Zoho adds HR application to its Web suite
While Google receives lots of attention for its suite of Web applications, and Microsoft waits on the sidelines, Zoho continues to add new components to its Web suite.
The latest addition to the suite, which already includes modules for everything from documents and spreadsheets to CRM and wikis, is Zoho People, a human resource management application.
Zoho People, currently in beta, includes the usual HR functions for administrators and employees, with modules for organization, recruitment, forms, and checklists (work flow). In addition, Zoho Creator has been integrated within Zoho People, allowing users to customize the application.
Zoho People joins Zoho CRM, Zoho Meeting, Zoho Projects, and Zoho DB as part of the Zoho business applications suite.
Zoho is targeting businesses with more than 50 employees for the new product. Pricing is expected to be around $50 per month for administrators and $50 per year for employees, according to Raju Vegesna of Zoho.
Zoho could bump up against more established software-as-a-service HR offerings from well funded companies such as Workday, Taleo, NetSuite, SuccessFactors, and others.
But Zoho is likely to focus more on smaller businesses with its comprehensive set of browser-based productivity and business applications and viral marketing approach. In fact, Zoho is most concerned about setting itself apart from Google, which lacks the business applications. Google, as well as Microsoft, will be watching Zoho closely to see if it gains any traction with customers. If so, either one would be a candidate to acquire the Zoho, which is a subsidiary India-based of AdventNet.
See also a video about Zoho People, Zoli Erdos' post on Zoho People, and Larry Dignan's take.
Dan Farber is editor in chief of CBS Interactive News, which includes CBSNews.com and CNET News. He has more than 25 years of experience as an editor and journalist covering technology. E-mail Dan. 
