Zoho,KNCCI partner to accelerate SMEs digital transformation
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
Global technology company Zoho has partnered with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to accelerate the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by expanding access to affordable business technology, digital skills, and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions.
The partnership, unveiled during ZOHOLICS Kenya 2026, is expected to strengthen Kenya’s SME ecosystem by helping businesses adopt digital tools that enhance productivity, improve operational efficiency, and drive sustainable growth.
Speaking during the launch, Zoho Country Head for Kenya, Veerakumar Natarajan, noted that Kenya continues to be one of the company’s fastest-growing markets, with businesses increasingly embracing digital transformation to improve efficiency and remain competitive.
“As AI continues to reshape how businesses operate, organizations are increasingly choosing unified digital platforms to drive efficiency and growth. Through this partnership, we are committed to helping Kenyan businesses accelerate their digital transformation journeys while strengthening the country’s SME ecosystem,” stated Natarajan.
He highlighted that Zoho has evolved from a single-product company into a global technology provider offering more than 100 cloud-based applications that help organisations manage customer relationships, finance, human resources, collaboration, marketing, and other business operations from a single platform.
Further, Natarajan disclosed that the company currently serves more than 150 million users across over one million organisations worldwide and employs approximately 19,000 people globally through its East African regional office based in Nairobi.
He added that the company has remained privately owned since its establishment nearly three decades ago, allowing it to focus on long-term innovation and customer value.
Importantly, the director pointed out Zoho differentiates itself by owning its entire technology ecosystem, including its data centers, networking infrastructure, and software platforms, enabling it to maintain high standards of security and data privacy.
“We are a software company. We sell software; we don’t sell our customer data,” he affirmed, stressing that the company complies with internationally recognised data protection and information security standards.
Equally, Natarajan revealed that AI has been integrated across Zoho’s products to support businesses through capabilities such as document processing, language translation, sentiment analysis, sales forecasting, and customer engagement, enabling organisations to improve efficiency while safeguarding customer information.
Highlighting the company’s local performance, he reported that Zoho recorded 55 per cent revenue growth in Kenya over the past year, driven by increasing demand for digital business solutions across sectors including financial services, manufacturing, insurance, information technology, and telecommunications.
In addition, he outlined that the company’s flagship products driving growth in Kenya include Zoho One, CRM, CRM Plus, Workplace, and Zoho Books, with more than 2,000 new customer organisations joining the platform during the past year and an annual customer retention rate of about 90 percent.
Under the partnership, eligible KNCCI members will receive Sh65,000 worth of Zoho Wallet Credits, enabling them to access Zoho’s portfolio of over 60 cloud-based business applications and explore digital solutions without making immediate financial commitments.
Explaining the initiative, Natarajan explained that the credits are designed to give SMEs sufficient time to evaluate digital solutions before deciding whether to adopt them permanently.
“We are giving that space so they don’t even have to spend money. They can just start trying it out right from day one,” he assured, noting that the initiative lowers barriers to technology adoption, particularly for small businesses.
Speaking on behalf of KNCCI, Nairobi Chairman, Dr. James Mwaura, welcomed the partnership, saying it addresses a long-standing technology gap facing many SMEs, particularly those operating in the informal sector.
Mwaura observed that while the Chamber has traditionally supported businesses through advocacy, networking, and financial literacy programmes, many entrepreneurs have struggled to access affordable digital solutions needed to grow their enterprises.
“One of the tools that we realised we didn’t have was the technology behind it. Over the years we’ve been looking for organisations that can serve our members who are below the pyramid,” he implored.
Similarly, the Chairman maintained that the partnership will enable businesses across the value chain, from informal enterprises to established corporations, to access affordable technology, digital training, and AI-powered solutions that improve productivity and competitiveness.
Likewise, Mwaura noted that a large proportion of informal businesses are owned by young people aged between 18 and 37 years and expressed confidence that the collaboration would equip them with practical digital skills while encouraging wider adoption of AI-powered business tools.
He said the partnership would strengthen the Chamber’s efforts to empower entrepreneurs, improve business resilience, and support Kenya’s digital economy by ensuring that even small businesses have access to world-class technology solutions.
By Catherine Odoyo and Doreen Kasung’wa
Reporting originally appeared via Kenya News Agency. Read the full source for additional context.