Augustus Media lovin' the Zoho way
- Industry Digital Media
- Location Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Company
Augustus Media is a modern media company on a mission to be the "new media" company of choice for the Middle East. They aim to achieve profitable growth through innovation and by redefining traditional media communications. With offices in UAE, KSA, Egypt, Qatar, and recently in Pakistan, Augustus Media is a regional powerhouse. The company operates three major brands: Lovin', Smashi, & Odeum. Lovin’, in particular, has become a media brand in the Middle East, sharing positive stories that bring smiles to its audience.
"Lovin' Dubai is a local news platform. We started nine years ago, and, since then, we have grown into the largest social media platform—lifestyle publication—in the country. Our goal is to tell positive new stories in all of these cities."
The Challenge
When Augustus Media first started, it was just a small team of five, working together in a single office with a shared vision. Like many early-stage startups, they were passionate about their business but faced challenges outside their core expertise.
As the company flourished, the daily grind of managing manual tasks became overwhelming. Keeping track of finances across five countries—each with its own currency and payroll system—was like solving a never-ending puzzle. They needed a solution to make things simpler, faster, and less stressful so they could focus on what they do best: creating change through sharing local stories.
The Solution
Augustus Media was clear about its requirements. They sought an all-in-one solution rather than a conventional ERP like Oracle, prioritizing data safety and streamlined operations.
Zoho One provided them with a suite of 55+ business applications, offering tailored solutions for each department.
- Finance: Zoho Books simplified multi-currency bookkeeping.
- Sales: Zoho CRM enabled a unified view of their customer interactions.
- Project management: Zoho Projects helped create clutter-free social media calendars.
- HR: Zoho People streamlined employee management processes.
Zoho Projects
When the marketing team wanted to build a social media schedule aligned with platform-specific algorithms, Zoho Projects was the perfect solution. The team used its tools to design an organized, clutter-free calendar, making sure the campaigns were executed seamlessly and on time.
“Using Zoho Projects is really easy. We were initially concerned about transitioning from one platform to another, but it turned out to be a lifesaver—much easier than expected—and we love it.”
Zoho MEA Services
To integrate bookkeeping across five countries into Zoho CRM, Augustus Media collaborated with Zoho’s MEA Services team. With a clear understanding of the team's requirements, they provided hands-on support throughout the implementation phase.
From initial setup to customization and final deployment, the process was handled with meticulous attention to detail. Within a few weeks, the team customized workflows, ensuring a smooth transition.
Benefits and ROI
With Zoho One, Augustus Media eliminated a significant amount of manual work by automating processes. This let the team focus on strategic priorities. The flexibility of Zoho One’s 55+ applications also enabled Augustus Media to explore additional tools for other departments.
At Augustus Media, we’re always looking for ways to work smarter and stay ahead of the curve. Adapting to new technologies, like Zoho, has been a game-changer for us. It’s helped streamline our operations, improve collaboration, and boost overall efficiency. Embracing innovation is crucial for sustaining our growth and staying competitive in such a fast-paced digital world.
Looking forward
Augustus Media continues to innovate and expand across the Middle East. With Zoho One as their foundational technology partner, they are well-positioned to scale their operations and remain a leader in the region’s media landscape.