Zoho's Arattai is getting a WhatsApp Business rival: Arattai Business coming soon

Zoho's homegrown messaging app Arattai is getting a business-focused version. Called Arattai Business, the upcoming app is now listed on the Google Play Store with a “coming soon” tag, signalling that Zoho is preparing to take its messaging platform beyond everyday conversations and into the workplace.

The new app is being positioned as a messaging platform built specifically for businesses and teams, with a strong focus on privacy and control. According to the app's description, Arattai Business will give companies a dedicated space for work communication, so that business chats remain organised.

The description also highlights end-to-end encrypted messages, secure chat syncing across devices and data ownership. In other words, Zoho appears to be taking the familiar idea of WhatsApp Business.

What is Arattai Business

Arattai Business is designed for teams and businesses that need to communicate with employees as well as customers. The app's description says it will support business communication while keeping conversations “professional, organised, and protected”.

The exact feature list is not clear yet, as the app is still marked as coming soon on Google Play. But the positioning is quite clear: this is Arattai moving into the business messaging space.

Zoho says Arattai Business is “built in India and designed for Indian businesses.” The privacy angle is also central to its pitch, with the app promising end-to-end encrypted messages and secure syncing across devices.

Arattai has been taking on WhatsApp from the start

For those who have somehow missed Arattai, the app comes from Zoho Corporation, the Indian software company known for its enterprise and SaaS products. The word “Arattai” translates to “chit-chat” or “casual conversation” in Tamil.

Arattai first appeared in 2021, at a time when WhatsApp's privacy policy changes had triggered a lot of debate around how messaging platforms handle user data. Zoho positioned Arattai as a homegrown alternative that put privacy at the centre of the experience.

Zoho has also highlighted where user data is stored. Arattai says user data is stored in India, while direct chats and calls are end-to-end encrypted. Its current privacy policy also says the company does not sell personal data, serve targeted ads using private chat history or use private chat history to train AI models.

Now, with Arattai Business, Zoho appears to be taking that same pitch to companies.