Zoho doubles Adelaide headcount as growth shifts regional

Zoho has expanded its Adelaide office and doubled headcount in the city. Adelaide now houses more than 60% of the company's Australian workforce.

The enlarged site will host teams from Zoho and ManageEngine, two divisions of the business. South Australian Minister for State Development Chris Picton opened the office.

The move marks a further shift in Zoho's Australian growth model away from the country's biggest technology hubs. While many software companies have concentrated staff and investment in Sydney and Melbourne, Zoho has built a larger share of its local operation in regional centres and outer metropolitan areas.

Over the past two years, Zoho's Australian workforce has grown from fewer than 20 to 40. Of that total, 25 are now based in Adelaide, making the South Australian capital the operational centre of its business across Australia and New Zealand.

In Australia, revenue rose 23% year on year and customer numbers increased 29%, according to the company. That pace was almost five times the growth forecast for the broader Australian software industry over the same period.

The Adelaide expansion follows the opening of a Sydney office in Parramatta. Together, the two sites suggest Zoho is building its local presence outside the city centres that have traditionally attracted most of the technology sector's investment.

Regional focus

Zoho's approach comes as South Australia seeks to attract more technology employers and strengthen its position in fields such as artificial intelligence and the broader digital economy. For the state government, investments that create skilled jobs and retain local workers have become an important part of that effort.

After more than a decade of building its customer base in Australia, Zoho said Adelaide had become central to its local growth story. The office expansion reflects a longer-term commitment to the city as a base for staffing and operations.

"What began with a handful of Australian customers more than a decade ago has become one of the most rewarding markets we serve anywhere in the world. Adelaide has been central to that story. The team we have built here shows what regional talent can do when a company commits to it for the long term," said Rakesh Prabhakar, Head of Zoho ANZ.

Prabhakar also pointed to customer loyalty and market demand.

"Our customer retention in Australia is among the highest we see globally, and as more businesses look for software that delivers value, the opportunity in front of us has never been greater," he said.

State backing

Picton linked the expansion to South Australia's broader economic aims, particularly in industries tied to digital services and advanced technology. The state has worked to attract both domestic and international companies as it tries to broaden its base of higher-skilled employment.

"South Australia is increasingly becoming the destination of choice for businesses that are building the industries of the future, from artificial intelligence to the broader digital economy. Companies like Zoho show what is possible when global technology firms choose to invest in our state, creating high-skill jobs and developing local talent right here in Adelaide, and we welcome their continued commitment," said Picton.

The announcement also drew support from local business users of Zoho's software. ARRIA said the company's local investment mirrored the integration it had experienced through its use of Zoho products.

"By bringing multiple systems into one unified platform, Zoho has simplified how we work and created a strong foundation for growth. Their investment in Adelaide extends that sense of integration beyond the organisation, contributing to a growing local community focused on collaboration and innovation," said Lynda McArdle, Chief Operating Officer at ARRIA.

Founded in Chennai, Zoho remains privately held and operates several software brands, including Zoho, ManageEngine, Qntrl and Trainer Central. It says it serves more than 150 million users and more than one million paying customers worldwide, and runs 20 data centres globally.

Zoho's Australian figures suggest the country has become one of its faster-growing markets, with Adelaide playing a larger role in that expansion than might be expected in a sector still dominated by the east coast capitals. The local team now stands at 25 in Adelaide out of a national workforce of 40.