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Zoho Expands Qatar Operations & Releases New Survey Data
The productivity platform has seen strong regional growth and increased demand for its cloud-based solutions.
Productivity and collaboration platform Zoho has announced the opening of its first office in Doha, Qatar, following significant regional growth. The company experienced a 29% increase in revenue while expanding its partner network by 50% in 2023.
Zoho’s remarkable growth in Qatar underscores the rising demand for its cloud-based business applications. The firm’s new office and strategic expansion should enable it to offer more tailored services while strengthening customer relationships.
Hyther Nizam, President of Zoho for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) stated: “We are excited about our continued success in Qatar […] The dynamic business landscape and progressive approach to digital transformation provide an ideal environment for our expansion. We are committed to supporting the country’s journey towards digitalization by offering cutting-edge solutions that cater to the evolving needs of businesses and contribute to national economic growth”.
Productivity & Collaboration Trends In Qatar
The announcement of a new local office was accompanied by news of a Zoho productivity and collaboration survey that revealed important insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses in Qatar, as well as local productivity and collaboration trends.
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Here are some of the key findings:
- Despite the shift towards hybrid and remote work post-pandemic, 60% of Qatari businesses have fully returned to on-site work, while 32% have adopted a hybrid model. Only 8% of respondents work fully remotely.
- The use of digital tools was widespread, with 51% of respondents using 1-5 apps daily, 31% using 5-10, and 18% using more than 10 apps.
- Unified task tracking was shown to save time, with 76% of those using it reporting savings of up to three hours. However, 77% of those manually tracking tasks or not tracking at all also noted potential time savings with a unified system.
- Access to information remains a challenge, with 25% of respondents reporting limited or no access, and 24% needing occasional help finding information.
- The survey highlighted a lag in technology adoption, with 72% of companies reporting no significant changes in the last two years, despite the competitive advantages of AI and automated workflows.
- Remote workers were more likely to adopt new technology and use a broader range of apps, but they struggled with data access. In contrast, hybrid and on-site workers expressed a greater need for improved collaboration tools and communication.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
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The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.