How Arattai, Zoho Apps are ‘Made in India’: Sridhar Vembu explains in detail

Zoho Corporation, a global leader in software solutions, proudly embodies its mantra: “Made in India, Made for the World.” Headquartered in Chennai, Zoho develops all its products, including the privacy-focused messaging app Arattai, in India. In a recent X post, Co-founder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu addressed misconceptions about Zoho’s development, data hosting, and infrastructure, highlighting the company’s commitment to innovation, data sovereignty, and technological independence.

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Rooted in Chennai

Zoho’s heart lies in Chennai, where its global headquarters drives the development of its 50+ apps, used by over 100 million users across 150 countries. “All our products are developed in India,” Vembu emphasized on X, dispelling myths that Zoho’s global reach implies development elsewhere. As an Indian corporation, Zoho pays taxes in India on its global income, despite having offices in over 80 countries, including a strong US presence. The company’s Chennai campus, home to many of its 15,000+ employees, is a hub of innovation, crafting everything from business software to Arattai, a rival to global messaging giants like WhatsApp.

Data sovereignty first

Zoho prioritizes data sovereignty, ensuring customer data stays within local jurisdictions. For Indian users, data is hosted in data centers in Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai, with plans to expand to Odisha. Globally, Zoho operates over 18 data centers, from the US to Europe, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, each storing data in compliance with local laws. “We are committed to hosting each country’s data in their own jurisdiction,” Vembu stated. This approach contrasts with tech giants relying on centralized cloud providers, ensuring trust and compliance for Zoho’s users.

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Self-reliant infrastructure

Unlike many software companies, Zoho owns its hardware and builds its software frameworks in-house, using open-source technologies like Linux and PostgreSQL. Vembu clarified that no Zoho products, including Arattai, are hosted on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Instead, Zoho uses its own infrastructure, with third-party cloud providers employed only for regional switching nodes (points of presence, or POPs) to optimize traffic speed, not for data storage. Zoho is expanding these POPs globally to enhance performance while keeping data secure in its own data centers. This self-reliance allows Zoho to avoid the high costs of hyperscalers and maintain control over its tech stack. 

Confusion about Zoho’s Indian roots stems from its Apple App Store and Google Play Store developer accounts listing a US office address. Vembu explained this as a legacy from the early days when a US-based employee registered the accounts for testing. “We never changed it,” he noted on X. This administrative detail does not reflect Zoho’s operations, which are firmly rooted in India.

A vision for tech independence

Zoho’s “Made in India” ethos extends beyond products to a broader mission of technological independence. Vembu envisions India building its own tech ecosystem, with Arattai as a privacy-focused, locally hosted alternative to global apps. Zoho invests in foundational technologies – browsers, compilers, databases – to reduce reliance on foreign platforms. “We’re building the future of Indian technology,” Vembu said, emphasizing self-reliance amid debates on X about apps like Arattai versus WhatsApp.

Zoho’s story is one of Indian ingenuity, delivering world-class software while staying true to its roots. By developing in Chennai, hosting data locally, and owning its infrastructure, Zoho challenges the tech industry’s status quo. Vembu’s clarifications on X counter misinformation, reaffirming Zoho’s commitment to innovation and privacy. As it expands its global footprint, Zoho remains a testament to what India can achieve, proving that “Made in India, Made for the World” is a promise fulfilled through every app and data center.

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Vyom Ramani

A journalist with a soft spot for tech, games, and things that go beep. While waiting for a delayed metro or rebooting his brain, you’ll find him solving Rubik’s Cubes, bingeing F1, or hunting for the next great snack. View Full Profile