Aplikasi | Zoho Premium Partner - Blog #Zoho Creator

Low code is now replacing developers

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:29:07 +0800

Why Zoho Books Was the Best Fit

Low-Code vs. Developers

What is Low-Code?

Low-code is a simpler, faster, and easier way to develop applications. It uses a drag-and-drop interface with minimal coding, speeding up development and delivery. Unlike traditional methods that require skilled teams and deep technical knowledge, low-code allows developers and business users to create apps quickly and efficiently.

This reduces IT professionals' backlog and workload, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks. Additionally, low-code lets business users participate in developing applications, so they can include feedback from different stakeholders, giving them more control over the final product's specifications.

By empowering IT and business users with the right tools, low-code boosts productivity, efficiency, and overall morale within an organization.

When to use Low-Code?

For Agile Business Transformations:

Departments like HR, Marketing, and Operations often need to implement changes quickly to improve their functions. Traditional development is not always suitable due to its inflexibility and longer timelines.

Low-code, however, enables rapid application development and easy modifications, fostering agile transformations within businesses. For instance, the marketing department can use low-code to automate workflows without depending heavily on IT.

For Quick Application Development:

Business users often drive innovation but lack the coding skills required for traditional development, making them reliant on IT departments.

Low Code platforms change this dynamic by allowing business users to design and deploy apps with minimal coding skills, reducing IT dependencies and speeding up the development process.

For Customizable Solutions:

Unique business problems often require tailored solutions, which can be expensive and time-consuming with traditional development.

Low-code allows for easy and cost-effective customization and scaling of applications, making it a practical alternative when off-the-shelf solutions fall short and traditional development is not justified.

Ready to experience the transformative power of low-code for your business? Take the leap and revolutionize your development process today! Start your journey towards agility, efficiency, and innovation by exploring low-code solutions now.

From Local to Global - How Did Zoho Do It?

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:44:25 +0800

From Local to Global - How Did Zoho Do It?

A Glimpse into Zoho Today

Hailing from the suburbs of Chennai, Southern India, Zoho Corporation is a business software company founded by Sridhar Vembu along with several of his brothers and friend, Tony Thomas. As of 2024, Zoho offers its 100 million worldwide users a range of over 55 applications that optimize business operations from marketing and sales to CRM (customer relationship management) and finances.

Employing over 12,000 people around the globe, Zoho has established its identity as a leader in the software industry. However, unlike other productivity suites like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, Zoho sets itself apart through its affordable pricing, easy integration (with the various Zoho apps as well as many other third party apps) and its high priority for data security and privacy.

Early Years

Sridhar Vembu, 2024 (https://t.ly/WhrNc)

The cultivation of Zoho began in 1996 as a network management company formerly known as “AdventNet”. By the 2000s, Sridhar and his co-founders began launching cloud-based software services for businesses, releasing their first suite of business productivity tools in 2005 with the application, Zoho CRM. In 2010, the company officially rebranded to Zoho Corporation with an emphasis on such software.

From the jump, Zoho demonstrated its unique and innovative personality — famously declining a venture capital offer of USD10 million, a decision Sridhar firmly stands by till this day. He expressed how it has allowed him to “experiment with technology, and invest 50% of my money in R&D without having someone telling me where I should put my money”, choosing to nurture the company through their own profits rather than venture capital to ensure they have control over the direction the company heads to.

“Made in India. Made for the world”

Expanding Horizons

Zoho was birthed in a remote village in India, yet miraculously, its products are used today by businesses in every corner of the globe. Zoho embarked on the journey of international expansion in 2001, opening its first foreign office in Japan. Eventually, one office became over 25 in countries ranging from USA, Brazil, and the Netherlands to UAE, Malaysia, and even Kenya. Its geographic expansions help to cater Zoho to diversed markets around the globe through the localization of their products in terms of language, regulations and cultural preferences, allowing each country's market to resonate more closely with the product.

After just 26 years of operations, the company's tagline of “Made in India. Made for the world” stands true having over 2,000 consulting partners, like Aplikasi, and a global presence in over 150 countries. These global partnerships combined with the localization of their diverse product range and cloud-based software (eliminating the need for regional physical infrastructure) are key elements for Zoho's “global presence” leading to its “success and profitability” as noted in a Medium.com article.

Opening of Zoho office in Kenya, 2023 (https://techcabal.com/2023/05/23/zoho-opens-local-office-in-kenya/)

But Zoho's expansion goes beyond geographic growth; the company has also ventured into other sectors, such as education — launching the Zoho Schools of Learning in 2005, where they offer a “meaningful alternative to conventional college education”. Further exhibiting Zoho's unique personality, Zoho Schools aim to provide more practical education and skills that will strongly benefit those headed into software careers. Notably, Zoho offers this program at free of charge and instead pays its students a stipend. After graduation, the student is immediately inducted as a Zoho Corporation employee, with Zoho graduates making up 15% of Zoho's total employee count.

“Who Said You Need to Be in Silicon Valley to Build World-Class Products?”

Zoho Philosophy and Local Impact

By now, it should be undoubtedly clear that Zoho's vision is unconventional at the very least. The key that has propelled them to success is their deeply rooted belief in “Transnational Localism” — the concept of expanding a business globally while empowering and enabling the lives of local communities to ensure sustainability. Sridhar has repeatedly spoken about his commitment to this philosophy, often expressing that developing world-class products should not be exclusive to urban hubs and cities only and further stating that “migrating from villages to cities is not a good idea”. Here, he notes the negative nature of cities becoming increasingly polluted and densely populated while contributing to the brain drain of local communities.

Zoho School of Technology, 2024 (https://youtu.be/ylwkMhtSFUs?si=2SPACVNSluRTPN2P)

This idea is reflected through Zoho's own initiatives, such as Zoho Schools and their Rural-Revival Mission. Zoho Schools' ability to offer free education directly mirrors Zoho's Rural-Revival Mission of revitalizing rural areas by providing “hard-working and hungry talents” with quality education, expertise, and work opportunities that they may lack the means or access to otherwise. Zoho's focus on nurturing talents in rural areas has manifested into the opening of two hub offices in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh with plans of establishing future offices in other districts of non-urban India as well.

What's Next For Zoho?

From a network management company in a remote Indian village to a global leader in the cloud-based software industry, growth has certainly been a constant for Zoho. So, what else will there be in store for the future of the company? According to Aplikasi's very own Zoho MVP, Nik Khairul, he sees that “Zoho will open new frontiers of non-customers”. Nik anticipates that thanks to Zoho's flexible technology and pricing, even individuals outside of their target market will discover solutions in Zoho to issues they were not even aware they had.

For one instance, Zoho Creator (a low-code application) allows users to fully create and customize applications in Zoho to fit their needs. It also holds the ability to integrate with other Zoho applications, all without requiring advanced coding skills. Furthermore, the competitive costs of Zoho applications and bundles allow users a customizable experience that other software companies lack. Users can choose to subscribe only to applications they need at the fraction of the average cost.

With this potential of an entire “new frontier of non-customers” and the need for businesses to digitalize as to keep up with competition, Zoho's flexible technology and pricing, sustainable philosophy, and evident community support make its future seem nothing but bright.

Talk to Us About Going Global with Zoho

Sources:

Malaysia's First Young Creators Program with Aplikasi!

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:05:39 +0800

From Local to Global - How Did Zoho Do It?

Inspiring Young Creators Across Malaysia with Aplikasi

Calling out to all primary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities!

The conventional process of creating an application requires traditional coding, which takes time and experience to learn and master. But that shouldn't curb your potential of building entire applications suited to any of your possible needs.

That's where the Aplikasi X Zoho's Young Creators Program comes to the rescue!

What is the Young Creators Program?

The Young Creators Program (YCP) is a 3-day program introducing students or educators to low-code application development through Zoho Creator. Partnering with Zoho as the first YCP partner in Malaysia, Aplikasi will aid in running the program to help equip learners with training and skills to create their own applications.

As a faster form of application development compared to traditional programming, Zoho Creator's low-code utilizes drag and drop features and the comprehensive Zoho coding language, Deluge, to help learners gain full creative control over the applications they create. Learners can customize and design their own application suited perfectly to their own needs, bringing life to ideas without the need of any prior coding experience.

Learn more about the Young Creators Program here!

Features of Zoho Creator

Conventionally, creating an application is a cumbersome process. From designing the interface to collecting data or even representing that data, the usual process would require acquiring different parties or coding languages just to make parts of an application work together.

However, with Zoho Creator, features like the drag and drop tool, workflow builder, and Deluge language immensely simplify the process. With Zoho Creator, you have everything you need to make an application equipped with elements like forms, reports, and even dashboards in just one platform, reducing the time it would take to do such tasks manually.

Young Creators Program at a Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember University in Surabaya, Indonesia, 2023

Why Choose the Young Creators Program?

As such, the Young Creators Program is a unique opportunity for both students, new to coding, andeducators who wish to develop a skill to pass down to their students. The practical skills embedded in the program do not only enhance knowledge regarding application development or coding, but also encourage creative design and problem-solving skills. With a convenient platform, able to work on all devices, the YCP also allows access to mentorships by professionals in the industry and acts as a stepping stone to be introduced to the world of app development, technology and coding.

After acquiring a certificate at the end of the program, participants are empowered with a distinctive skill that certainly sets them apart from their peers and competitors. For those who are competitive, the program also closes with the Creator Appathon (an appbuilding contest) where prizes are up for grabs!

All in all, The Young Creators Program is an eye-opening opportunity for participants to step into the world of low-code and application development through gaining practical skills. The experience also encourages innovation and creativity, bestowing participants with the chance to develop solutions through applications that may have a real-world impact. Thus, leaving learners with a deeply rewarding experience both professionally and personally.

"Other events can be kind of lackluster. But today, with the specialists that have come in, they're the best in their field and you can learn so much from them." – Nabeel, Nottingham Trent University Student, Nottingham, UK

Event Wajib Hadir: Zoholics Malaysia 2025

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 15:22:54 +0800

Recap: Zoholics Malaysia 2025

Apa Sebenarnya Zoho Boleh Buat Untuk Bisnes Anda?

Ramai yang pernah dengar nama Zoho, tapi tak ramai yang betul-betul tahu apa yang Zoho boleh buat untuk bantu uruskan bisnes—dari sales, marketing, HR, finance, sampai lah ke customer service dan automasi.

Lagi best, tahun ni Zoholics datang ke Malaysia!

📍 Tarikh: 26 Ogos 2025
📍 Lokasi: Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur

Kalau anda pengguna Zoho, atau baru nak kenal-kenal, inilah peluang terbaik untuk explore terus dari pakar Zoho sendiri.

Zoholics Tu Apa?

Senang cerita, Zoholics ni macam open house besar-besaran dari Zoho.

Ia bukan event jualan semata-mata—tapi tempat di mana anda boleh:

Belajar terus dari team Zoho (dari asas sampai advanced)

Dengar cerita sebenar dari pengguna Zoho kat Malaysia

Join sesi 1-on-1 dengan pakar (boleh tanya apa saja pasal tools yang anda guna atau nak guna)

Tengok demo live, tips, dan cara guna apps Zoho secara maksimum

Networking dengan business owner lain yang guna Zoho

Momen-Momen Sepanjang Event

Siapa Yang Sesuai Hadir?

Zoholics bukan eksklusif untuk pengguna lama je. Event ni untuk:

Usahawan & pemilik bisnes yang nak cari tools mudah untuk automasi & urus operasi
Team sales, HR, finance, dan marketing yang nak explore sistem kerja lebih lancar
Tech-savvy (atau bukan) yang nak tahu macam mana nak guna teknologi tanpa pening kepala
Freelancer & startup founder yang nak sistem tapi tak nak bayar mahal

Apa Yang Anda Akan Dapat?

Hands-on Session

Automate kerja jualan guna Zoho CRM
Urus akaun dan invois dengan Zoho Books
Bina sistem sendiri (tanpa coding!) pakai Zoho Creator
Guna data untuk buat keputusan bijak dengan Zoho Analytics
Dan macam-macam lagi apps dalam ekosistem Zoho

Dapat Sneak Peek Feature Baharu

Biasanya, Zoho akan umumkan ciri atau produk baru masa Zoholics. Jadi anda akan jadi antara yang pertama tahu dan cuba!

Terima kasih kepada semua yang datang melawat booth Aplikasi dan berkongsi cabaran bisnes masing-masing dengan team kami. Perbualan-perbualan ni yang bantu kami terus improve cara kami bantu bisnes Malaysia grow dengan Zoho.

💡 Harga asal RM100, lepas diskaun jadi RM25 je. Jom join Zoholics Malaysia 2025! Jumpa kami disana!

Hubungi Aplikasi

Part 2: How Aplikasi Turns Ideas into Seamless Solutions

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:06:11 +0800

Part 2: How Aplikasi Turns Ideas into Seamless Solutions

From Vision to Reality: How Aplikasi Brings Your Zoho Solution to Life

In Part 1, we shared how every Aplikasi project begins — from understanding your business needs to documenting every detail in the User Requirements Specification (URS). Once that foundation is approved, we move into what we call the Realisation Stage — where ideas transform into fully functional, customized Zoho solutions.

This stage covers three crucial phases: Configuration, Development, and Go-Live.

1. Configuration

Setting the foundation right — internal alignment, task planning, and data templates.

2. Development

Turning requirements into reality — customization, integrations, and rigorous testing.

3. Go-Live

Bringing the system to the real world — UAT, training, and secure data migration.

Step 1 of 3

Step 1: Configuration – Setting the Foundation Right

Before a single line of code is written, our team ensures your Zoho environment is structured according to your business goals.

What Happens Here:

Before diving into development, our team ensures every configuration aligns perfectly with your approved requirements. This stage is about precision and clarity.

Our Project Manager (PM), Solution Architect (SA), Business Analyst (BA), and Developer will have an internal alignment meeting where the BA explains what needs to be done, provides context, and sets clear expectations on how each component should function. This session also gives the team—especially the developers—an opportunity to ask questions and gather detailed information.

The PM then creates structured tasks and assigns expected completion dates in Zoho Projects, ensuring everyone knows who is responsible for what and by when. To prepare for smooth configuration, we also provide the client with a data template, which will be used later during setup and migration.

Goal: To lay a strong foundation by ensuring that every technical and functional configuration is well understood, documented, and aligned with the project timeline.

Step 2 of 3

Step 2: Development – Turning Requirements into Reality

This is where your solution truly takes shape. Our technical team work hand in hand to transform requirements into a working system. It is our practice to conduct bi-weekly or weekly meetings with clients to ensure we stay on track with both the project timeline and agreed requirements, fostering transparency and collaboration throughout the entire development phase.

What Happens Here:

Setting up user roles, permissions, and modules in line with your organization's structure.
Customizing standard Zoho applications to match your workflows.
Ensuring data fields, forms, and layouts reflect the needs captured in the URS.
Establishing integrations between different Zoho apps where necessary (for example, Zoho CRM ↔ Zoho Books).
Developing custom functions, workflows, and automation rules to meet complex requirements.
Creating custom apps using Zoho Creator where out-of-the-box features aren't enough.
Integrating third-party tools and APIs for seamless data flow.
Rigorous testing of every function to ensure stability and performance.

Goal: To deliver a smart, automated system that simplifies your business processes and enhances efficiency.

Step 3 of 3

Step 3: Go-Live – Bringing the System to the Real World

Once everything is tested and approved, we prepare your team for launch! The Go-Live stage is not just a switch — it's a coordinated process designed for smooth transition.

What Happens Here:

Conducting User Acceptance Testing (UAT) sessions with your team.
Providing a comprehensive user manual tailored to your system setup.
Conducting admin and user training sessions, ensuring both groups understand their respective functions and responsibilities.
Encouraging hands-on practice during training to build user confidence and reduce post-launch dependency.
Addressing final tweaks and refinements based on real-user feedback.
Migrating existing data into the new system securely and accurately.

Goal: To ensure your new Zoho solution goes live smoothly — with zero disruption and full user readiness.

Beyond Go-Live: Continuous Support

Our relationship doesn't end at launch — in fact, that's when it truly begins. We understand that businesses evolve, and your systems should grow alongside them. That's why our post-implementation support is designed to ensure your Zoho solution continues to deliver long-term value.

What Our Support Includes:

System Monitoring & Optimization

We continuously keep an eye on your system performance, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

On-Demand Support

Whether it's troubleshooting, new feature requests, or enhancements — our team is always ready to assist.

Periodic Review Sessions

As your business expands, we revisit your setup to ensure your system scales with you and remains aligned with your goals.

Goal: To be your long-term digital transformation partner — not just your solution provider.

💡 Sneak Peek: Part 3 — Support that Scales With You

In the final part of our series, we'll dive deeper into how Aplikasi supports clients after go-live — from ongoing system improvements to proactive guidance that helps your business stay future-ready.

Read Part 3

[Case Study] Nasty Worldwide (NSTY): Productivity, Collaboration & HR Management

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 13:32:01 +0800

[Case Study] Nasty Worldwide (NSTY): Productivity, Collaboration & HR Management

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Provider

Business Case at a Glance

As of January 2019, NASTY is a full-fledged provider of smoking-cessation solutions, having released its first closed pod system device, the NCIG 1 (an abbreviation of the NASTY Cigarette). The device was created in-house with the intention of providing the best possible aid to smokers trying to break their habit.

Back then, they used many incompatible apps. Hence, teamwork was often repetitive, laborious, and disorganised. Aplikasi, which develops tightly integrated applications, recommended Zoho One.

Company Background

NASTY Worldwide started out as an e-liquid manufacturer when it was established in 2015 in the city of Tampin in Malaysia. NASTY quickly began penetrating markets and gaining a large following across Europe and the Americas with its award-winning creations. The company focuses its research and development efforts on flavour combinations that set new trends and on fresh brand designs.

Nasty LABS R&D Center is the heartbeat of NASTY. This centre offers comprehensive services to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers all over the world. Today, NASTY designs, develops, and markets a comprehensive ecosystem of solutions for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). NASTY is located in Indonesia, India, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea. Their goal is to have NASTY become the ENDS Solutions Provider with the Largest Market Share and Most Recognized Brand Name by the year 2030.

The Challenge

The fact that they utilised a large number of apps that were not compatible with one another or able to communicate with one another was an issue back then. As a result of it, the process of collaborating within their team was frequently redundant, tedious, and unorganized.

The increasing cost of Google Suite was the main reason this strategy was adopted by Nasty and how we came into the picture. The other difficulty that they were encountering was in the area of human resources management. Their HR policy was not easily implementable with their old system, which was HR.

Finding the Solution

The first project we had with NASTY was migrating their Google Suite to Zoho Workplace. This migration exercise includes the migration of about 300 employees' email accounts from GSuite to Zoho Mail, the configuration of domains in Zoho Mail, and redirection setup to ensure emails coming into the old address are captured in the new address. Not to forget, Zoho People was also introduced with the integration to Payroll Panda.

Implementations & Results

The applications of Zoho People, Zoho Expense, and PayrollPanda were all developed and tightly connected with one another. All of the claims and the basic salary are sent to Payroll Panda, and then Payroll Panda will process the amount to generate payslips for all of the employees. Once this is complete, the payslip can be downloaded from or viewed within Zoho People. The majority of the processes are made more efficient by the fact that they all operate in the background.

What our client says about our service?

Very helpful and responsive and friendly from Aplikasi in delivering and assisting us in our needs.
— Nasty team

What apps have been deployed

Zoho One

Zoho Creator

Zoho People

Zoho Books

Visit the support centre

Ready to turn your business challenges into success stories? Let’s explore how Aplikasi can simplify and streamline your operations—just like we’ve done for businesses across various industries.

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