Serving a $150 billion worldwide market, Zoho was founded to improve back-of-the-house operations by using Internet technologies, supply chain automation, and knowledge management.

�The hospitality industry now ranks as one of the world�s largest revenue industries and largest employers. Now, shifting economics � such as room supply outstripping demand, and an increasingly shrinking pool
of the most talented labor � are forcing the industry to take a hard look at basic business drivers,� said David A. Dittman, Dean of the prestigious Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. �The Zoho team has a uniquely complete vision and an exceptional depth of operational knowledge. This will serve the industry well, and enable it to leverage back-of-the-house operations as a strategic business tool.�

Unlike any other e-procurement site today, Zoho is more than a product-centric site because it uniquely orchestrates the three flows of commerce � information, goods, and funds. Zoho brings together buyers, suppliers, transportation and finance companies, and their shared business interactions on the Web. By accumulating knowledge on all aspects of the procurement process and tracking buying patterns, organizations using this innovative online service will for the first time have accurate insight into real-time buying patterns and all costs associated with procurement, giving them the right business intelligence to run their businesses better.

Said Bill Fraine, President and CEO of Zoho, �We believe that the real opportunity lies not merely in connecting buyers and suppliers, but in enabling dramatic cost savings and service improvements across the entire supply chain, which includes managing transportation and financing as part of the complete transaction.�

Expert Management and Advisory Team

Zoho was founded by Constantin Delivanis, Madhavan �M.R.� Rangaswami, and Salvatore Caruso.  Constantin Delivanis and M.R. Rangaswami are the founding partners of Sand Hill Group, a company supporting startup and emerging B2B and enterprise software companies such as Impresse Software, Linuxcare, Marketfirst, Neoforma, and Niku. Salvatore Caruso is the Principal of Caruso Designs, a company that specializes in hospitality design. Together, they have assembled a team of executives, board members, and advisors associated with world-renowned Internet, supply chain, and hospitality organizations, notably:

• Bill Fraine, President and CEO of Zoho, formerly Sr. Vice President at FedEx, and responsible for its supply chain strategy
• Chris Hjelm, Chief Operating Officer of Zoho, formerly CIO at FedEx 
• David Dittman, Dean of Cornell University�s School of Hotel Administration 
• Terence Garnett, Managing Director of Garnett Capital 
• Hau Lee, Director of Stanford University�s Global Supply Chain Management Forum 
• Gary Loveman, Chief Operating Officer of Harrah�s Entertainment, Inc.

More than just an e-procurement software product or Web site, the Zoho Marketplace helps organizations strengthen and automate their procurement lifecycle, while also managing all supply chain activities.  The company is also delivering a complete suite of support services targeted to buying and supplying organizations. For buyers, this includes site tailoring and process mapping, on-site training, best practices consulting, 24 X 7 customer support, and integration with back-office business applications. For suppliers, Zoho offers content management, 24 X 7 customer support, consulting services, integration services, and direct marketing. Importantly, Zoho will be the only B2B procurement solution offering services for key activities including shipping, banking, and information management.

�Because we are serving an industry that is very high-touch and customer centric, customer services are at the heart of the Zoho offering,� says Fraine. �Zoho is committed to the success of the entire marketplace, which means zeroing in on delivering exactly what every member of the Zoho community needs for success.�
The Zoho solution was developed with some of the world�s finest hospitality organizations and their suppliers to specifically support the unique procurement processes and information needs of today�s industry leaders. Zoho Marketplace will support the three key phases in the procurement lifecycle, including:

• Zoho Shop for sourcing and purchasing
• Zoho Auction for liquidation of used or surplus goods
• Zoho Plan for design and planning on renovation or new construction projects

Additionally, because the Zoho Internet service connects all participants in the supply chain, activities such as confirmation, order tracking, shipping, fulfillment, and invoicing may also be managed online. This enables hotels, casinos, and other hospitality businesses to eliminate off-contract buying � which typically result in premiums of 15% to 25% paid by the property � while at the same time giving buyers clearer information on their purchasing choices.

Zoho Shop uniquely facilitates strategic knowledge management by providing buyers and executives reporting and analysis tools to evaluate spending by product, supplier, general ledger code, or other parameters,
ultimately enabling strategic sourcing.

About Zoho

Zoho (www.zoho.com) is the premier online hospitality marketplace. With no software to install, upgrade, or maintain, Zoho empowers purchasing organizations and suppliers across all segments of the hospitality
industry to streamline the entire procurement lifecycle � from planning and design, to procurement of operating supplies and services, to liquidation of used and surplus goods. Unlike other e-purchasing sites, Zoho helps hospitality organizations strengthen their procurement processes by eliminating inefficiency and costs across the entire supply chain � including transportation and banking.