Indian customers are not easy to please, and that is a good thing for technology companies. Zoho’s co-founder and CEO, Sridhar Vembu, believes that demanding Indian users help companies build better products.
Sridhar Vembu shared this perspective on X in response to a post that claimed that Indian companies can succeed in exports if they are doing well in the domestic market.
Notice how Japan and Germany are such huge manufacturing powers, with much smaller population than India and with vastly higher labour costs than India or even China. Switzerland and Netherlands also punch way above their weight in global manufacturing.
— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) December 16, 2025
Their prowess comes from… https://t.co/kYHeaE6BcB
The original post hinted that exporting goods and services abroad could likely be less challenging than competing in the Indian domestic market. The person wrote, “If you can survive Indian buyers, global buyers are easy. If your product is solid, stop playing small. The world is open. Go for it.”
He says Indian customers always ask questions, compare options, and expect good quality at a fair price. Because of this, companies cannot relax or take shortcuts. They have to keep improving.
Like Strict Teachers in School
Sridhar Vembu compared Indian customers to strict school teachers. Even when students do well, these teachers push them to do better. In the same way, Indian users rarely give easy praise. They notice small problems and expect quick fixes.
This kind of pressure forces companies to stay focused. It helps them improve their products again and again. For Zoho, customer feedback has been very important in making its software better over time.
Tough Market, Strong Products
India is a tough market because customers are careful with money and expect full value. Companies must offer useful features, smooth performance, and good support. If a product works well in India, it often works well in other countries too.
Sridhar Vembu believes that meeting Indian expectations prepares companies for global competition. The lessons learned at home help them succeed abroad.
Feedback Helps Companies Grow
Instead of seeing complaints as a problem, Sridhar Vembu sees them as helpful advice. Customer criticism shows where a product needs improvement. It keeps companies honest and focused on real needs.
Zoho follows a long-term approach. The company prefers slow but steady improvement rather than quick success.
Lesson for Indian Tech Companies
Sridhar Vembu’s message is clear. Tough customers are not a problem. They are a strength. Their high expectations push companies to do better work.
In a fast-growing digital India, companies that listen to users and improve continuously are more likely to succeed both in India and around the world.
