Zoho Corporation rolls out free student edition of cloud-accounting software

Chennai: Global technology company Zoho Corporation on Friday said it has rolled out a student edition of its cloud-accounting software Zoho Books -- free of charge for aspiring chartered accountants and future finance professionals.

Chennai-based Zoho Corporation has partnered with 25 educational institutes where experienced CAs would train students to use Zoho Books.

"The launching of the student edition is part of Zoho's mission to equip future CAs with tools that would help them be at the forefront of technological advancements. This will enable them to go beyond focusing on backward-looking metrics and provide forward-looking insights to their clients, helping them grow in the long run," Zoho Finance and Operations Suite Head of Product Management Prashant Ganti said.

"This stems from our goal to provide students with access to the latest technology right from the start so that they are well-equipped to deal with the evolving needs of the accounting industry. To achieve this, we are also strengthening our collaboration with educational institutes, turning our vision into reality," Ganti said.

The student edition of Zoho Books would have key features that finance professionals and accountants can use on a day-to-day basis, including accounts receivables, accounts payable, and bank reconciliation, among others.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Eastern India Regional Council Vice Chairman Sanjib Sanghi said, "It is important for students to have practical knowledge and hands-on experience in accounting."

"With free access to the student edition of Zoho Books, students can enhance their accounting knowledge, and improve their employability skills in the finance domain," he said.