Zoho has launched Zia Chat, a unified artificial intelligence interface built into its software ecosystem, while expanding into vertical SaaS with 7 applications tailored to specific industries. The move gives businesses a conversational way to work with information, workflows and data across several departments.

Zia Chat is designed to bring together tasks that are often handled through separate business applications. Zoho said users will be able to search for information, generate leads, address support requests and examine data across sales, marketing, customer support, human resources and finance.

The service is expected to enter early access in a month and will initially support English. Sridhar Vembu, Zoho's Chief Scientist and Co-founder, said the company wants customers to use business intelligence without facing high token costs.

What Zia Chat can do

According to Zoho, the interface can condense records and conversations, turn business data into reports, charts, spreadsheets and presentations, and help draft emails. It can also assign tasks and arrange recurring reports through a conversational workflow.

Users will be able to change between role-based “Profiles” and hand over multi-step activities to “Zia Agents”. The system is model-agnostic, allowing organisations to select their preferred AI models. It can also connect with external systems through MCP integrations.

Zoho said Zia Chat will follow existing enterprise permissions and approval processes. Its responses can be linked to the underlying records used to produce them. The company also said data accessed through the tool will not be used to train Zoho's AI models.

7 industry applications

The vertical SaaS launch covers a range of sectors:

  • Zoho RetailIQ is a CRM product for physical retail businesses.
  • Zoho AutoDMS is designed for automotive dealership management.
  • Zoho LOS supports the lending process for banks, NBFCs and insurers, from application through disbursement.
  • MedScribe is an AI-based clinical documentation product that converts doctor-patient conversations into structured records. It complies with India's Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
  • Zoho Campus, launching first in India, combines admissions, fee collection, attendance and timetabling.
  • A real estate platform covers the property sales process from capturing leads to closing deals.
  • Zoho POS for Restaurants will be free for businesses with annual billing of up to Rs 12 lakh.

Zoho's expansion in India

The announcements follow 45% year-on-year growth in Zoho's India revenue in 2025. The company attributed that growth to Zoho Workplace, Zoho one, Zoho CRM, Zoho Books and Zoho People, with demand across ITeS, manufacturing, BFSI, professional services, retail and automotive.

Zoho is privately held and profitable. It employs over 19,000 people and serves more than 150 million users worldwide through data centres that it owns and operates. The company has also been positioned as a homegrown alternative to global technology companies including Microsoft and Google. Vembu received the Padma Shri in 2021.

Conclusion

Zia Chat brings a conversational AI layer across Zoho's business ecosystem, while the 7 new applications extend the company's software offering into industry-specific workflows. Early access in English is the next stated step for the AI interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Zia Chat?

Zia Chat is Zoho's unified AI interface for finding information, managing workflows and analysing business data across its ecosystem.

Q. When will Zia Chat become available?

Early access is expected in a month, initially in English.

Q. Which business functions can Zia Chat support?

The interface is intended for work across sales, marketing, support, HR and finance.

Q. What are Zia Agents?

Zia Agents are designed to handle multi-step work delegated by users.

Q. Which industries are covered by Zoho's new applications?

The applications cover retail, automotive, BFSI, healthcare, education, real estate and restaurants.

Q. Which Zoho product is aimed at restaurants?

Zoho POS for Restaurants is the company's restaurant-focused point-of-sale product.

Q. Who can use Zoho POS for Restaurants for free?

The product will be free for businesses billing up to Rs 12 lakh annually.

Q. Does Zia Chat support external systems?

Yes. Zoho said it can connect with external systems through MCP integrations.

Q. Will Zia Chat data train Zoho's AI models?

Zoho said data accessed by Zia Chat will not be used to train its AI models.