LeadChain
 
NEW
CommunitySpaces

Online community platform for individuals and businesses to grow their network and brand.

CommunitySpaces
 
Suites
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Marketing Plus

Commerce and POS

 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce

Service

 
Desk

Helpdesk software to deliver great customer support.

Desk
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
FSM

End-to-end field service management platform for service businesses.

FSM
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Suites
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Service Plus

Finance

 
Books

Powerful accounting platform for growing businesses.

Books
 
FREE
Invoice

100% Free invoicing solution.

Invoice
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Inventory

Powerful stock management and inventory control software.

Inventory
 
Billing

End-to-end billing solution for your business.

Billing
 
Checkout

Collect payments online with custom branded pages.

Checkout
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Practice

Practice management software for accounting firms.

Practice
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce
 
Suites
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Finance Plus

Email and Collaboration

 
Mail

Secure email service for teams of all sizes.

Mail
 
Meeting

Online meeting software for all your video conferencing & webinar needs.

Meeting
 
Writer

Word processor for focused writing and discussions.

Writer
 
Sheet

Spreadsheet software for collaborative teams.

Sheet
 
Show

Create, edit, and share slides with a sleek presentation app.

Show
 
Notebook

Beautiful home for all your notes.

Notebook
 
Cliq

Stay in touch with teams no matter where you are.

Cliq
 
Connect

Employee experience platform to communicate, engage, and build positive employee relations.

Connect
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
TeamInbox

Shared inboxes for teams.

TeamInbox
 
WorkDrive

Online file management for teams.

WorkDrive
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Office Suite

Powerful collaborative work platform for teams.

Office Suite
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
Calendar

Online business calendar to manage events and schedule appointments.

Calendar
 
Learn

Knowledge and learning management platform.

Learn
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
ToDo

Collaborative task management for individuals and teams.

ToDo
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
FREE
PDF Editor

Collaborative online PDF editing tool.

PDF Editor
 
Suites
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Workplace

Human Resources

 
People

Organize, automate, and simplify your HR processes.

People
 
Recruit

Intuitive recruiting platform built to provide hiring solutions.

Recruit
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Workerly

Manage temporary staffing with an employee scheduling solution.

Workerly
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
Shifts

Employee scheduling and time tracking app.

Shifts
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Suites
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

People Plus

Security and IT Management

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Directory

Workforce identity and access management solution for cloud businesses.

Directory
 
FREE
OneAuth

Secure multi-factor authenticator (MFA) for all your online accounts.

OneAuth
 
Vault

Online password manager for teams.

Vault
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Toolkit

Complete resource for any admin-related lookup queries.

Toolkit
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA

BI and Analytics

 
Analytics

Modern self-service BI and analytics platform.

Analytics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep
 
NEW
IoT

Harnessing IoT analytics for real-time operational intelligence.

IoT

Project Management

 
Projects

Manage, track, and collaborate on projects with teams.

Projects
 
Sprints

Planning and tracking tool for scrum teams.

Sprints
 
BugTracker

Automatic bug tracking software for managing bugs.

BugTracker
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo

Developer Platforms

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Flow

Automate business workflows by creating smart integrations.

Flow
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA
 
NEW
Apptics

Application analytics for all apps.

Apptics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
NEW
IoT

Build, deploy, and scale IoT solutions for connected businesses.

IoT
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep

IoT

 
NEW
IoT

Low-code IoT platform and solutions for connected businesses.

IoT

Search Result

 
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

Try now
CRM Plus
 
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Try now
Service Plus
 
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Try now
Finance Plus
 
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

Try now
People Plus
 
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Try now
Workplace
 
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Try now
Marketing Plus
 
All-in-one suite

Zoho One

The Operating System for Business

Run your entire business on Zoho with our unified cloud software, designed to help you break down silos between departments and increase organizational efficiency.

TRY ZOHO ONE
Zoho One
Zoho Marketplace

With over 2000 ready-to-use extensions across 40+ categories, connect your favorite business tools with the Zoho products you already use.

EXPLORE MARKETPLACE
Marketplace
Skip to main content

How Zoho runs on WorkDrive: A look at how we got here

  • Last Updated : December 17, 2023
  • 699 Views
  • 5 Min Read

Zoho’s philosophy about work and employee culture is no secret. In this organization, we create products for teams and people just like us! So, of course, one of the best ways for us to test out new products is by putting them to work at Zoho.

Importantly, whatever feature or extension you're using, whether it's WorkDrive TrueSync or Genie, we at Zoho have already experienced it the same way you’re experiencing it now. In a way, we get a round of “external” testing done by other teams, which in turn, helps strengthen our product in areas we might have otherwise overlooked. It’s a careful and extensive process that often requires several years.

Zoho Docs was launched in September 2008 as a means of securely storing and sharing data—both internally and externally. Within a few months, everyone at Zoho was using Docs, and the product quickly improved thanks to feedback from our teams. By the time we launched, any issues customers faced had already been encountered by Zoho employees, and we were ready with quick fixes and improvements.

Everything we learned eventually paved the way for Zoho WorkDrive in 2019. And it quickly became clear that WorkDrive was the next step in the evolution of file management and collaboration.

The advent of WorkDrive 

With more companies working online and transitioning their data to the cloud, we knew we had to offer more than a data storage tool. After substantial experimentation, we figured out a few things that helped us understand exactly what our users needed.

To run smoothly, we determined that an effective work environment needed:

  • Secure and localized storage on the cloud for quick document access

  • A compatible office suite for creating documents

  • Measures for tracking changes made to files within the storage platform 

  • A secure and streamlined means of sharing files with other services

And from here, the story of Zoho WorkDrive begins.

In a previous post, we talked about how workplace collaboration has evolved over several decades. As we noted then, the way teams collaborate often evolves out of a need for increased efficiency. Sometimes, this evolution takes the form of a paradigm shift that ushers in newer technology. Sometimes, the new tools themselves transform the way teams work. In the case of WorkDrive, we saw a bit of both.

Funnily enough, WorkDrive was never meant to exist in the first place. It was meant to be the newest version of Docs, given a completely different name. But as we developed WorkDrive, it became clear to us that this product was far more global and targeted towards collaboration than Docs. So, we decided that our newest release would become a standalone product.

After lots of long-term thinking and discussions, WorkDrive was born.

WorkDrive and Zoho: How we’re connected

The type of work an organization does, and the culture of its workplace, can have a significant impact on the tools it needs to thrive. Zoho is essentially a conglomerate of multiple product teams. To be useful here, an app must cater to a wide range of data management and collaboration needs.

We interviewed some of the WorkDrive team’s leadership to get some insights into what sets WorkDrive apart and what makes it such an important part of Zoho’s work ecosystem. Now, let's take a deep dive into the core values of Team WorkDrive and see how they're put into action.

Connecting (and reconnecting) the workplace

So, how does WorkDrive impact the various teams that make up Zoho? 

Let’s start with the developers. Developers make up the largest workgroup at Zoho. You'll typically find them working on pieces of code, graphic resources, or important spreadsheets. Having these items readily available in their Team Folders makes work significantly more streamlined and seamless for these teams.  

Do you ever have something that needs to be communicated to your team ASAP, but you aren't in the same physical space? This happens to our developers all the time—but WorkDrive Snap solves the issue! Snap lets you record your screen and capture your voice, so you can quickly communicate important messages to your team members at any time.  

For our marketing team, WorkDrive simplifies the campaign process from beginning to end. With a native office suite that lets you create documents and immediately sync even the tiniest details, WorkDrive helps users refine and perfect their content, whether they're working individually or with collaborators. Meanwhile, external share links and the Collect Files option facilitate secure campaign communication and data collection without requiring managers to track every person's activity. The app does all the tracking for you!

WorkDrive does a little bit of everything for our HR, sales, customer support, and legal departments. These teams rely daily on its storage functions, solid communication framework, in-app notifications, and notifications in other Zoho apps. Our recent integration with Cliq further contributes to seamless collaboration between our teams!

With WorkDrive, you're always connected to your organization's ecosystem, no matter how vast it is, or how quickly plans and processes change.

The matrix of people

One of the people we interviewed was Vijaykumar Rajendran, product head of Zoho WorkDrive. When asked about why this project had to start with a clean slate, he spoke about Zoho's vision for collaboration in the workplace.

He pictures the workforce as a web with every converging point representing a different connection between employees or teams. The need to provide features that could cater to these connections in multiple ways necessitated a new starting point. With WorkDrive, that starting point centered on the team—not the individual. In fact, My Folders wasn’t even a consideration during the early development stages of WorkDrive. It was added much later.

With all that in mind, the developers started shaping WorkDrive with features that enabled better connections with teammates and enhanced collaboration.

Our identity and the future 

Another important question we asked was: What is WorkDrive’s identity.

What makes us WorkDrive?

When asked this question, Aarthi Elizabeth, head of WorkDrive marketing, started by explaining the major difference between Zoho Docs and WorkDrive.

She noted that Docs was meant to simply be a storage tool for personal use, while WorkDrive is a collaborative platform with more advanced features, such as Team Folders, Org Folders, and Smart Search. WorkDrive is not just a storage app; it provides the tools that help you work and communicate with better security and more freedom.

We see this right away in the editing suites of Zoho Writer, Sheet, and Show, which are seamlessly integrated with WorkDrive (and more apps will be integrated soon!). The aim is to provide not only cloud storage, but a complete, productivity-boosting experience in the cloud.

So, what’s next?

The final question we asked was about what’s in store for the future of WorkDrive. Aravindhan Nagalingam, WorkDrive’s head of development, shed some light on the team’s long-term plan.

We want to first start by connecting WorkDrive with every other app in the Zoho ecosystem with one account. Once that internal connectivity is achieved, our next goal is to flawlessly connect WorkDrive to third-party apps. The long-term goal is to become a comprehensive and flexible platform for every possible customer group, regardless of their organization's size.

Aarthi added, “We want WorkDrive to be able to cater to finance, education, legal, healthcare, and any other industry that could use our solution. The major aim is to adapt our system for their use and get those customers on board.”

Looking towards the future

With WorkDrive 4.0 now up and running with powerful new features and improvements, we have exciting plans for both the near and distant future!

We hope you'll join us for the ride!

Related Topics

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

By submitting this form, you agree to the processing of personal data according to our Privacy Policy.

You may also like