Zoholics 2026:  AI, automation and DSL Telecom's break the glass competition

12.08.26 03:47 PM - By Kim

This year the AI conversation moved from what it could do to how businesses actually use it. Zoho POS launched locally, agentic AI was a recurring theme, and our Break the Glass competition ran entirely on Zoho, from a QR code in the goodie bags through to a Zoho Creator app that revealed each prize.

The DSL Telecom team at Zoholics Cape Town 2026.

The DSL Telecom team at Zoholics Cape Town 2026.

Zoholics is Zoho's flagship user conference. Hosted in both Johannesburg and Cape Town, Zoholics South Africa brought together Zoho users, partners and product experts. The DSL Telecom team was there in full force to engage, learn, and share how South African businesses can get more value from the Zoho ecosystem, especially now that AI is part of the picture.

Zoho reported around 60% revenue growth in South Africa so far in 2026

Shared on stage by Andrew Bourne, Zoho's regional head for Southern Africa.

AI takes centre stage at Zoholics 2026

AI was again the headline at Zoholics 2026, but this year the conversation had clearly moved from what AI could do to how businesses actually put it to work.

The standout announcement for the local market was Zoho POS, now available in South Africa. It's a cloud-based retail point of sale that handles inventory, billing, purchases, customers and analytics in one place, with offline billing for when the connection drops and multi-outlet management for chains. It works with the hardware you already have, from barcode scanners and printers to weighing scales and cash drawers, rather than tying you to a single vendor, and it connects to Zoho Books and Zoho Commerce natively.

Other themes that ran through the sessions included:

  • Agentic AI and Zia - building AI agents that work across your Zoho apps was front and centre, with the focus firmly on real deployment rather than demos.
  • AI in everyday workflows - from CRM to automation, the message was that AI is now something you switch on inside the tools you already use, not a separate project.
DSL Telecom team members with a DSL Telecom customer in front of the Zoholics Cape Town 2026 backdrop

Two days, two cities, and plenty of time with the Zoho product teams.

DSL Telecom directors Dean and Danielle networking with two Zoho team members at Zoholics Cape Town 2026

DSL Telecom directors Danielle and Dean chatting to Zoho's specialists. 

Break the glass: our digital competition

This year, our stand had a hook that fit the theme perfectly: in case of an AI emergency, break the glass.


Every attendee found an insert in their goodie bag made to look like a red break-the-glass emergency box, with a QR code on it. Our booth at Zoholics carried the same theme.


DSL Telecom's Emily holding her Zoho goodie bag and a Break the Glass card at Zoholics Cape Town 2026

The insert that started it: a red emergency box with a QR code.

DSL Telecom team members, Emily and Jacques at the DSL Telecom stand at Zoholics Cape Town 2026

The stand carried the same theme.

How it worked. Scanning the code opened a landing page where attendees filled in their details. Those details went straight into Zoho CRM, which triggered a WhatsApp message with a link to a break the glass app we built in Zoho Creator. One tap on the phone screen broke the glass and revealed the prize.


As much as it was a bit of fun, every step of it ran on the same Zoho tools we use to build automation for clients every day.


Every prize was AI-related, because the whole premise was to help customers start their AI journey with Zoho. Instant prizes included MCP training sessions, Zia agent builds, and percentage discounts off our services.


We also ran a lucky draw for the bigger prizes:

  • A Zoho Customer Success Plan worth R75 000
  • A year of Yeastar P-Series Cloud PBX with AI receptionist worth R12 000
  • A year on an uncapped DSL Telecom VoIP account
A phone showing the DSL Telecom Break the Glass app revealing a prize at Zoholics 2026

The app we built in Zoho Creator. Tap the screen, break the glass, see the prize.

A Zoho team member viewing the Break the Glass app on his phone with DSL Telecom's MD, Dean Schreuder at Zoholics 2026
Three DSL Telecom team members at the Break the Glass stand backdrop at Zoholics 2026
DSL Telecom team members, Hansie and Gerhard, seated either side of the DSL Telecom logo at their Zoholics Johannesburg 2026 stand

Scan, break, win. The whole journey ran on Zoho CRM, WhatsApp and a Zoho Creator app.

Real takeaways, immediate impact

As always, the real value of Zoholics is what we bring back to our customers. Our team left both events with practical ideas we can put to work straight away, especially around AI and automation. As a Zoho Premium Partner, that's the whole point: we go so we can turn what's new into real results for the businesses we support.
The DSL Telecom team seated together at a session during Zoholics Cape Town 2026
The DSL Telecom team crowding in for a group selfie at Zoholics Cape Town 2026

Looking ahead to Zoholics 2027

Zoholics South Africa 2026 proved once again why it's a must-attend for Zoho customers and partners, and with AI finally moving from idea to action, it felt more relevant than ever. DSL Telecom is already looking forward to Zoholics 2027 and another year of learning, growth and delivering success to businesses across South Africa.

Start your own Zoho AI journey

If you'd like to put AI and automation to work in your business the way we did at the stand, we'd love to help.
Email sales@dsltelecom.co.zaCall 087 802 0917WhatsApp 087 150 8595

Kim

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