By: TN Media News | Riyadh: Empowering Businesses with Seamless Digital Tools. Zoho Corporation, a global technology provider, announced a strategic partnership with Tap Payments to streamline online payment solutions for businesses in the MENA region. The announcement was made during Zoholics Riyadh, the company’s annual user conference.
This collaboration aims to support regional businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, in their digital transformation efforts.
Right-to-Left Arabic Website Builder Launched: At the event, Zoho also unveiled a new right-to-left (RTL) Arabic website builder within its e-commerce platform, Zoho Commerce. This makes Zoho one of the few global platforms offering built-in RTL support without external plugins or custom coding.
The RTL builder allows businesses to easily design Arabic-language online stores. This move is expected to help even resource-constrained SMEs expand digitally in their native language.
Integration with Tap Payments: With this integration, Zoho users can accept local and global payments in multiple currencies. Supported methods include Mada, Visa, Mastercard, BenefitPay, and American Express. The feature will be available across several Zoho apps, including Zoho Books, the company’s VAT-compliant accounting software.
Ahmed Al Aradi, EVP of Business at Tap Payments, noted, “This partnership offers Zoho users instant access to the MENA payment ecosystem without any complex integrations.”
Strong Growth in Saudi Arabia: Zoho reported a 104% revenue increase in Saudi Arabia in 2021. Its channel partner network also grew by 233%. This performance reflects growing demand for digital business tools in the Kingdom.
“Saudi Arabia continues to be one of our fastest-growing markets,” said Hyther Nizam, Zoho MEA President. “Our goal is to make digital adoption easier through localised tools and meaningful partnerships.”
A Broader Regional Strategy: Zoho’s transnational localism strategy focuses on building regional ecosystems. This includes opening offices, hiring local talent, and collaborating with governments and business networks.
In 2021, Zoho expanded into seven countries and tripled its workforce in the Middle East and Africa. Offices were opened in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), Egypt, and South Africa. Plans are underway to expand into Kenya and Nigeria in 2022.
Product Adoption and Market Leadership: Zoho One remains the top-selling product in Saudi Arabia, followed by Zoho CRM, Books, Inventory, and Workplace. The unified suite of over 50 business apps helps companies manage operations efficiently without integration challenges.
Ali Shabdar, Zoho MEA Regional Manager, added, “Local businesses are embracing SaaS solutions. Our RTL support, combined with ease of use and competitive pricing, has boosted adoption in the region.”
A Digital Future for MENA SMEs: With this partnership and continued regional investment, Zoho reinforces its commitment to empowering MENA businesses. By enabling e-commerce, secure payments, and localisation, the company is helping entrepreneurs thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
