Codleo: Building a Global CRM Powerhouse with a Heart and AI-Driven Innovation

January 3, 2026 12 min read

"We work from our brains, but it’s always from the heart." This core belief, shared by RS Maan, co-founder of Codleo, is what differentiates this IT solutions company in a crowded marketplace. By combining high-level CRM expertise with an "employee-centric" culture, Codleo has rapidly scaled from a small group in 2019 to a global force of 100+ professionals serving diverse industries worldwide.

Codleo (an amalgamation of "Cod" for coding and "Leo" for power in Japanese) was born out of Maan's lifelong ambition to build his own venture before turning 40. A veteran of the CRM industry who was selling Salesforce solutions when "cloud" was still a foreign concept in India, Maan has successfully built a company that bridges the gap between businesses and their customers through cutting-edge digital transformation.

The Heart of IT: While many IT companies focus purely on billable hours, Codleo prides itself on being a "Company with a Heart." Maan believes that if you take care of your employees and their families, the satisfaction of the customer becomes a natural byproduct.

The Mission: Connecting Customers to Customers

At its core, Codleo solves a fundamental problem: connectivity. "We are connecting our customers with their customers through software," Maan explains. Whether it’s education, manufacturing, healthcare, or non-profits, Codleo uses the Salesforce platform—integrated with AI layers like Einstein and Einstein GPT—to ensure that brands can engage their audiences anytime, anywhere.

The company's growth has been systematic. Starting in 2019 with a Fortune 500 company as its first client, Codleo leveraged the digital shift caused by the pandemic to expand its project list. Maan attributes this success to a metric he calls **CWN (Closely Watch your Numbers)**—a relentless focus on year-over-year growth targets, moving from 25 to 65, then 85, and now 104 specialized professionals.

The Codleo Success Formula

Niche Expertise: 99% of Codleo's work is dedicated strictly to CRM and digital transformation, avoiding the trap of being "everywhere on every technology."
Zero 'Red Accounts': A strict focus on expectation management and documentation has ensured that no customer has filed a complaint or left the platform in four years.
No-Code Focus: Prioritizing "less click, less coding" solutions that are easier for clients to adopt and maintain.
AI Layering: Integrating Einstein GPT and other AI tools to automate business processes for sales, service, and marketing.

The Journey: From "Cloud Evangelist" to Global CRO

RS Maan’s journey began long before Codleo. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, he worked with global giants like IBM and spent years in the US (Virginia and Washington DC) building Salesforce practices. He remembers the early 2000s in India when pitching "cloud" was an uphill battle. "We had to tell directors their data would be on the cloud, and that was a concept most hadn't even heard of," he recalls.

After decades of international experience, Maan felt the pull to return to India and build something that could compete at par with US-based firms. Today, Codleo is a CMMI Level 3 and ISO certified company, serving global markets from its Indian roots, proving that Indian talent can lead the world in high-end digital consulting.

Codleo by the Numbers

100+: Specialized professionals in the current team.
800+: CRM projects personally overseen by RS Maan throughout his career.
Zero: 'Red accounts' (failed documentation/customer dissatisfaction) in 4 years.
2019: Year of incorporation, reaching 100+ employees in just 48 months.
2030: Maan's target year for India to be at par with the US in digital excellence.

Product Innovation: Project Leo and Beyond

While Codleo is primarily a service-driven consulting firm, Maan recognized the need to "not reinvent the wheel." This led to the creation of **ProjecLeo**, a cloud-based project management tool available on the Salesforce AppExchange. Designed specifically for SMBs, ProjecLeo handles task division, timesheets, and project progress, allowing clients to manage complex workflows within their existing CRM environment.

This expansion into products—including HRLeo and HireLeo—is part of Maan's vision to be a "service-driven company with a helping hand from products." It’s a strategy inspired by the early days of Indian IT legends like Infosys, focusing on gradual, high-quality scaling.

"Don't policing your employees. Should I put a camera on my people or my processes? If I put a camera on my people, it increases my blood pressure. Put a camera on your processes—automate them—and your team will deliver whether you are sitting with them or not."
— RS Maan, Co-founder, Codleo

Empowerment through the Codleo Foundation

Maan’s vision extends beyond corporate profits. Through the **Codleo Foundation**, the company provides free technical education and Salesforce training to the younger generation in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. "The strength of India is in its people," Maan states. By equipping marginalized communities and women with IT skills, Codleo is helping build the workforce that will power India's digital future by 2030.

Maan’s Wisdom for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Employee-Centric Decisions: When taking a tough decision, ask: "Is this best for my employees and their families?" If the answer is yes, the decision is likely correct.
Process over Policing: Focus on automating workflows rather than monitoring individuals. Technology should be an enabler, not a surveillance tool.
Closely Watch Numbers (CWN): Be relentless about your financial figures, salary spends, and growth targets. Numbers don't lie.
Put Heart in the Flavor: Don't lose the "Indian flavor" of connection and empathy. A mix of brain and heart builds a lasting company.

The Future: India as a Digital Equal

Looking ahead, Codleo remains firmly focused on the Indian market while serving global clients. Maan is a staunch believer that by 2030, India will be a digital equal to the US. With a growing R&D team and more products in the pipeline, Codleo is positioning itself as the nucleus of this transformation.

"Money is not the only core," Maan concludes. "We want a company where people are connected and feel for each other. That is the only lesson I want to give to potential entrepreneurs."

The Japan Connection: The name 'Leo' means 'Power' in Japanese. Codleo combines the power of technology with the discipline of coding to deliver impactful solutions.

Key Takeaways

For Business Owners: Digitalization is no longer a luxury; it's the key to growth. Focus on "no-code" and "low-code" solutions to ensure your team can actually use the tools you buy.

For IT Professionals: Niche expertise is more valuable than being a generalist. Master a specific ecosystem like Salesforce or AI to become indispensable.

For the Youth: Technical skills are the new universal language. Platforms like the Codleo Foundation offer a gateway to global careers without the need for traditional high-cost education.

About the Guest

RS Maan (Ravinder Singh Maan) is the Managing Director and Global CRO of Codleo. With over 20 years of experience in IT and CRM, he is a pioneer in the Salesforce ecosystem in India and the US. An IIM Calcutta alumnus, Maan is known for his "people-first" leadership and his dedication to social impact through the Codleo Foundation and other philanthropic ventures.