Techaisle Blog

While Google Cloud Next offered a flurry of AI announcements, Google Workspace emerged as the surprise star, particularly for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and midmarket firms. Google Workspace stole the show for SMBs. Here's what grabbed my attention:

• Video Made Easy with Google Vids: Powered by Google’s AI technology Gemini, Google Vids is a game-changer for SMBs in creating professional videos. Imagine a Recording Studio experience with a massive library of stock footage, music, and GIFs at your fingertips. AI-powered editing removes unwanted noise, ensuring pristine audio quality. Seamless video sharing and collaboration within Workspace eliminate email ping-pong, empowering teams to work together securely.
• Vertex AI Meets Workspace: This integration unlocks a treasure trove of possibilities for SMBs. With over 130 pre-built AI foundation models, SMBs can build custom solutions to automate complex workflows, which translates to significant time savings, improved access to relevant data, and a productive workforce. This means more time for strategic planning and less time spent on repetitive tasks, enhancing accessibility to pertinent data and improving the employee experience. The integration equips SMBs to take control of their workflows and focus on what matters.
• Supercharge Meetings with the Gemini Meet Add-on: For $10 per user per month, the meeting experience can be elevated with features like "Take Notes for Me," "Translate for Me" (supporting 69 languages!), and studio-quality audio and video. Plus, adaptive audio ensures clear communication even in impromptu laptop-based meetings. This add-on is perfect for space-constrained SMBs and is a significant productivity booster.
• AI Boosts Chat Productivity: Gemini in Chat is an intelligent sidekick. Gemini is there whether one needs answers from across the web, summaries of lengthy documents, or a helping hand sorting through emails and chats. It even helps craft the perfect tone for messages and prioritizes conversations based on the most frequent contacts and urgent tasks. And for those quick collaborations, Huddles in Chat offers a one-click meeting experience. Did I mention interoperability with Slack and Teams, allowing for effortless collaboration across different messaging services?
• Enhanced Security with the New Gemini Security Add-on: For an additional $10 per user per month, businesses can bolster their Workspace security with advanced AI features. These include data classification and integrate seamlessly with existing Data Loss Prevention (DLP) controls. Additionally, privacy-preserving customer-specific AI models provide an extra layer of protection for sensitive data.

According to Techaisle's survey data of more than 2100 SMBs, one of the top five priorities for 2024 is to enhance and invest in collaboration solutions, and 87% plan to increase usage in 2024. Implementing a uniform collaboration solution that can function smoothly on all employee devices is also a challenge for 24% of SMBs.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been a leader in cloud computing since 2006. Its success depends on a strong network of channel partners. These partners are brought together through the AWS Partner Network (APN), which fosters collaboration and enables the creation of solutions and services for customers. The APN has expanded over time to include various programs. It's worth noting that the APN has over 130,000 partners from 150 countries, with nearly 70% headquartered outside the US. Although large enterprises have greatly benefited from these programs, AWS has recognized small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) play a significant role in the global economy. As a result, AWS has recently introduced the SMB Competency Program, a strategic initiative designed to empower partners serving SMB customers. After extensive discussions with partners and an in-depth understanding of SMB requirements, AWS unveiled its robust program in January 2024.

AWS SMB Competency Partners provide solutions and services tailored to SMBs' requirements. This covers platform solutions such as migration and modernization, security, data storage, disaster recovery, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and SaaS solutions, including accounting, resource management, customer service, and relationship management. AWS SMB Competency Partners serve as a single source for SMBs who want to use the AWS cloud to solve their specific business problems.

The inaugural iteration of the program comprises 30 partners, spanning services and software with expertise in managed services, security, AI, modernization, migration, disaster recovery, and cloud business applications. These categories have been thoughtfully chosen to align with SMB priorities.

I have personally spoken with each of these 30 partners, and they unanimously endorse and express enthusiasm for the AWS SMB Competency program.

According to Techaisle’s 2024 research data on SMB and Midmarket priorities and challenges, 55% of customers view partner competencies as “absolutely essential” when assessing partner capabilities. In contrast, 36% of customers prioritize certifications in their evaluation. This emphasizes competencies' critical role in demonstrating a partner’s expertise and ability to meet customer needs.

Focused on growth and committed to new solutions that expand business horizons – the SMB market is on the brink of a multi-year growth trajectory.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is on the brink of a massive expansion. IBM is seizing this opportunity and striving to cater to the escalating demand for this technology. The company has launched watsonx, an AI and data platform specifically designed for businesses, providing GenAI, data management, and AI model governance capabilities.

IBM’s strategic efforts go beyond mere product innovation. They include collaborative ventures aimed at stimulating growth across the industry. The company’s new partner program, IBM Partner Plus, is designed to establish a diverse network of resellers. This initiative is set to ignite growth and spur innovation in various sectors, highlighting IBM’s commitment to making AI accessible and enabling businesses around the globe.

IBM's Journey with watsonx and Responsible AI Governance

Partnerships and acquisitions frequently serve as turning points, transforming entire industries. This is exemplified by IBM’s 2019 acquisition of Red Hat, a prominent provider of open-source software solutions. This strategic move has fortified IBM’s standing in the open hybrid cloud solutions market while simultaneously offering both companies the chance to provide their clients with improved AI capabilities. IBM watsonx is an AI and data platform with a set of AI assistants designed to help organizations scale and accelerate the impact of AI with trusted data across the business. The platform offers flexibility, enabling organizations to start with one component or application and include additional ones as needs grow. It consists of a studio for foundation models, a data store, and a governance toolkit.

In an era of globalization, businesses often pursue economies of scale and standardized solutions. Zoho, a global software behemoth with Indian origins, is carving a distinctive path. It has embraced a unique business strategy known as “transnational localism.” This approach intertwines global connectivity and local grounding, fostering local economies while partaking in the exchange of knowledge and culture. Transnational localism, as defined by Zoho, is a decentralized strategy that harnesses the benefits of a global scale while maintaining deep roots in local communities. It transcends the conventional “think global, act local” mantra, offering a more nuanced and influential method to tackle today’s complexities. This strategy is implemented through a tripartite approach:

• Developing a Global Technology Stack: Zoho creates its software products suite, ensuring total control and adaptability.
• Empowering Local Teams: Zoho sets up regional offices staffed with local talent, enabling them to tailor solutions to specific market requirements.
• Prioritizing Local Communities: Zoho invests in local talent development, infrastructure, and social initiatives, nurturing a sense of collective responsibility and growth.

Transnational localism strikes a balance between global outreach and local engagement. It involves establishing offices in less affluent locations globally, injecting investment, expenditure, and job creation into these areas. The company stays globally connected, not just digitally, but also through a shared ethos and culture, while remaining locally anchored.

Zoho’s CEO, Sridhar Vembu, characterizes transnational localism as a strategy that sources talent from regions often neglected by other companies. These are typically areas experiencing talent emigration, leading to hollow communities. Zoho strives to reintroduce opportunities into these regions, commonly drained into urban centers.

Beyond the Numbers: Real-World Examples

Zoho’s dedication to transnational localism extends beyond mere theory. It has actualized this philosophy by setting up a global network of over 25 offices in rural areas. Many IT suppliers overlook these locations for opportunities compared to their metropolitan counterparts. For instance, Zoho has an office in McAllen, Texas, with nearly 150,000 residents within a metropolitan area housing over a million people.

Another notable instance is Tenkasi in India, where Zoho inaugurated its first rural office. Despite being a city of nearly 100,000 people, Tenkasi is considered rural compared to India’s major metropolitan areas. In Tenkasi, Zoho operates a remote farm and an elementary school, both flagship initiatives in its rural revival strategy.

Zoho demonstrates its commitment to social responsibility in several ways. It has invested in rural India through its "10,000 Schools" program, which bridges the digital divide by providing digital infrastructure and training to schools. Additionally, Zoho empowers local communities by establishing offices in smaller towns across the US and Europe, fostering diversity and creating local job opportunities. Finally, Zoho tailors its product suite to specific market needs, showcasing its commitment to global inclusivity by respecting cultural and regulatory contexts.

The Impact on Zoho's Business: A Multi-Faceted Success Story

Transnational localism has significantly influenced Zoho’s business, propelling its remarkable growth. By the end of 2021, Zoho had amassed 500,000 customers, over 70 million users, and 40,000 customers on Zoho One, a product launched in 2017. One of these customers had 32,000 employees utilizing Zoho One. Fast-forwarding to 2024, Zoho’s customer base has expanded to over 750,000, with over 100 million users across 150+ countries.